1
|
O'Brien KM, Rix AS, Jasmin A, Lavelle E. The hypoxia response pathway in the Antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps is functional despite a poly Q/E insertion mutation in HIF-1α. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2024; 50:101218. [PMID: 38412701 PMCID: PMC11128347 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Antarctic notothenioid fishes, inhabiting the oxygen-rich Southern Ocean, possess a polyglutamine and glutamic acid (poly Q/E) insertion mutation in the master transcriptional regulator of oxygen homeostasis, hypoxia- inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). To determine if this mutation impairs the ability of HIF-1 to regulate gene expression in response to hypoxia, we exposed Notothenia coriiceps, with a poly Q/E insertion mutation in HIF-1α that is 9 amino acids long, to hypoxia (2.3 mg L-1 O2) or normoxia (10 mg L -1 O2) for 12 h. Heart ventricles, brain, liver, and gill tissue were harvested and changes in gene expression quantified using RNA sequencing. Levels of glycogen and lactate were also quantified to determine if anaerobic metabolism increases in response to hypoxia. Exposure to hypoxia resulted in 818 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in liver tissue of N. coriiceps. Many hypoxic genes were induced, including ones involved in the MAP kinase and FoxO pathways, glycolytic metabolism, and vascular remodeling. In contrast, there were fewer than 104 unique DEGs in each of the other tissues sampled. Lactate levels significantly increased in liver in response to hypoxia, indicating that anaerobic metabolism increases in response to hypoxia in this tissue. Overall, our results indicate that the hypoxia response pathway is functional in N. coriiceps despite a poly Q/E mutation in HIF-1α, and confirm that Antarctic fishes are capable of altering gene expression in response to hypoxia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K M O'Brien
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology and Department of Biology & Wildlife, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA.
| | - A S Rix
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology and Department of Biology & Wildlife, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA.
| | - A Jasmin
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology and Department of Biology & Wildlife, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - E Lavelle
- National Center for Genome Resources, Santa Fe, NM 87505, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Skeens A, Markle JM, Petipas G, Frey SL, Legleiter J. Divalent cations promote huntingtin fibril formation on endoplasmic reticulum derived and model membranes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2024; 1866:184339. [PMID: 38763270 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2024.184339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Huntington's Disease (HD) is caused by an abnormal expansion of the polyglutamine (polyQ) domain within the first exon of the huntingtin protein (htt). This expansion promotes disease-related htt aggregation into amyloid fibrils and the formation of proteinaceous inclusion bodies within neurons. Fibril formation is a complex heterogenous process involving an array of aggregate species such as oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils. In HD, structural abnormalities of membranes of several organelles develop. In particular, the accumulation of htt fibrils near the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) impinges upon the membrane, resulting in ER damage, altered dynamics, and leakage of Ca2+. Here, the aggregation of htt at a bilayer interface assembled from ER-derived liposomes was investigated, and fibril formation directly on these membranes was enhanced. Based on these observations, simplified model systems were used to investigate mechanisms associated with htt aggregation on ER membranes. As the ER-derived liposome fractions contained residual Ca2+, the role of divalent cations was also investigated. In the absence of lipids, divalent cations had minimal impact on htt structure and aggregation. However, the presence of Ca2+ or Mg2+ played a key role in promoting fibril formation on lipid membranes despite reduced htt insertion into and association with lipid interfaces, suggesting that the ability of divalent cations to promote fibril formation on membranes is mediated by induced changes to the lipid membrane physicochemical properties. With enhanced concentrations of intracellular calcium being a hallmark of HD, the ability of divalent cations to influence htt aggregation at lipid membranes may play a role in aggregation events that lead to organelle abnormalities associated with disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Skeens
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Jordyn M Markle
- The Department of Chemistry, Gettysburg College, 300 N. Washington Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA
| | - Gabriella Petipas
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Shelli L Frey
- The Department of Chemistry, Gettysburg College, 300 N. Washington Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA.
