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Witucki Ł, Jakubowski H. Homocysteine metabolites inhibit autophagy, elevate amyloid beta, and induce neuropathy by impairing Phf8/H4K20me1-dependent epigenetic regulation of mTOR in cystathionine β-synthase-deficient mice. J Inherit Metab Dis 2023; 46:1114-1130. [PMID: 37477632 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The loss of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), an important homocysteine (Hcy)-metabolizing enzyme or the loss of PHF8, an important histone demethylase participating in epigenetic regulation, causes severe intellectual disability in humans. Similar neuropathies were also observed in Cbs-/- and Phf8-/- mice. How CBS or PHF8 depletion can cause neuropathy was unknown. To answer this question, we examined a possible interaction between PHF8 and CBS using Cbs-/- mouse and neuroblastoma cell models. We quantified gene expression by RT-qPCR and western blotting, mTOR-bound H4K20me1 by chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) assay, and amyloid β (Aβ) by confocal fluorescence microscopy using anti-Aβ antibody. We found significantly reduced expression of Phf8, increased H4K20me1, increased mTOR expression and phosphorylation, and increased App, both on protein and mRNA levels in brains of Cbs-/- mice versus Cbs+/- sibling controls. Autophagy-related Becn1, Atg5, and Atg7 were downregulated while p62, Nfl, and Gfap were upregulated on protein and mRNA levels, suggesting reduced autophagy and increased neurodegeneration in Cbs-/- brains. In mouse neuroblastoma N2a or N2a-APPswe cells, treatments with Hcy-thiolactone, N-Hcy-protein or Hcy, or Cbs gene silencing by RNA interference significantly reduced Phf8 expression and increased total H4K20me1 as well as mTOR promoter-bound H4K20me1. This led to transcriptional mTOR upregulation, autophagy downregulation, and significantly increased APP and Aβ levels. The Phf8 gene silencing increased Aβ, but not APP, levels. Taken together, our findings identify Phf8 as a regulator of Aβ synthesis and suggest that neuropathy of Cbs deficiency is mediated by Hcy metabolites, which transcriptionally dysregulate the Phf8 → H4K20me1 → mTOR → autophagy pathway thereby increasing Aβ accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Witucki
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Hieronim Jakubowski
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
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2
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Tincu (Iurciuc) CE, Andrițoiu CV, Popa M, Ochiuz L. Recent Advancements and Strategies for Overcoming the Blood-Brain Barrier Using Albumin-Based Drug Delivery Systems to Treat Brain Cancer, with a Focus on Glioblastoma. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:3969. [PMID: 37836018 PMCID: PMC10575401 DOI: 10.3390/polym15193969] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor, and the most prevalent primary malignant tumor affecting the brain and central nervous system. Recent research indicates that the genetic profile of GBM makes it resistant to drugs and radiation. However, the main obstacle in treating GBM is transporting drugs through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Albumin is a versatile biomaterial for the synthesis of nanoparticles. The efficiency of albumin-based delivery systems is determined by their ability to improve tumor targeting and accumulation. In this review, we will discuss the prevalence of human glioblastoma and the currently adopted treatment, as well as the structure and some essential functions of the BBB, to transport drugs through this barrier. We will also mention some aspects related to the blood-tumor brain barrier (BTBB) that lead to poor treatment efficacy. The properties and structure of serum albumin were highlighted, such as its role in targeting brain tumors, as well as the progress made until now regarding the techniques for obtaining albumin nanoparticles and their functionalization, in order to overcome the BBB and treat cancer, especially human glioblastoma. The albumin drug delivery nanosystems mentioned in this paper have improved properties and can overcome the BBB to target brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camelia-Elena Tincu (Iurciuc)
- Department of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Protection of the Environment, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University, 73, Prof. Dimitrie Mangeron Street, 700050 Iasi, Romania;
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16, University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Călin Vasile Andrițoiu
- Apitherapy Medical Center, Balanesti, Nr. 336-337, 217036 Gorj, Romania;
- Specialization of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, Liviu Rebreanu Street, 86, 310045 Arad, Romania
| | - Marcel Popa
- Department of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Protection of the Environment, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University, 73, Prof. Dimitrie Mangeron Street, 700050 Iasi, Romania;
- Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Apollonia” University of Iasi, 11, Pacurari Street, 700511 Iasi, Romania
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, 3 Ilfov Street, 050045 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Lăcrămioara Ochiuz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16, University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
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3
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Petrović DJ, Jagečić D, Krasić J, Sinčić N, Mitrečić D. Effect of Fetal Bovine Serum or Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor on Cell Survival and the Proliferation of Neural Stem Cells: The Influence of Homocysteine Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14161. [PMID: 37762465 PMCID: PMC10531752 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro cell culture is a routinely used method which is also applied for in vitro modeling of various neurological diseases. On the other hand, media used for cell culture are often not strictly standardized between laboratories, which hinders the comparison of the obtained results. Here, we compared the effects of homocysteine (Hcy), a molecule involved in neurodegeneration, on immature cells of the nervous system cultivated in basal medium or media supplemented by either fetal bovine serum or basic fibroblast growth factor. The number of cells in basal media supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was 2.5 times higher in comparison to the number of cells in basal media supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS). We also found that the neuron-specific β-3-tubulin protein expression dose dependently decreased with increasing Hcy exposure. Interestingly, bFGF exerts a protective effect on β-3-tubulin protein expression at a concentration of 1000 µM Hcy compared to FBS-treated neural stem cells on Day 7. Supplementation with bFGF increased SOX2 protein expression two-fold compared to FBS supplementation. GFAP protein expression increased five-fold on Day 3 in FBS-treated neural stem cells, whereas on Day 7, bFGF increased GFAP expression two-fold compared to FBS-treated neural stem cells. Here, we have clearly shown that the selection of culturing media significantly influences various cellular parameters, which, in turn, can lead to different conclusions in experiments based on in vitro models of pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dražen Juraj Petrović
- Laboratory for Stem Cells, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.J.P.); (D.J.)
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Glycoscience Research Laboratory, Genos Ltd., 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- BIMIS—Biomedical Research Center Šalata, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Denis Jagečić
- Laboratory for Stem Cells, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.J.P.); (D.J.)
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- BIMIS—Biomedical Research Center Šalata, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jure Krasić
- Laboratory for Stem Cells, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.J.P.); (D.J.)
- BIMIS—Biomedical Research Center Šalata, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Laboratory for Neurogenomics and In Situ Hybridization, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nino Sinčić
- BIMIS—Biomedical Research Center Šalata, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Scientific Group for Research on Epigenetic Biomarkers (epiMark), Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dinko Mitrečić
- Laboratory for Stem Cells, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.J.P.); (D.J.)
