1
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Kamps J, Lin YH, Oliva R, Bader V, Winter R, Winklhofer KF, Tatzelt J. The N-terminal domain of the prion protein is required and sufficient for liquid-liquid phase separation: A crucial role of the Aβ-binding domain. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:100860. [PMID: 34102212 PMCID: PMC8254114 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Formation of biomolecular condensates through liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) has been described for several pathogenic proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases and is discussed as an early step in the formation of protein aggregates with neurotoxic properties. In prion diseases, neurodegeneration and formation of infectious prions is caused by aberrant folding of the cellular prion protein (PrPC). PrPC is characterized by a large intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain and a structured C-terminal globular domain. A significant fraction of mature PrPC is proteolytically processed in vivo into an entirely unstructured fragment, designated N1, and the corresponding C-terminal fragment C1 harboring the globular domain. Notably, N1 contains a polybasic motif that serves as a binding site for neurotoxic Aβ oligomers. PrP can undergo LLPS; however, nothing is known how phase separation of PrP is triggered on a molecular scale. Here, we show that the intrinsically disordered N1 domain is necessary and sufficient for LLPS of PrP. Similar to full-length PrP, the N1 fragment formed highly dynamic liquid-like droplets. Remarkably, a slightly shorter unstructured fragment, designated N2, which lacks the Aβ-binding domain and is generated under stress conditions, failed to form liquid-like droplets and instead formed amorphous assemblies of irregular structures. Through a mutational analysis, we identified three positively charged lysines in the postoctarepeat region as essential drivers of condensate formation, presumably largely via cation–π interactions. These findings provide insights into the molecular basis of LLPS of the mammalian prion protein and reveal a crucial role of the Aβ-binding domain in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Kamps
- Department of Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Yu-Hsuan Lin
- Department of Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Division of Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Verian Bader
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Roland Winter
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Division of Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Konstanze F Winklhofer
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department of Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
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2
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Rigoli M, Spagnolli G, Faccioli P, Requena JR, Biasini E. Ok Google, how could I design therapeutics against prion diseases? Curr Opin Pharmacol 2019; 44:39-45. [PMID: 31059982 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A number of previous successful attempts in the search for therapeutics for a variety of human pathologies highlight the importance of computational technologies in the drug discovery pipeline. This approach, often referred to as computer-aided drug design, is unfortunately inapplicable when the precise information regarding the three-dimensional structure of disease-associated proteins or the mechanism by which they are altered to generate misfolded isoforms are missing. A typical example is represented by prion diseases, fatal pathologies of the nervous system characterized by the conformational conversion of a physiological protein called PrPC into a misfolded and infectious isoform referred to as PrPSc. Missing information regarding the atomic structure of PrPSc as well as the mechanism of templated conversion of PrPC has severely halted the discovery of effective therapies for prion diseases. In this manuscript, we review emerging opportunities to apply computer-aided techniques to target PrPC, PrPSc or to design inhibitors of prion replication, and discuss how these fast-evolving technologies could lay the groundwork for the application of entirely novel rational drug design schemes for these devastating pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Rigoli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Giovanni Spagnolli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Jesús R Requena
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
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3
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Younan ND, Chen KF, Rose RS, Crowther DC, Viles JH. Prion protein stabilizes amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers and enhances Aβ neurotoxicity in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:13090-13099. [PMID: 29887525 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.003319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPC) can act as a cell-surface receptor for β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide; however, a role for PrPC in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is contested. Here, we expressed a range of Aβ isoforms and PrPC in the Drosophila brain. We found that co-expression of Aβ and PrPC significantly reduces the lifespan, disrupts circadian rhythms, and increases Aβ deposition in the fly brain. In contrast, under the same conditions, expression of Aβ or PrPC individually did not lead to these phenotypic changes. In vitro studies revealed that substoichiometric amounts of PrPC trap Aβ as oligomeric assemblies and fragment-preformed Aβ fibers. The ability of membrane-anchored PrPC to trap Aβ as cytotoxic oligomers at the membrane surface and fragment inert Aβ fibers suggests a mechanism by which PrPC exacerbates Aβ deposition and pathogenic phenotypes in the fly, supporting a role for PrPC in AD. This study provides a second animal model linking PrPC expression with Aβ toxicity and supports a role for PrPC in AD pathogenesis. Blocking the interaction of Aβ and PrPC represents a potential therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine D Younan