| | - Justin Legleiter
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; Rockefeller Neurosciences Institutes, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mohanty P, Phan TM, Mittal J. Transient interdomain interactions modulate the monomeric structural ensemble and oligomerization landscape of Huntingtin Exon 1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.03.592468. [PMID: 38766024 PMCID: PMC11100600 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.03.592468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Polyglutamine expansion (≥ 36 residues) within the N-terminal exon-1 of Huntingtin (Httex1) leads to Huntington's disease, a neurogenerative condition marked by the presence of intranuclear Htt inclusions. Notably, the polyglutamine tract in Httex1 is flanked by an N-terminal coiled-coil domain - N17 (17 amino acids), which undergoes self-association to promote the formation of soluble Httex1 oligomers and brings the aggregation-prone polyQ tracts in close spatial proximity. However, the mechanisms underlying the subsequent conversion of soluble oligomers into insoluble β-rich aggregates with increasing polyQ length, remain unclear. Current knowledge suggests that expansion of the polyQ tract increases its helicity, and this favors its oligomerization and aggregation. In addition, studies utilizing conformation-specific antibodies and a stable coiled-coil heterotetrametric system fused to polyQ indicate that domain "cross-talk" (i.e., interdomain interactions) may be necessary to efficiently promote the emergence of toxic conformations (in monomers and oligomers) and fibrillar aggregation. Here, we performed extensive atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations (aggregate time ∼ 0.7 ms) of N17-polyQ fragments to uncover the interplay between structural transformation and domain "cross-talk" on the monomeric structural ensemble and oligomerization landscape of Httex1. Our simulation ensembles of N17-polyQ monomers validated against 13 C NMR chemical shifts indicated that in addition to elevated α-helicity, polyQ expansion also favors transient, interdomain (N17-polyQ) interactions which result in the emergence of β-conformations. Further, interdomain interactions decreased the overall stability of N17-mediated dimers by counteracting the stabilizing effect of increased α-helicity and promoted a heterogenous oligomerization landscape on the sub-microsecond timescale. Overall, our study uncovers the significance of domain "cross-talk" in modulating the monomeric conformational ensemble and oligomerization landscape of Httex1 to favor the formation of amyloid aggregates.
Collapse
|
4
|
Liang X, Ren H, Han F, Liang R, Zhao J, Liu H. The new direction of drug development: Degradation of undruggable targets through targeting chimera technology. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:632-685. [PMID: 37983964 DOI: 10.1002/med.21992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Imbalances in protein and noncoding RNA levels in vivo lead to the occurrence of many diseases. In addition to the use of small molecule inhibitors and agonists to restore these imbalances, recently emerged targeted degradation technologies provide a new direction for disease treatment. Targeted degradation technology directly degrades target proteins or RNA by utilizing the inherent degradation pathways, thereby eliminating the functions of pathogenic proteins (or RNA) to treat diseases. Compared with traditional therapies, targeted degradation technology which avoids the principle of traditional inhibitor occupation drive, has higher efficiency and selectivity, and widely expands the range of drug targets. It is one of the most promising and hottest areas for future drug development. Herein, we systematically introduced the in vivo degradation systems applied to degrader design: ubiquitin-proteasome system, lysosomal degradation system, and RNA degradation system. We summarized the development progress, structural characteristics, and limitations of novel chimeric design technologies based on different degradation systems. In addition, due to the lack of clear ligand-binding pockets, about 80% of disease-associated proteins cannot be effectively intervened with through traditional therapies. We deeply elucidated how to use targeted degradation technology to discover and design molecules for representative undruggable targets including transcription factors, small GTPases, and phosphatases. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of targeted degradation technology-related research advances and a new guidance for the chimeric design of undruggable targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuewu Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hairu Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fengyang Han