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- BIMIS—Biomedical Research Center Šalata, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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4
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Kumari K, Sharma GS, Gupta A, Singh KS, Singh LR. Functionally active cross-linked protein oligomers formed by homocysteine thiolactone. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5620. [PMID: 37024663 PMCID: PMC10079695 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32694-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Deposition of high-order protein oligomers is a common hallmark of a large number of human diseases and therefore, has been of immense medical interest. From the past several decades, efforts are being made to characterize protein oligomers and explore how they are linked with the disease pathologies. In general, oligomers are non-functional, rather cytotoxic in nature while the functional (non-cytotoxic) oligomers are quite rare. In the present study, we identified new protein oligomers of Ribonuclease-A and Lysozyme that contain functionally active fractions. These functional oligomers are disulfide cross-linked, native-like, and obtained as a result of the covalent modification of the proteins by the toxic metabolite, homocysteine thiolactone accumulated under hyperhomocysteinemia (a condition responsible for cardiovascular complications including atherosclerosis). These results have been obtained from the extensive analysis of the nature of oligomers, functional status, and structural integrity of the proteins using orthogonal techniques. The study implicates the existence of such oligomers as protein sinks that may sequester toxic homocysteines in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kritika Kumari
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Gurumayum Suraj Sharma
- Department of Botany, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110075, India
| | - Akshita Gupta
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
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5
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Zhou L, Guo T, Meng L, Zhang X, Tian Y, Dai L, Niu X, Li Y, Liu C, Chen G, Liu C, Ke W, Zhang Z, Bao A, Zhang Z. N-homocysteinylation of α-synuclein promotes its aggregation and neurotoxicity. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e13745. [PMID: 36437524 PMCID: PMC10014048 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of α-synuclein plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Epidemiological evidence indicates that high level of homocysteine (Hcy) is associated with an increased risk of PD. However, the molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that homocysteine thiolactone (HTL), a reactive thioester of Hcy, covalently modifies α-synuclein on the K80 residue. The levels of α-synuclein K80Hcy in the brain are increased in an age-dependent manner in the TgA53T mice, correlating with elevated levels of Hcy and HTL in the brain during aging. The N-homocysteinylation of α-synuclein stimulates its aggregation and forms fibrils with enhanced seeding activity and neurotoxicity. Intrastriatal injection of homocysteinylated α-synuclein fibrils induces more severe α-synuclein pathology and motor deficits when compared with unmodified α-synuclein fibrils. Increasing the levels of Hcy aggravates α-synuclein neuropathology in a mouse model of PD. In contrast, blocking the N-homocysteinylation of α-synuclein ameliorates α-synuclein pathology and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. These findings suggest that the covalent modification of α-synuclein by HTL promotes its aggregation. Targeting the N-homocysteinylation of α-synuclein could be a novel therapeutic strategy against PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyan Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Guo
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lanxia Meng
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xingyu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ye Tian
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lijun Dai
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuan Niu
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiming Li
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Congcong Liu
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guiqin Chen
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chaoyang Liu
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Ke
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhaohui Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Anyu Bao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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6
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Bag S, Konar M, Roy P, DasGupta S, Dasgupta S. Homocysteine thiolactone and H 2 O 2 induce amino acid modifications and alter the fibrillation propensity of the Aβ 25-35 peptide. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:1041-1051. [PMID: 36694268 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14583] [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: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Of the proteinaceous β-sheet-rich amyloid fibrillar structures, the Aβ25-35 peptide, a component of the full-length Aβ involved in Alzheimer's disease, has similar toxicity to the parent peptide. In this study, the effects of homocysteine thiolactone (HCTL) and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) on the conformation and fibrillation propensity of the Aβ25-35 peptide were investigated. Both HCTL and H2 O2 induced amino acid modifications along with alteration in aggregation propensity. Methionine (Met)-35 was oxidized by H2 O2 and aggregation was attenuated following the increased hydrophilicity of the peptide due to sulfoxide/sulfone formation. The HCTL-modified lysine (Lys-28) residue destabilizes the structure of the peptide, which leads to fibrillation. Our studies provide important information regarding the relationship between amino acid modifications and the amyloid fibrillation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudipta Bag
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India.,Sister Nivedita University, New Town, India
| | - Mouli Konar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India
| | - Pritam Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India
| | - Sunando DasGupta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India
| | - Swagata Dasgupta
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India
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7
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Moghadam SS, Ghahramani M, Khoshaman K, Oryan A, Moosavi-Movahedi AA, Kurganov BI, Yousefi R. Relationship between the Structure and Chaperone Activity of Human αA-Crystallin after Its Modification with Diabetes-Associated Oxidative Agents and Protective Role of Antioxidant Compounds. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:91-105. [PMID: 35508905 DOI: 10.1134/s000629792202002x] [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: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The study was aimed to evaluate the impact of peroxynitrite (PON, oxidative stress agent in diabetes), methylglyoxal (MGO, diabetes-associated reactive carbonyl compound), and their simultaneous application on the structural and functional features of human αA-crystallin (αA-Cry) using various spectroscopy techniques. Additionally, the surface tension and oligomer size distribution of the treated and untreated protein were tested using tensiometric analysis and dynamic light scattering, respectively. Our results indicated that the reaction of PON and MGO with human αA-Cry leads to the formation of new chromophores, alterations in the secondary to quaternary protein structure, reduction in the size of protein oligomers, and significant enhancement in the chaperone activity of αA-Cry. To reverse the effects of the tested compounds, ascorbic acid and glutathione (main components of lens antioxidant defense system) were applied. As expected, the two antioxidant compounds significantly prevented formation of high molecular weight aggregates of αA-Cry (according to SDS-PAGE). Our results suggest that the lens antioxidant defense system, in particular, glutathione, may provide a strong protection against rapid incidence and progression of diabetic cataract by preventing the destructive reactions of highly reactive DM-associated metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sogand Sasan Moghadam
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maryam Ghahramani
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Kazem Khoshaman
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Oryan
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Boris I Kurganov
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia
| | - Reza Yousefi
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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8
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Asanbaeva N, Sukhanov A, Diveikina AA, Rogozhnikova O, Trukhin DV, Tormyshev VM, Chubarov AS, Maryasov AG, Genaev A, Shernyukov AV, Salnikov GE, Lomzov AA, Pyshnyi DV, Bagryanskaya E. Application of W-band 19F electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy to distance measurement using a trityl spin probe and a fluorine label. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:5982-6001. [DOI: 10.1039/d1cp05445g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Recently, Marina Bennati and coworkers (Angew. Chemie - Int. Ed., 2020, 59, 373–379., A. J. Magn. Reson., 2021, 333, 107091) proposed to use electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy in...
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9
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Jakubowski H. Proteomic exploration of cystathionine β-synthase deficiency: implications for the clinic. Expert Rev Proteomics 2021; 17:751-765. [PMID: 33320032 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2020.1865160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Homocystinuria due to cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) deficiency, the most frequent inborn error of sulfur amino acid metabolism, is characterized biochemically by severely elevated homocysteine (Hcy) and related metabolites, such as Hcy-thiolactone and N-Hcy-protein. CBS deficiency reduces life span and causes pathological abnormalities affecting most organ systems in the human body, including the cardiovascular (thrombosis, stroke), skeletal/connective tissue (osteoporosis, thin/non-elastic skin, thin hair), and central nervous systems (mental retardation, seizures), as well as the liver (fatty changes), and the eye (ectopia lentis, myopia). Molecular basis of these abnormalities were largely unknown and available treatments remain ineffective. Areas covered: Proteomic and transcriptomic studies over the past decade or so, have significantly contributed to our understanding of mechanisms by which the CBS enzyme deficiency leads to clinical manifestations associated with it. Expert opinion: Recent findings, discussed in this review, highlight the involvement of dysregulated proteostasis in pathologies associated with CBS deficiency, including thromboembolism, stroke, neurologic impairment, connective tissue/collagen abnormalities, hair defects, and hepatic toxicity. To ameliorate these pathologies, pharmacological, enzyme replacement, and gene transfer therapies are being developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hieronim Jakubowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences , Poznań, Poland.,Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, International Center for Public Health , Newark, NJ USA
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10
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Human Serum Albumin Labelled with Sterically-Hindered Nitroxides as Potential MRI Contrast Agents. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25071709. [PMID: 32276437 PMCID: PMC7180620 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25071709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Four albumin-nitroxide conjugates were prepared and tested as metal-free organic radical contrast agents (ORCAs) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each human serum albumin (HSA) carrier bears multiple nitroxides conjugated via homocysteine thiolactones. These molecular conjugates retain important physical and biological properties of their HSA component, and the resistance of their nitroxide groups to bioreduction was retained or enhanced. The relaxivities are similar for these four conjugates and are much greater than those of their individual components: the HSA or the small nitroxide molecules. This new family of conjugates has excellent prospects for optimization as ORCAs.