- From the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Ko-Fan Chen
- the Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom, and
| | - Ruth-Sarah Rose
- From the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Damian C Crowther
- the Neuroscience IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB21 6GH, United Kingdom
| | - John H Viles
- From the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom,
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4
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Ulbrich S, Janning P, Seidel R, Matschke J, Gonsberg A, Jung S, Glatzel M, Engelhard M, Winklhofer KF, Tatzelt J. Alterations in the brain interactome of the intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) in Alzheimer's disease. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197659. [PMID: 29791485 PMCID: PMC5965872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is implicated in neuroprotective signaling and neurotoxic pathways in both prion diseases and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Specifically, the intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain (N-PrP) has been shown to interact with neurotoxic ligands, such as Aβ and Scrapie prion protein (PrPSc), and to be crucial for the neuroprotective activity of PrPC. To gain further insight into cellular pathways tied to PrP, we analyzed the brain interactome of N-PrP. As a novel approach employing recombinantly expressed PrP and intein-mediated protein ligation, we used N-PrP covalently coupled to beads as a bait for affinity purification. N-PrP beads were incubated with human AD or control brain lysates. N-PrP binding partners were then identified by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (nano ESI-MS/MS). In addition to newly identified proteins we found many previously described PrP interactors, indicating a crucial role of the intrinsically disordered part of PrP in mediating protein interactions. Moreover, some interactors were found only in either non-AD or AD brain, suggesting aberrant PrPC interactions in the pathogenesis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ulbrich
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Petra Janning
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Ralf Seidel
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Jakob Matschke
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anika Gonsberg
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Sebastian Jung
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Konstanze F Winklhofer
- Department Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
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5
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Stincardini C, Massignan T, Biggi S, Elezgarai SR, Sangiovanni V, Vanni I, Pancher M, Adami V, Moreno J, Stravalaci M, Maietta G, Gobbi M, Negro A, Requena JR, Castilla J, Nonno R, Biasini E. An antipsychotic drug exerts anti-prion effects by altering the localization of the cellular prion protein. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182589. [PMID: 28787011 PMCID: PMC5546605 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are neurodegenerative conditions characterized by the conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC), an endogenous membrane glycoprotein of uncertain function, into PrPSc, a pathological isoform that replicates by imposing its abnormal folding onto PrPC molecules. A great deal of evidence supports the notion that PrPC plays at least two roles in prion diseases, by acting as a substrate for PrPSc replication, and as a mediator of its toxicity. This conclusion was recently supported by data suggesting that PrPC may transduce neurotoxic signals elicited by other disease-associated protein aggregates. Thus, PrPC may represent a convenient pharmacological target for prion diseases, and possibly other neurodegenerative conditions. Here, we sought to characterize the activity of chlorpromazine (CPZ), an antipsychotic previously shown to inhibit prion replication by directly binding to PrPC. By employing biochemical and biophysical techniques, we provide direct experimental evidence indicating that CPZ does not bind PrPC at biologically relevant concentrations. Instead, the compound exerts anti-prion effects by inducing the relocalization of PrPC from the plasma membrane. Consistent with these findings, CPZ also inhibits the cytotoxic effects delivered by a PrP mutant. Interestingly, we found that the different pharmacological effects of CPZ could be mimicked by two inhibitors of the GTPase activity of dynamins, a class of proteins involved in the scission of newly formed membrane vesicles, and recently reported as potential pharmacological targets of CPZ. Collectively, our results redefine the mechanism by which CPZ exerts anti-prion effects, and support a primary role for dynamins in the membrane recycling of PrPC, as well as in the propagation of infectious prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Stincardini
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Tania Massignan
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Silvia Biggi
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Saioa R. Elezgarai
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Sangiovanni
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Ilaria Vanni
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, Rome, Italy