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11
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Mei X, Qi D, Zhang T, Zhao Y, Jin L, Hou J, Wang J, Lin Y, Xue Y, Zhu P, Liu Z, Huang L, Nie J, Si W, Ma J, Ye J, Finnell RH, Saiyin H, Wang H, Zhao J, Zhao S, Xu W. Inhibiting MARSs reduces hyperhomocysteinemia-associated neural tube and congenital heart defects. EMBO Mol Med 2020; 12:e9469. [PMID: 32003121 PMCID: PMC7059139 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201809469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinemia is a common metabolic disorder that imposes major adverse health consequences. Reducing homocysteine levels, however, is not always effective against hyperhomocysteinemia-associated pathologies. Herein, we report the potential roles of methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MARS)-generated homocysteine signals in neural tube defects (NTDs) and congenital heart defects (CHDs). Increased copy numbers of MARS and/or MARS2 were detected in NTD and CHD patients. MARSs sense homocysteine and transmit its signal by inducing protein lysine (N)-homocysteinylation. Here, we identified hundreds of novel N-homocysteinylated proteins. N-homocysteinylation of superoxide dismutases (SOD1/2) provided new mechanistic insights for homocysteine-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and Wnt signalling deregulation. Elevated MARS expression in developing and proliferating cells sensitizes them to the effects of homocysteine. Targeting MARSs using the homocysteine analogue acetyl homocysteine thioether (AHT) reversed MARS efficacy. AHT lowered NTD and CHD onsets in retinoic acid-induced and hyperhomocysteinemia-induced animal models without affecting homocysteine levels. We provide genetic and biochemical evidence to show that MARSs are previously overlooked genetic determinants and key pathological factors of hyperhomocysteinemia, and suggest that MARS inhibition represents an important medicinal approach for controlling hyperhomocysteinemia-associated diseases.
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12
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Reddy VS, Trinath J, Reddy GB. Implication of homocysteine in protein quality control processes. Biochimie 2019; 165:19-31. [PMID: 31269461 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2019.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Homocysteine (Hcy) is a key metabolite generated during methionine metabolism. The elevated levels of Hcy in the blood are reffered to as hyperhomocystenimeia (HHcy). The HHcy is caused by impaired metabolism/deficiency of either folate or B12 or defects in Hcy metabolism. Accumulating evidence suggests that HHcy is associated with cardiovascular and brain diseases including atherosclerosis, endothelial injury, and stroke etc. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin; B12) is a water-soluble vitamin essential for two metabolic reactions. It acts as a co-factor for methionine synthase and L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. Besides, it is also vital for DNA synthesis and maturation of RBC. Deficiency of B12 is associated with haematological and neurological disorders. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy)-induced toxicity is thought to be mediated by the accumulation of Hcy and its metabolites, homocysteinylated proteins. Cellular protein quality control (PQC) is essential for the maintenance of proteome integrity, and cell viability and its failure contributes to the development of multiple diseases. Chaperones, unfolded protein response (UPR), ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), and autophagy are analogous strategies of PQC that maintain cellular proteome integrity. Recently, multiple studies reported that HHcy responsible for perturbation of PQC by reducing chaperone levels, activating UPR, and impairing autophagy. Besides, HHcy also induce cytotoxicity, inflammation, protein aggregation and apoptosis. It has been shown that some of the factors including altered SIRT1-HSF1 axis and irreversible homocysteinylation of proteins are responsible for folate and/or B12 deficiency or HHcy-induced impairment of PQC. Therefore, this review highlights the current understanding of HHcy in the context of cellular PQC and their pathophysiological and clinical consequences, epigenomic changes, therapeutic implications of B12, and chemical chaperones based on cell culture and experimental animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Sudhakar Reddy
- Biochemistry Division, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India.
| | - Jamma Trinath
- Department of Biological Sciences, BITS-Pilani, 500078, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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13
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Jakubowski H. Homocysteine Modification in Protein Structure/Function and Human Disease. Physiol Rev 2019; 99:555-604. [PMID: 30427275 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00003.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological studies established that elevated homocysteine, an important intermediate in folate, vitamin B12, and one carbon metabolism, is associated with poor health, including heart and brain diseases. Earlier studies show that patients with severe hyperhomocysteinemia, first identified in the 1960s, exhibit neurological and cardiovascular abnormalities and premature death due to vascular complications. Although homocysteine is considered to be a nonprotein amino acid, studies over the past 2 decades have led to discoveries of protein-related homocysteine metabolism and mechanisms by which homocysteine can become a component of proteins. Homocysteine-containing proteins lose their biological function and acquire cytotoxic, proinflammatory, proatherothrombotic, and proneuropathic properties, which can account for the various disease phenotypes associated with hyperhomocysteinemia. This review describes mechanisms by which hyperhomocysteinemia affects cellular proteostasis, provides a comprehensive account of the biological chemistry of homocysteine-containing proteins, and discusses pathophysiological consequences and clinical implications of their formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hieronim Jakubowski
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, International Center for Public Health , Newark, New Jersey ; and Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences , Poznań , Poland
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Borowczyk K, Wróblewski J, Suliburska J, Akahoshi N, Ishii I, Jakubowski H. Mutations in Homocysteine Metabolism Genes Increase Keratin N-Homocysteinylation and Damage in Mice. Int J Genomics 2018; 2018:7570850. [PMID: 30345292 PMCID: PMC6174792 DOI: 10.1155/2018/7570850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic or nutritional deficiencies in homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism increase Hcy-thiolactone, which causes protein damage by forming isopetide bonds with lysine residues, generating N-Hcy-protein. In the present work, we studied the prevalence and genetic determinants of keratin damage caused by homocysteinylation. We found that in mammals and birds, 35 to 98% of Hcy was bound to hair keratin via amide or isopeptide bond (Hcy-keratin), while 2 to 65% was S-Hcy-keratin. A major fraction of hair Hcy-keratin (56% to 93%), significantly higher in birds than in mammals, was sodium dodecyl sulfate-insoluble. Genetic hyperhomocysteinemia significantly increased N-Hcy-keratin levels in the mouse pelage. N-Hcy-keratin was elevated 3.5-, 6.3-, and 11.7-fold in hair from Mthfr -/-, Cse -/-, or Cbs -/- mice, respectively. The accumulation of N-Hcy in hair keratin led to a progressive reduction of N-Hcy-keratin solubility in sodium dodecyl sulfate, from 0.39 ± 0.04 in wild-type mice to 0.19 ± 0.03, 0.14 ± 0.01, and 0.07 ± 0.03 in Mthfr -/-, Cse -/-, or Cbs -/-animals, respectively. N-Hcy-keratin accelerated aggregation of unmodified keratin in Cbs -/- mouse hair. Keratin methionine, copper, and iron levels in mouse hair were not affected by hyperhomocysteinemia. These findings provide evidence that pelage keratin is N-homocysteinylated in vivo in mammals and birds, and that this process causes keratin damage, manifested by a reduced solubility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Borowczyk
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, International Center for Public Health, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Łódź, 90-236 Łódź, Poland
| | - Jacek Wróblewski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, 71-704 Poznań, Poland
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-632 Poznań, Poland
| | - Joanna Suliburska
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-632 Poznań, Poland
| | - Noriyuki Akahoshi
- Department of Health Chemistry, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
| | - Isao Ishii
- Department of Health Chemistry, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
| | - Hieronim Jakubowski
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, International Center for Public Health, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-632 Poznań, Poland
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15
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Schiappacasse A, Maltaneri RE, Chamorro ME, Nesse AB, Wetzler DE, Vittori DC. Modification of erythropoietin structure by N-homocysteinylation affects its antiapoptotic and proliferative functions. FEBS J 2018; 285:3801-3814. [PMID: 30103295 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14632] [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] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Many patients under therapy with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEPO) show resistance to the treatment, an effect likely associated with the accumulation of tissue factors, especially in renal and cardiovascular diseases. Hyperhomocysteinemia due to high serum levels of homocysteine has been suggested among the risk factors in those pathologies. Its main effect is the N-homocysteinylation of proteins due to the interaction between the highly reactive homocysteine thiolactone (HTL) and lysine residues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of N-homocysteinylation on the erythropoietic and antiapoptotic abilities of EPO, which can be a consequence of structural changes in the modified protein. We found that both cellular functions were altered in the presence of HTL-EPO. A decreased net positive charge of HTL-EPO was detected by capillary zone electrophoresis, while analysis of polyacrylamide gel electropherograms suggested formation of aggregates. Far-UV spectra, obtained by Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy, indicated a switch of the protein's secondary structure from α-helix to β-sheet structures. Results of Congo red and Thioflavin T assays confirm the formation of repetitive β-sheet structures, which may account for aggregates. Accordingly, Dynamic Light Scattering analysis showed a markedly larger radius of the HTL-EPO structures, supporting the formation of soluble oligomers. These structural changes might interfere with the conformational adaptations necessary for efficient ligand-receptor interaction, thus affecting the proliferative and antiapoptotic functions of EPO. The present findings may contribute to explain the resistance exhibited by patients with cardio-renal syndrome to treatment with rhuEPO, as a consequence of structural modifications due to protein N-homocysteinylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Schiappacasse
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto del Departamento de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Romina Eugenia Maltaneri
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto del Departamento de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Eugenia Chamorro
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto del Departamento de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alcira Beatriz Nesse
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto del Departamento de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diana Elena Wetzler
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto del Departamento de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela Cecilia Vittori
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto del Departamento de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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16
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Akbarian M, Ghasemi Y, Uversky VN, Yousefi R. Chemical modifications of insulin: Finding a compromise between stability and pharmaceutical performance. Int J Pharm 2018; 547:450-468. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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17
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Borowczyk K, Suliburska J, Jakubowski H. Demethylation of methionine and keratin damage in human hair. Amino Acids 2018; 50:537-546. [PMID: 29480334 PMCID: PMC5917003 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-018-2545-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Growing human head hair contains a history of keratin and provides a unique model for studies of protein damage. Here, we examined mechanism of homocysteine (Hcy) accumulation and keratin damage in human hair. We found that the content of Hcy-keratin increased along the hair fiber, with levels 5-10-fold higher levels in older sections at the hair's tip than in younger sections at hair's base. The accumulation of Hcy led to a complete loss of keratin solubility in sodium dodecyl sulfate. The increase in Hcy-keratin was accompanied by a decrease in methionine-keratin. Levels of Hcy-keratin were correlated with hair copper and iron in older hair. These relationships were recapitulated in model experiments in vitro, in which Hcy generation from Met exhibited a similar dependence on copper or iron. Taken together, these findings suggest that Hcy-keratin accumulation is due to copper/iron-catalyzed demethylation of methionine residues and contributes to keratin damage in human hair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Borowczyk
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, International Center for Public Health, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.,Department of Environmental Chemistry, University of Łódź, 90-236, Łódź, Poland
| | - Joanna Suliburska
- Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-632, Poznań, Poland
| | - Hieronim Jakubowski
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, International Center for Public Health, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-632, Poznań, Poland.
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18
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Chen N, Liu J, Qiao Z, Liu Y, Yang Y, Jiang C, Wang X, Wang C. Chemical proteomic profiling of protein N-homocysteinylation with a thioester probe. Chem Sci 2018; 9:2826-2830. [PMID: 29732068 PMCID: PMC5914431 DOI: 10.1039/c8sc00221e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) refers to a medical condition of abnormally high level of homocysteine (Hcy) in blood (>15 μmol L-1) and has been clinically implicated with cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Excessive Hcy can be converted to a reactive thioester intermediate, Hcy thiolactone (HTL), which selectively reacts with protein lysine residues ("N-homocysteinylation") and this non-enzymatic modification largely contributes to manifestations of HHcy. However, the proteome-wide detection of protein N-homocysteinylation remains a challenge to date. In this work, we report a chemoselective reaction to label and enrich N-homocysteinylation from complex proteome samples as inspired by native chemical ligation for protein synthesis. Alkynyl thioester probes are synthesized and the reaction is validated with small molecule and purified protein models successfully. We performed quantitative chemical proteomics to identify more than 800 N-homocysteinylated proteins as well as 304 N-homocysteinylated sites directly from HTL-treated HeLa cells. The chemical proteomics strategies will facilitate functional study of protein N-homocysteinylations in the HHcy-implicated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Chen
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center , Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences , Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education , College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering , Peking University , Beijing , 100871 , China .
| | - Jinmin Liu
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center , Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences , Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education , College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering , Peking University , Beijing , 100871 , China .
| | - Zeyu Qiao
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center , Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences , Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education , College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering , Peking University , Beijing , 100871 , China .
| | - Yuan Liu
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center , Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences , Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education , College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering , Peking University , Beijing , 100871 , China .
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology , School of Basic Medical Sciences , Peking University , Beijing , 100191 , China
| | - Changtao Jiang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology , School of Basic Medical Sciences , Peking University , Beijing , 100191 , China
| | - Xian Wang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology , School of Basic Medical Sciences , Peking University , Beijing , 100191 , China
| | - Chu Wang
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center , Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences , Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education , College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering , Peking University , Beijing , 100871 , China . .,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences , Peking University , Beijing , 100871 , China
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19
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Moghadam SS, Oryan A, Kurganov BI, Tamaddon AM, Alavianehr MM, Moosavi-Movahedi AA, Yousefi R. The structural damages of lens crystallins induced by peroxynitrite and methylglyoxal, two causative players in diabetic complications and preventive role of lens antioxidant components. Int J Biol Macromol 2017; 103:74-88. [PMID: 28472684 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.04.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Peroxynitrite (PON) and methylglyoxal (MGO), two diabetes-associated compounds, are believed to be important causative players in development of diabetic cataracts. In the current study, different spectroscopic methods, gel electrophoresis, lens culture and microscopic assessments were applied to examine the impact of individual, subsequent or simultaneous modification of lens crystallins with MGO and PON on their structure, oligomerization and aggregation. The protein modifications were confirmed with detection of the significantly increased quantity of carbonyl groups and decreased levels of sulfhydryl, tyrosine and tryptophan. Also, lens proteins modification with these chemical agents was accompanied with important structural alteration, oligomerization, disulfide/chromophore mediated protein crosslinking and important proteolytic instability. All these structural damages were more pronounced when the lens proteins were modified in the presence of both mentioned chemical agents, either in sequential or simultaneous manner. Ascorbic acid and glutathione, as the main components of lens antioxidant defense mechanism, were also capable to markedly prevent the damaging effects of PON and MGO on lens crystallins, as indicated by gel electrophoresis. The results of this study may highlight the importance of lens antioxidant defense system in protection of crystallins against the structural insults induced by PON and MGO during chronic hyperglycemia in the diabetic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sogand Sasan Moghadam
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory (PCL), Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Oryan
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Boris I Kurganov
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky pr. 33, Moscow, 119071, Russia
| | - Ali-Mohammad Tamaddon
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | | | - Reza Yousefi
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory (PCL), Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
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20
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Jakubowski H. Homocysteine Editing, Thioester Chemistry, Coenzyme A, and the Origin of Coded Peptide Synthesis †. Life (Basel) 2017; 7:life7010006. [PMID: 28208756 PMCID: PMC5370406 DOI: 10.3390/life7010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs) have evolved “quality control” mechanisms which prevent tRNA aminoacylation with non-protein amino acids, such as homocysteine, homoserine, and ornithine, and thus their access to the Genetic Code. Of the ten AARSs that possess editing function, five edit homocysteine: Class I MetRS, ValRS, IleRS, LeuRS, and Class II LysRS. Studies of their editing function reveal that catalytic modules of these AARSs have a thiol-binding site that confers the ability to catalyze the aminoacylation of coenzyme A, pantetheine, and other thiols. Other AARSs also catalyze aminoacyl-thioester synthesis. Amino acid selectivity of AARSs in the aminoacyl thioesters formation reaction is relaxed, characteristic of primitive amino acid activation systems that may have originated in the Thioester World. With homocysteine and cysteine as thiol substrates, AARSs support peptide bond synthesis. Evolutionary origin of these activities is revealed by genomic comparisons, which show that AARSs are structurally related to proteins involved in coenzyme A/sulfur metabolism and non-coded peptide bond synthesis. These findings suggest that the extant AARSs descended from ancestral forms that were involved in non-coded Thioester-dependent peptide synthesis, functionally similar to the present-day non-ribosomal peptide synthetases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hieronim Jakubowski
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Life Sciences, Poznan 60-632, Poland.