| | - Michael Pancher
- HTS Core Facility, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Valentina Adami
- HTS Core Facility, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Jorge Moreno
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio
| | - Matteo Stravalaci
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Maietta
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Marco Gobbi
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Negro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Jesús R. Requena
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Joaquín Castilla
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Romolo Nonno
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, Rome, Italy
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
- * E-mail:
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6
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Massignan T, Sangiovanni V, Biggi S, Stincardini C, Elezgarai SR, Maietta G, Andreev IA, Ratmanova NK, Belov DS, Lukyanenko ER, Belov GM, Barreca ML, Altieri A, Kurkin AV, Biasini E. A Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Prion Replication and Mutant Prion Protein Toxicity. ChemMedChem 2017; 12:1286-1292. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tania Massignan
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO; University of Trento; 38123 Trento Italy
| | - Valeria Sangiovanni
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO; University of Trento; 38123 Trento Italy
| | - Silvia Biggi
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO; University of Trento; 38123 Trento Italy
| | - Claudia Stincardini
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO; University of Trento; 38123 Trento Italy
| | - Saioa R. Elezgarai
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO; University of Trento; 38123 Trento Italy
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology; IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri; 20156 Milan Italy
- Department of Neuroscience; IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri; 20156 Milan Italy
| | - Giulia Maietta
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO; University of Trento; 38123 Trento Italy
| | - Ivan A. Andreev
- Department of Chemistry; Lomonosov Moscow State University; 119991 Moscow Russia
| | - Nina K. Ratmanova
- Department of Chemistry; Lomonosov Moscow State University; 119991 Moscow Russia
| | - Dmitry S. Belov
- Department of Chemistry; Lomonosov Moscow State University; 119991 Moscow Russia
| | - Evgeny R. Lukyanenko
- Department of Chemistry; Lomonosov Moscow State University; 119991 Moscow Russia
| | - Grigory M. Belov
- Department of Chemistry; Lomonosov Moscow State University; 119991 Moscow Russia
- EDASA Scientific srls; 66050 San Salvo CH Italy
| | | | - Andrea Altieri
- Department of Chemistry; Lomonosov Moscow State University; 119991 Moscow Russia
- EDASA Scientific srls; 66050 San Salvo CH Italy
| | - Alexander V. Kurkin
- Department of Chemistry; Lomonosov Moscow State University; 119991 Moscow Russia
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO; University of Trento; 38123 Trento Italy
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology; IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri; 20156 Milan Italy
- Department of Neuroscience; IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri; 20156 Milan Italy
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7
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Nyeste A, Stincardini C, Bencsura P, Cerovic M, Biasini E, Welker E. The prion protein family member Shadoo induces spontaneous ionic currents in cultured cells. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36441. [PMID: 27819308 PMCID: PMC5098206 DOI: 10.1038/srep36441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Some mutant forms of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) carrying artificial deletions or point mutations associated with familial human prion diseases are capable of inducing spontaneous ionic currents across the cell membrane, conferring hypersensitivity to certain antibiotics to a wide range of cultured cells and primary cerebellar granular neurons (CGNs). These effects are abrogated when the wild type (WT) form is co-expressed, suggesting that they might be related to a physiological activity of PrPC. Interestingly, the prion protein family member Shadoo (Sho) makes cells hypersensitive to the same antibiotics as mutant PrP-s, an effect that is diminished by the co-expression of WT-PrP. Here, we report that Sho engages in another mutant PrP-like activity: it spontaneously induces large ionic currents in cultured SH-SY5Y cells, as detected by whole-cell patch clamping. These currents are also decreased by the co-expression of WT-PrP. Furthermore, deletion of the N-terminal (RXXX)8 motif of Sho, mutation of the eight arginine residues of this motif to glutamines, or replacement of the hydrophobic domain by that of PrP, also diminish Sho-induced ionic currents. Our results suggest that the channel activity that is also characteristic to some pathogenic PrP mutants may be linked to a physiological function of Sho.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antal Nyeste
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Claudia Stincardini
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Center for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, ITALY
| | - Petra Bencsura
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Milica Cerovic
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20156 Milano, ITALY
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Center for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, ITALY
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20156 Milano, ITALY
| | - Ervin Welker
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