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21
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Conformational status of cytochrome c upon N-homocysteinylation: Implications to cytochrome c release. Arch Biochem Biophys 2016; 614:23-27. [PMID: 28003096 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Revised: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
One of the proposed mechanisms of homocysteine (Hcy) toxicity is the post-translational modification of proteins by its metabolite, homocysteine thiolactone (HTL). Incubation of proteins with HTL has been shown to form covalent adducts with ε-amino group of lysine residues of protein (called N-homocysteinylation) which ultimately results in structural and functional alterations of the modified proteins. In the present study, the effects of HTL on the conformational and heme status of cytochrome c (cyt c) were investigated. Spectroscopic analyses revealed that HTL-modified cyt c undergoes certain conformational alterations leading to disturbed heme-Trp distance and packing of the apolar groups. These alterations were accompanied with the reduction of the heme moiety and activation of peroxidase-like function of cyt c, which is known to be a crucial event for initiation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Further structural characterization revealed that disruption of the heme-Met80 interaction, thereby converting the hexa-coordinate cyt c to a penta-coordinate species (with a free heme ligand), was responsible for the activation of the peroxidase activity. The study provides insights for the possible role of cyt c N-homocysteinylation in eliciting its toxicity and cell death.
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22
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Mei XY, He XD, Huang L, Qi DS, Nie J, Li Y, Si W, Zhao SM. Dehomocysteinylation is catalysed by the sirtuin-2-like bacterial lysine deacetylase CobB. FEBS J 2016; 283:4149-4162. [PMID: 27696686 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 09/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinemia, which is characterized by elevated blood levels of the non-protein amino acid homocysteine (Hcy), is an independent risk factor for many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and birth defects. The incorporation of homocysteine into proteins, known as protein N-homocysteinylation, has been considered a major mechanism that contributes to hyperhomocysteinemia. However, the process of dehomocysteinylation, the N-homocysteinylation substrates and the regulatory enzyme(s) remain largely unknown. In this study, we observed that the dehomocysteinylation reaction is a spontaneous process that can be inhibited by blocking -SH groups, which have been demonstrated to be critical for non-enzymatic dehomocysteinylation reactions. We also report that CobB, a known Sir2-like bacterial lysine deacetylase, catalyzes lysine dehomocysteinylation reactions both in vitro and in vivo. Our work provides insight into how this non-enzymatic modification might be removed from affected proteins, supplies potential targets for developing identification methods for N-homocysteine proteins, and identifies CobB as the first prokaryotic dehomocysteinylation enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yu Mei
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Interdisciplinary Center on Biology and Chemistry and Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Xia-Di He
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Da-Shi Qi
- Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ji Nie
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen Si
- Qingdao University of Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, China
| | - Shi-Min Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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23
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Moafian Z, Khoshaman K, Oryan A, Kurganov BI, Yousefi R. Protective Effects of Acetylation on the Pathological Reactions of the Lens Crystallins with Homocysteine Thiolactone. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164139. [PMID: 27706231 PMCID: PMC5051903 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Various post-translational lens crystallins modifications result in structural and functional insults, contributing to the development of lens opacity and cataract disorders. Lens crystallins are potential targets of homocysteinylation, particularly under hyperhomocysteinemia which has been indicated in various eye diseases. Since both homocysteinylation and acetylation primarily occur on protein free amino groups, we applied different spectroscopic methods and gel mobility shift analysis to examine the possible preventive role of acetylation against homocysteinylation. Lens crystallins were extensively acetylated in the presence of acetic anhydride and then subjected to homocysteinylation in the presence of homocysteine thiolactone (HCTL). Extensive acetylation of the lens crystallins results in partial structural alteration and enhancement of their stability, as well as improvement of α-crystallin chaperone-like activity. In addition, acetylation partially prevents HCTL-induced structural alteration and aggregation of lens crystallins. Also, acetylation protects against HCTL-induced loss of α-crystallin chaperone activity. Additionally, subsequent acetylation and homocysteinylation cause significant proteolytic degradation of crystallins. Therefore, further experimentation is required in order to judge effectively the preventative role of acetylation on the structural and functional insults induced by homocysteinylation of lens crystallins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Moafian
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory (PCL), Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Kazem Khoshaman
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory (PCL), Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Oryan
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Boris I. Kurganov
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky pr. 33, Moscow, 119071, Russia
| | - Reza Yousefi
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory (PCL), Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
- * E-mail:
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Comparison of Protein N-Homocysteinylation in Rat Plasma under Elevated Homocysteine Using a Specific Chemical Labeling Method. Molecules 2016; 21:molecules21091195. [PMID: 27617989 PMCID: PMC5292613 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21091195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Revised: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated blood concentrations of homocysteine have been well established as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and neuropsychiatric diseases, yet the etiologic relationship of homocysteine to these disorders remains poorly understood. Protein N-homocysteinylation has been hypothesized as a contributing factor; however, it has not been examined globally owing to the lack of suitable detection methods. We recently developed a selective chemical method to label N-homocysteinylated proteins with a biotin-aldehyde tag followed by Western blotting analysis, which was further optimized in this study. We then investigated the variation of protein N-homocysteinylation in plasma from rats on a vitamin B12 deficient diet. Elevated “total homocysteine” concentrations were determined in rats with a vitamin B12 deficient diet. Correspondingly, overall levels of plasma protein N-homocysteinylation displayed an increased trend, and furthermore, more pronounced and statistically significant changes (e.g., 1.8-fold, p-value: 0.03) were observed for some individual protein bands. Our results suggest that, as expected, a general metabolic correlation exists between “total homocysteine” and N-homocysteinylation, although other factors are involved in homocysteine/homocysteine thiolactone metabolism, such as the transsulfuration of homocysteine by cystathionine β-synthase or the hydrolysis of homocysteine thiolactone by paraoxonase 1 (PON1), may play more significant or direct roles in determining the level of N-homocysteinylation.
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25
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Javadi S, Yousefi R, Hosseinkhani S, Tamaddon AM, Uversky VN. Protective effects of carnosine on dehydroascorbate-induced structural alteration and opacity of lens crystallins: important implications of carnosine pleiotropic functions to combat cataractogenesis. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2016; 35:1766-1784. [PMID: 27472261 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2016.1194230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The high level of dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) in the lenticular tissue is an important risk factor for the development of age-related cataracts. In this study, the effects of DHA on structure and function of lens crystallins were studied in the presence of carnosine using gel mobility shift assay, different spectroscopic techniques, and lens culture analysis. The DHA-induced unfolding and aggregation of lens proteins were largely prevented by this endogenous dipeptide. The ability of carnosine to preserve native protein structure upon exposure to DHA suggests the essential role of this dipeptide in prevention of the senile cataract development. Although the DHA-modified α-crystallin was characterized by altered chaperone activity, functionality of this protein was significantly restored in the presence of carnosine. The increased proteolytic instability of DHA-modified lens proteins was also attenuated in the presence of carnosine. Furthermore, the assessment of lens culture suggested that DHA can induce significant lens opacity which can be prevented by carnosine. These observations can be explained by the pleiotropic functions of this endogenous and pharmaceutical compound, notably by its anti-glycation and anti-aggregation properties. In summary, our study suggests that carnosine may have therapeutic potential in preventing senile cataracts linked with the increased lenticular DHA generation, particularly under pathological conditions associated with the oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajjad Javadi
- a Protein Chemistry Laboratory (PCL), Department of Biology , College of Sciences, Shiraz University , Shiraz , Iran
| | - Reza Yousefi
- a Protein Chemistry Laboratory (PCL), Department of Biology , College of Sciences, Shiraz University , Shiraz , Iran
| | - Saman Hosseinkhani
- b Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Biochemistry , Tarbiat Modares University , Tehran , Iran
| | - Ali-Mohammad Tamaddon
- c Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy , Shiraz University of Medical Sciences , Shiraz , Iran
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- d Department of Molecular Medicine and Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL 33612 , USA
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Perła-Kajan J, Utyro O, Rusek M, Malinowska A, Sitkiewicz E, Jakubowski H. N-Homocysteinylation impairs collagen cross-linking in cystathionine β-synthase-deficient mice: a novel mechanism of connective tissue abnormalities. FASEB J 2016; 30:3810-3821. [PMID: 27530978 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201600539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) deficiency, a genetic disorder in homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism in humans, elevates plasma Hcy-thiolactone and leads to connective tissue abnormalities that affect the cardiovascular and skeletal systems. However, the underlying mechanism of these abnormalities is not understood. Hcy-thiolactone has the ability to form isopeptide bonds with protein lysine residues, which generates N-homocysteinylated protein. Because lysine residues are involved in collagen cross-linking, N-homocysteinylation of these lysines should impair cross-linking. Using a Tg-I278T Cbs-/- mouse model of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) which replicates the connective tissue abnormalities observed in CBS-deficient patients, we found that N-Hcy-collagen was elevated in bone, tail, and heart of Cbs-/- mice, whereas pyridinoline cross-links were significantly reduced. Plasma deoxypyridinoline cross-link and cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen were also significantly reduced in the Cbs-/- mice. Lysine oxidase activity and mRNA level were not reduced by the Cbs-/- genotype. We also showed that collagen carries S-linked Hcy bound to the thiol of N-linked Hcy. In vitro experiments showed that Hcy-thiolactone modifies lysine residues in collagen type I α-1 chain. Residue K160, located in the nonhelical N-telopeptide region and involved in pyridinoline cross-link formation, was also N-homocysteinylated in vivo Taken together, our findings showed that N-homocysteinylation of collagen in Cbs-/- mice impairs its cross-linking. These findings explain, at least in part, connective tissue abnormalities observed in HHcy.-Perła-Kajan, J., Utyro, O., Rusek, M., Malinowska, A., Sitkiewicz, E., Jakubowski, H. N-Homocysteinylation impairs collagen cross-linking in cystathionine β-synthase-deficient mice: a novel mechanism of connective tissue abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Perła-Kajan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Olga Utyro
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Poznań, Poland
| | - Marta Rusek
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, International Center for Public Health, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA; and
| | - Agata Malinowska
- Proteomics Laboratory, Biophysics Department, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Sitkiewicz
- Proteomics Laboratory, Biophysics Department, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hieronim Jakubowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland; .,Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Poznań, Poland.,Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, International Center for Public Health, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA; and
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Scullion SM, Hahn C, Tyka K, Flatt PR, McClenaghan NH, Lenzen S, Gurgul-Convey E. Improved antioxidative defence protects insulin-producing cells against homocysteine toxicity. Chem Biol Interact 2016; 256:37-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2016.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Kashani MR, Yousefi R, Akbarian M, Alavianmehr MM, Ghasemi Y. Structure, Chaperone Activity, and Aggregation of Wild-Type and R12C Mutant αB-Crystallins in the Presence of Thermal Stress and Calcium Ion - Implications for Role of Calcium in Cataract Pathogenesis. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2016; 81:122-34. [PMID: 27260392 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297916020061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The current study was performed with the aim to evaluate the chaperoning ability, structural features, and aggregation propensity of wild-type and R12C mutant αB-crystallins (αB-Cry) under thermal stress and in the presence of calcium ion. The results of different spectroscopic analyses suggest that wild-type and mutant αB-Cry have dissimilar secondary and tertiary structures. Moreover, αB-Cry indicates slightly improved chaperone activity upon the R12C mutation. Thermal stress and calcium, respectively, enhance and reduce the extent of solvent-exposed hydrophobic surfaces accompanying formation of ordered and non-ordered aggregate entities in both proteins. Compared to the wild-type protein, the R12C mutant counterpart shows significant resistance against thermal and calcium-induced aggregation. In addition, in the presence of calcium, significant structural variation was accompanied by reduction in the solvent-exposed hydrophobic patches and attenuation of chaperone activity in both proteins. Additionally, gel mobility shift assay indicates the intrinsic propensity of R12C mutant αB-Cry for disulfide bridge-mediated protein dimerization. Overall, the results of this study are of high significance for understanding the molecular details of different factors that are involved in the pathomechanism of cataract disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ragerdi Kashani
- Shiraz University, Protein Chemistry Laboratory (PCL), Department of Biology, Shiraz, 71345, Iran.
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29
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Ghahramani M, Yousefi R, Khoshaman K, Moghadam SS, Kurganov BI. Evaluation of structure, chaperone-like activity and protective ability of peroxynitrite modified human α-Crystallin subunits against copper-mediated ascorbic acid oxidation. Int J Biol Macromol 2016; 87:208-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.02.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Stroylova YY, Semenyuk PI, Asriyantz RA, Gaillard C, Haertlé T, Muronetz VI. Creation of catalytically active particles from enzymes crosslinked with a natural bifunctional agent--homocysteine thiolactone. Biopolymers 2016; 101:975-84. [PMID: 24912753 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Revised: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The current study describes an approach to creation of catalytically active particles with increased stability from enzymes by N-homocysteinylation, a naturally presented protein modification. Enzymatic activities and properties of two globular tetrameric enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were studied before and after N-homocysteinylation. Modification of these proteins concerns the accessible lysine residues and introduces an average of 2-2,5 homocysteine residues per protein monomer. Formation of a range of aggregates was observed for both enzymes, which assemble via formation of intermolecular noncovalent bonds and by disulfide bonds. It was demonstrated that both studied enzymes retain their catalytic activities on modification and the subsequent formation of oligomeric forms. At low concentrations of homocysteine thiolactone, modification of GAPDH leads not only to prevention of spontaneous inactivation but also increases thermal stability of this enzyme on heating to 80°C. A moderate reduction of the activity of GAPDH observed in case of its crosslinking with 50-fold excess of homocysteine thiolactone per lysine is probably caused by hindered substrate diffusion. Spherical particles of 100 nm and larger diameters were observed by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscope techniques after modification of GAPDH with different homocysteine thiolactone concentrations. In case of LDH, branched fibril-like aggregates were observed under the same conditions. Interestingly, crosslinked samples of both proteins were found to have reversible thermal denaturation profiles, indicating that modification with homocysteine thiolactone stabilizes the spatial structure of these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia Y Stroylova
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234, Moscow, Russia
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31
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Homocystinuria: Therapeutic approach. Clin Chim Acta 2016; 458:55-62. [PMID: 27059523 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Homocystinuria is a disorder of sulfur metabolism pathway caused by deficiency of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS). It is characterized by increased accumulation of homocysteine (Hcy) in the cells and plasma. Increased homocysteine results in various vascular and neurological complications. Present strategies to lower cellular and plasma homocysteine levels include vitamin B6 intake, dietary methionine restriction, betaine supplementation, folate and vitamin B12 administration. However, these strategies are inefficient for treatment of homocystinuria. In recent years, advances have been made towards developing new strategies to treat homocystinuria. These mainly include functional restoration to mutant CBS, enhanced clearance of Hcy from the body, prevention of N-homocysteinylation-induced toxicity and inhibition of homocysteine-induced oxidative stress. In this review, we have exclusively discussed the recent advances that have been achieved towards the treatment of homocystinuria. The review is an attempt to help clinicians in developing effective therapeutic strategies and designing novel drugs against homocystinuria.