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8
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Massignan T, Cimini S, Stincardini C, Cerovic M, Vanni I, Elezgarai SR, Moreno J, Stravalaci M, Negro A, Sangiovanni V, Restelli E, Riccardi G, Gobbi M, Castilla J, Borsello T, Nonno R, Biasini E. A cationic tetrapyrrole inhibits toxic activities of the cellular prion protein. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23180. [PMID: 26976106 PMCID: PMC4791597 DOI: 10.1038/srep23180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are rare neurodegenerative conditions associated with the conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into PrPSc, a self-replicating isoform (prion) that accumulates in the central nervous system of affected individuals. The structure of PrPSc is poorly defined, and likely to be heterogeneous, as suggested by the existence of different prion strains. The latter represents a relevant problem for therapy in prion diseases, as some potent anti-prion compounds have shown strain-specificity. Designing therapeutics that target PrPC may provide an opportunity to overcome these problems. PrPC ligands may theoretically inhibit the replication of multiple prion strains, by acting on the common substrate of any prion replication reaction. Here, we characterized the properties of a cationic tetrapyrrole [Fe(III)-TMPyP], which was previously shown to bind PrPC, and inhibit the replication of a mouse prion strain. We report that the compound is active against multiple prion strains in vitro and in cells. Interestingly, we also find that Fe(III)-TMPyP inhibits several PrPC-related toxic activities, including the channel-forming ability of a PrP mutant, and the PrPC-dependent synaptotoxicity of amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers, which are associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. These results demonstrate that molecules binding to PrPC may produce a dual effect of blocking prion replication and inhibiting PrPC-mediated toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Massignan
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20156 Milan, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Sara Cimini
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Stincardini
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Milica Cerovic
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Vanni
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Saioa R Elezgarai
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20156 Milan, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Jorge Moreno
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio 48160, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Matteo Stravalaci
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Negro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Valeria Sangiovanni
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Elena Restelli
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Geraldina Riccardi
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Gobbi
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Joaquín Castilla
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio 48160, Bizkaia, Spain.,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao 48013, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Tiziana Borsello
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20156 Milan, Italy.,Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Milan University, 20133 Milan Italy
| | - Romolo Nonno
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20156 Milan, Italy.,Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, 00161 Rome, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
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9
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Didonna A, Venturini AC, Hartman K, Vranac T, Čurin Šerbec V, Legname G. Characterization of four new monoclonal antibodies against the distal N-terminal region of PrP(c). PeerJ 2015; 3:e811. [PMID: 25802800 PMCID: PMC4369333 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders that affect humans and animals. They are characterized by the accumulation in the central nervous system of a pathological form of the host-encoded prion protein (PrPC). The prion protein is a membrane glycoprotein that consists of two domains: a globular, structured C-terminus and an unstructured N-terminus. The N-terminal part of the protein is involved in different functions in both health and disease. In the present work we discuss the production and biochemical characterization of a panel of four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the distal N-terminus of PrPC using a well-established methodology based on the immunization of Prnp0/0 mice. Additionally, we show their ability to block prion (PrPSc) replication at nanomolar concentrations in a cell culture model of prion infection. These mAbs represent a promising tool for prion diagnostics and for studying the physiological role of the N-terminal domain of PrPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Didonna
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Anja Colja Venturini
- Department for Production of Diagnostic Reagents and Research, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katrina Hartman
- Department for Production of Diagnostic Reagents and Research, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tanja Vranac
- Department for Production of Diagnostic Reagents and Research, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vladka Čurin Šerbec
- Department for Production of Diagnostic Reagents and Research, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,ELETTRA-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A, Trieste, Italy
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