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Protein N-homocysteinylation: From cellular toxicity to neurodegeneration. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2015; 1850:2239-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2015.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Chubarov AS, Zakharova OD, Koval OA, Romaschenko AV, Akulov AE, Zavjalov EL, Razumov IA, Koptyug IV, Knorre DG, Godovikova TS. Design of protein homocystamides with enhanced tumor uptake properties for (19)F magnetic resonance imaging. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:6943-54. [PMID: 26462051 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.09.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Revised: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/26/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Straightforward and reliable tools for in vivo imaging of tumors can benefit the studies of cancer development, as well as contribute to successful diagnosis and treatment of cancer. (19)F NMR offers an exceptional quantitative way of in vivo imaging of the infused agents because of the lack of (19)F signals from the endogenous molecules in the body. The purpose of this study is to develop molecular probes with appropriate NMR characteristics and the biocompatibility for in vivo applications using (19)F MRI. We have studied the reaction between perfluorotoluene and homocysteine thiolactone resulting in the formation of N-substituted homocysteine thiolactone derivative. It has been shown that the reaction occurs selectively at the para position. This fluorine-labeled homocysteine thiolactone has been employed for the introduction of a perfluorotoluene group as a (19)F-containing tag into human serum albumin. The modified protein has been studied in terms of its ability to aggregate and promote the formation of free radicals. By comparing the properties of N-perfluorotoluene-homocystamide of albumin with N-homocysteinylated albumin, it has been revealed that blocking of the alpha-amino group of the homocysteine residue in the fluorinated albumin conjugate inhibits the dangerous aggregation process, as well as free radical formation. A dual-labeled albumin-based molecular probe for (19)F MRI and fluorescence microscopy has been obtained by functionalizing the protein with both maleimide of a fluorescent dye and a fluorinated thiolactone derivative. The incubation of cells with this conjugate did not reveal any significant reduction in cell viability with respect to the parent albumin. The perfluorotoluene-labeled albumin has been demonstrated to act as a promising agent for in vivo (19)F MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey S Chubarov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Olga D Zakharova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Olga A Koval
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Andrey E Akulov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Ivan A Razumov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Igor V Koptyug
- International Tomography Center, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Dmitry G Knorre
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Tatyana S Godovikova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
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He C, Kulkarni SS, Thuaud F, Bode JW. Chemical Synthesis of the 20 kDa Heme Protein Nitrophorin 4 by α-Ketoacid-Hydroxylamine (KAHA) Ligation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201505379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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35
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He C, Kulkarni SS, Thuaud F, Bode JW. Chemical Synthesis of the 20 kDa Heme Protein Nitrophorin 4 by α‐Ketoacid‐Hydroxylamine (KAHA) Ligation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2015; 54:12996-3001. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201505379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Revised: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chunmao He
- Institute of Transformative Bio‐Molecules (WPI‐ITbM), Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464‐8602 (Japan)
| | - Sameer S. Kulkarni
- Institute of Transformative Bio‐Molecules (WPI‐ITbM), Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464‐8602 (Japan)
| | - Frédéric Thuaud
- Institute of Transformative Bio‐Molecules (WPI‐ITbM), Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464‐8602 (Japan)
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich (Switzerland) http://www.bode.ethz.ch/
| | - Jeffrey W. Bode
- Institute of Transformative Bio‐Molecules (WPI‐ITbM), Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464‐8602 (Japan)
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich (Switzerland) http://www.bode.ethz.ch/
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36
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Ghahramani M, Yousefi R, Khoshaman K, Alavianmehr MM. The impact of calcium ion on structure and aggregation propensity of peroxynitrite-modified lens crystallins: New insights into the pathogenesis of cataract disorders. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2015; 125:170-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Sharma GS, Kumar T, Singh LR. N-homocysteinylation induces different structural and functional consequences on acidic and basic proteins. PLoS One 2014; 9:e116386. [PMID: 25551634 PMCID: PMC4281231 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 12/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the proposed mechanisms of homocysteine toxicity in human is the modification of proteins by the metabolite of Hcy, homocysteine thilolactone (HTL). Incubation of proteins with HTL has earlier been shown to form covalent adducts with ε-amino group of lysine residues of protein (called N-homocysteinylation). It has been believed that protein N-homocysteinylation is the pathological hallmark of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders as homocysteinylation induces structural and functional alterations in proteins. In the present study, reactivity of HTL towards proteins with different physico-chemical properties and hence their structural and functional alterations were studied using different spectroscopic approaches. We found that N-homocysteinylation has opposite consequences on acidic and basic proteins suggesting that pI of the protein determines the extent of homocysteinylation, and the structural and functional consequences due to homocysteinylation. Mechanistically, pI of protein determines the extent of N-homocysteinylation and the associated structural and functional alterations. The study suggests the role of HTL primarily targeting acidic proteins in eliciting its toxicity that could yield mechanistic insights for the associated neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tarun Kumar
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
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Bullwinkle T, Lazazzera B, Ibba M. Quality Control and Infiltration of Translation by Amino Acids Outside of the Genetic Code. Annu Rev Genet 2014; 48:149-66. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-120213-092101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tammy Bullwinkle
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Beth Lazazzera
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Michael Ibba
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
- Ohio State Biochemistry Program and Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210;
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Kumar T, Sharma GS, Singh LR. Existence of molten globule state in homocysteine-induced protein covalent modifications. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113566. [PMID: 25405350 PMCID: PMC4236184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Homocysteine thiolactone is a toxic metabolite produced from homocysteine by amino-acyl t-RNA synthetase in error editing reaction. The basic cause of toxicity of homocysteine thiolactone is believed to be due to the adduct formation with lysine residues (known as protein N-homocysteinylation) leading to protein aggregation and loss of enzyme function. There was no data available until now that showed the effect of homocysteine thiolactone on the native state structural changes that led to aggregate formation. In the present study we have investigated the time dependent structural changes due to homocysteine thiolactone induced modifications on three different proteins having different physico-chemical properties (cytochrome-c, lysozyme and alpha lactalbumin). We discovered that N-homocysteinylation leads to the formation of molten globule state—an important protein folding intermediate in the protein folding pathway. We also found that the formation of the molten globule state might be responsible for the appearance of aggregate formation. The study indicates the importance of protein folding intermediate state in eliciting the homocysteine thiolactone toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarun Kumar
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
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Uprety R, Luo J, Liu J, Naro Y, Samanta S, Deiters A. Genetic Encoding of Caged Cysteine and Caged Homocysteine in Bacterial and Mammalian Cells. Chembiochem 2014; 15:1793-9. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201400073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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41
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Genoud V, Castañon M, Lauricella AM, Quintana I. Characterization of N-homocysteinylated Albumin Adducts. Protein J 2014; 33:85-91. [DOI: 10.1007/s10930-013-9540-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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42
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Identification of N-homocysteinylation sites in plasma proteins. Amino Acids 2013; 46:235-44. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-013-1617-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Effects of DL-homocysteine thiolactone on cardiac contractility, coronary flow, and oxidative stress markers in the isolated rat heart: the role of different gasotransmitters. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:318471. [PMID: 24350259 PMCID: PMC3857920 DOI: 10.1155/2013/318471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Revised: 09/20/2013] [Accepted: 10/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Considering the adverse effects of DL-homocysteine thiolactone hydrochloride (DL-Hcy TLHC) on vascular function and the possible role of oxidative stress in these mechanisms, the aim of this study was to assess the influence of DL-Hcy TLHC alone and in combination with specific inhibitors of important gasotransmitters, such as L-NAME, DL-PAG, and PPR IX, on cardiac contractility, coronary flow, and oxidative stress markers in an isolated rat heart. The hearts were retrogradely perfused according to the Langendorff technique at a 70 cm H2O and administered 10 μM DL-Hcy TLHC alone or in combination with 30 μM L-NAME, 10 μM DL-PAG, or 10 μM PPR IX. The following parameters were measured: dp/dt max, dp/dt min, SLVP, DLVP, MBP, HR, and CF. Oxidative stress markers were measured spectrophotometrically in coronary effluent through TBARS, NO2, O2−, and H2O2 concentrations. The administration of DL-Hcy TLHC alone decreased dp/dt max, SLVP, and CF but did not change any oxidative stress parameters. DL-Hcy TLHC with L-NAME decreased CF, O2−, H2O2, and TBARS. The administration of DL-Hcy TLHC with DL-PAG significantly increased dp/dt max but decreased DLVP, CF, and TBARS. Administration of DL-Hcy TLHC with PPR IX caused a decrease in dp/dt max, SLVP, HR, CF, and TBARS.
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44
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Jakubowski H. The Mechanism and Consequences of Homocysteine Incorporation Into Protein in Humans. PHOSPHORUS SULFUR 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/10426507.2012.736104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hieronim Jakubowski
- a Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School , International Center for Public Health , Newark , NJ , USA
- b Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, and Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology , University of Life Sciences , Poznań , Poland
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45
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Bossenmeyer‐Pourié C, Pourié G, Koziel V, Helle D, Jeannesson E, Guéant J, Beck B. Early methyl donor deficiency produces severe gastritis in mothers and offspring through
N
‐homocysteinylation of cytoskeleton proteins, cellular stress, and inflammation. FASEB J 2013; 27:2185-97. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.12-224642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carine Bossenmeyer‐Pourié
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)U954, Nutrition, Génétique et Exposition aux Risques EnvironnementauxVandœuvreFrance
| | - Grégory Pourié
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)U954, Nutrition, Génétique et Exposition aux Risques EnvironnementauxVandœuvreFrance
| | - Violette Koziel
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)U954, Nutrition, Génétique et Exposition aux Risques EnvironnementauxVandœuvreFrance
| | - Deborah Helle
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)U954, Nutrition, Génétique et Exposition aux Risques EnvironnementauxVandœuvreFrance
| | - Elise Jeannesson
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)U954, Nutrition, Génétique et Exposition aux Risques EnvironnementauxVandœuvreFrance
| | - Jean‐Louis Guéant
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)U954, Nutrition, Génétique et Exposition aux Risques EnvironnementauxVandœuvreFrance
| | - Bernard Beck
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)U954, Nutrition, Génétique et Exposition aux Risques EnvironnementauxVandœuvreFrance
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Aggregation and Fibrillation of Eye Lens Crystallins by Homocysteinylation; Implication in the Eye Pathological Disorders. Protein J 2012; 31:717-27. [DOI: 10.1007/s10930-012-9451-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Borowczyk K, Shih DM, Jakubowski H. Metabolism and neurotoxicity of homocysteine thiolactone in mice: evidence for a protective role of paraoxonase 1. J Alzheimers Dis 2012; 30:225-31. [PMID: 22406444 DOI: 10.3233/jad-2012-111940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Homocysteine (Hcy)-thiolactone is toxic, induces epileptic seizures in rodents, and has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Paraoxonase 1 (Pon1), a component of high-density lipoprotein, hydrolyzes Hcy-thiolactone in vitro. Whether this reflects a physiological function and whether Pon1 can protect against Hcy-thiolactone toxicity was unknown. Here we show that Hcy-thiolactone was elevated in brains of Pon1-/- mice (1.5-fold, p = 0.047) and that Pon1-/- mice excrete more Hcy-thiolactone than wild type animals (2.4-fold, p = 0.047). The frequency of seizures induced by intraperitoneal injections of L-Hcy-thiolactone was significantly higher in Pon1-/- mice compared with wild type animals (52.8% versus 29.5%, p = 0.042); the latency of seizures was lower in Pon1-/- mice than in wild type animals (31.8 min versus 41.2 min, p = 0.019). Using the Pon1 null mice, we provide the first direct evidence that a specific Hcy metabolite, Hcy-thiolactone, rather than Hcy itself is neurotoxic in vivo. Our findings indicate that Pon1 protects mice against Hcy-thiolactone neurotoxicity by hydrolyzing it in the brain, and suggest a mechanism by which Pon1 can protect against neurodegeneration associated with hyperhomocysteinemia and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Borowczyk
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, International Center for Public Health, Newark, NJ 07101, USA
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Akchiche N, Bossenmeyer-Pourié C, Kerek R, Martin N, Pourié G, Koziel V, Helle D, Alberto JM, Ortiou S, Camadro JM, Léger T, Guéant JL, Daval JL. Homocysteinylation of neuronal proteins contributes to folate deficiency-associated alterations of differentiation, vesicular transport, and plasticity in hippocampal neuronal cells. FASEB J 2012; 26:3980-92. [PMID: 22713523 DOI: 10.1096/fj.12-205757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Despite the key role in neuronal development of a deficit in the methyl donor folate, little is known on the underlying mechanisms. We therefore studied the consequences of folate deficiency on proliferation, differentiation, and plasticity of the rat H19-7 hippocampal cell line. Folate deficit reduced proliferation (17%) and sensitized cells to differentiation-associated apoptosis (+16%). Decreased production (-58%) of S-adenosylmethionine (the universal substrate for transmethylation reactions) and increased expression of histone deacetylases (HDAC4,6,7) would lead to epigenomic changes that may impair the differentiation process. Cell polarity, vesicular transport, and synaptic plasticity were dramatically affected, with poor neurite outgrowth (-57%). Cell treatment by an HDAC inhibitor (SAHA) led to a noticeable improvement of cell polarity and morphology, with longer processes. Increased homocysteine levels (+55%) consecutive to folate shortage produced homocysteinylation, evidenced by coimmunoprecipitations and mass spectrometry, and aggregation of motor proteins dynein and kinesin, along with functional alterations, as reflected by reduced interactions with partner proteins. Prominent homocysteinylation of key neuronal proteins and subsequent aggregation certainly constitute major adverse effects of folate deficiency, affecting normal development with possible long-lasting consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nassila Akchiche
- Inserm U954, Faculté de Médecine, 9 Avenue de la Forêt de Haye, F-54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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She ZG, Chen HZ, Yan Y, Li H, Liu DP. The human paraoxonase gene cluster as a target in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Antioxid Redox Signal 2012; 16:597-632. [PMID: 21867409 PMCID: PMC3270057 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2010.3774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The paraoxonase (PON) gene cluster contains three adjacent gene members, PON1, PON2, and PON3. Originating from the same fungus lactonase precursor, all of the three PON genes share high sequence identity and a similar β propeller protein structure. PON1 and PON3 are primarily expressed in the liver and secreted into the serum upon expression, whereas PON2 is ubiquitously expressed and remains inside the cell. Each PON member has high catalytic activity toward corresponding artificial organophosphate, and all exhibit activities to lactones. Therefore, all three members of the family are regarded as lactonases. Under physiological conditions, they act to degrade metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids and homocysteine (Hcy) thiolactone, among other compounds. By detoxifying both oxidized low-density lipoprotein and Hcy thiolactone, PONs protect against atherosclerosis and coronary artery diseases, as has been illustrated by many types of in vitro and in vivo experimental evidence. Clinical observations focusing on gene polymorphisms also indicate that PON1, PON2, and PON3 are protective against coronary artery disease. Many other conditions, such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and aging, have been shown to relate to PONs. The abundance and/or activity of PONs can be regulated by lipoproteins and their metabolites, biological macromolecules, pharmacological treatments, dietary factors, and lifestyle. In conclusion, both previous results and ongoing studies provide evidence, making the PON cluster a prospective target for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Gang She
- National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Borowczyk K, Tisończyk J, Jakubowski H. Metabolism and neurotoxicity of homocysteine thiolactone in mice: protective role of bleomycin hydrolase. Amino Acids 2012; 43:1339-48. [PMID: 22227865 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-011-1207-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2011] [Accepted: 12/21/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Genetic or nutritional disorders in homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism elevate Hcy-thiolactone and cause heart and brain diseases. Hcy-thiolactone has been implicated in these diseases because it has the ability to modify protein lysine residues and generate toxic N-Hcy-proteins with auto-immunogenic, pro-thrombotic, and amyloidogenic properties. Bleomycin hydrolase (Blmh) has the ability to hydrolyze L-Hcy-thiolactone (but not D-Hcy-thiolactone) to Hcy in vitro, but whether this reflects a physiological function has been unknown. Here, we show that Blmh (-/-) mice excreted in urine 1.8-fold more Hcy-thiolactone than wild-type Blmh (+/+) animals (P = 0.02). Hcy-thiolactone was elevated 2.3-fold in brains (P = 0.004) and 2.0-fold in kidneys (P = 0.047) of Blmh (-/-) mice relative to Blmh (+/+) animals. Plasma N-Hcy-protein was elevated in Blmh (-/-) mice fed a normal (2.3-fold, P < 0.001) or hyperhomocysteinemic diet (1.5-fold, P < 0.001), compared with Blmh (+/+) animals. More intraperitoneally injected L-Hcy-thiolactone was recovered in plasma in Blmh (-/-) mice than in wild-type Blmh (+/+) animals (83.1 vs. 39.3 μM, P < 0.0001). In Blmh (+/+) mice injected intraperitoneally with D-Hcy-thiolactone, D,L-Hcy-thiolactone, or L-Hcy-thiolactone, 88, 47, or 6.3%, respectively, of the injected dose was recovered in plasma. The incidence of seizures induced by L-Hcy-thiolactone injections (3,700 nmol/g body weight) was higher in Blmh (-/-) than in Blmh (+/+) mice (93.8 vs. 29.5%, P < 0.001). Using the Blmh null mice, we provide the first direct evidence that a specific Hcy metabolite, Hcy-thiolactone, rather than Hcy itself, is neurotoxic in vivo. Taken together, our findings indicate that Blmh protects mice against L-Hcy-thiolactone toxicity by metabolizing it to Hcy and suggest a mechanism by which Blmh might protect against neurodegeneration associated with hyperhomocysteinemia and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Borowczyk
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, International Center for Public Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 07101, USA
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