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Renwen Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayan Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang D, Honda S, Shin MK, Watase K, Mizusawa H, Ishikawa K, Shimizu S. Subcellular localization and ER-mediated cytotoxic function of α1A and α1ACT in spinocerebellar ataxia type 6. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 695:149481. [PMID: 38211534 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) is a polyglutamine (polyQ) disease, which is caused by the elongation of CAG repeats encoding polyQ in the CACNA1A gene. The CACNA1A gene encodes two proteins, namely, α1A (a subunit of the plasma membrane calcium channel), which is translated in its entire length, and α1ACT, which is translated from the second cistron, and both proteins have a polyQ tract. The α1A-polyQ and α1ACT-polyQ proteins with an elongated polyQ stretch have been reported to form aggregates in cells and induce neuronal cell death, but the subcellular localization of these proteins and their cytotoxic properties remain unclear. In this study, we first analyzed SCA6 model mice and found that α1A-polyQlong localized mainly to the Golgi apparatus, whereas a portion of α1ACT-polyQlong localized to the nucleus. Analysis using Neuro2a cells also showed similar subcellular localizations of these proteins, and a proportion of both proteins localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Cytotoxic studies demonstrated that both proteins induce both the ER stress response and apoptosis, indicating that they are able to induce ER stress-induced apoptosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Di Wang
- Department of Pathological Cell Biology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan; Department of Personalized Genomic Medicine for Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
| | - Shinya Honda
- Department of Pathological Cell Biology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
| | - Min Kyoung Shin
- Department of Pathological Cell Biology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
| | - Kei Watase
- Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
| | - Hidehiro Mizusawa
- Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
| | - Kinya Ishikawa
- Department of Personalized Genomic Medicine for Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.
| | - Shigeomi Shimizu
- Department of Pathological Cell Biology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kumar M, Tyagi N, Faruq M. The molecular mechanisms of spinocerebellar ataxias for DNA repeat expansion in disease. Emerg Top Life Sci 2023; 7:289-312. [PMID: 37668011 DOI: 10.1042/etls20230013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a heterogenous group of neurodegenerative disorders which commonly inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. They cause muscle incoordination due to degeneration of the cerebellum and other parts of nervous system. Out of all the characterized (>50) SCAs, 14 SCAs are caused due to microsatellite repeat expansion mutations. Repeat expansions can result in toxic protein gain-of-function, protein loss-of-function, and/or RNA gain-of-function effects. The location and the nature of mutation modulate the underlying disease pathophysiology resulting in varying disease manifestations. Potential toxic effects of these mutations likely affect key major cellular processes such as transcriptional regulation, mitochondrial functioning, ion channel dysfunction and synaptic transmission. Involvement of several common pathways suggests interlinked function of genes implicated in the disease pathogenesis. A better understanding of the shared and distinct molecular pathogenic mechanisms in these diseases is required to develop targeted therapeutic tools and interventions for disease management. The prime focus of this review is to elaborate on how expanded 'CAG' repeats contribute to the common modes of neurotoxicity and their possible therapeutic targets in management of such devastating disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manish Kumar
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Nishu Tyagi
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Mohammed Faruq
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bayandina SV, Mukha DV. Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a Model for Studying Human Neurodegenerative Disorders: Viral Capsid Protein Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17213. [PMID: 38139041 PMCID: PMC10743263 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article, we briefly describe human neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) and the experimental models used to study them. The main focus is the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an experimental model used to study neurodegenerative processes. We review recent experimental data on the aggregation of human neurodegenerative disease-related proteins in yeast cells. In addition, we describe the results of studies that were designed to investigate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the aggregation of reporter proteins. The advantages and disadvantages of the experimental approaches that are currently used to study the formation of protein aggregates are described. Special attention is given to the similarity between aggregates that form as a result of protein misfolding and viral factories-special structural formations in which viral particles are formed inside virus-infected cells. A separate part of the review is devoted to our previously published study on the formation of aggregates upon expression of the insect densovirus capsid protein in yeast cells. Based on the reviewed results of studies on NDs and related protein aggregation, as well as viral protein aggregation, a new experimental model system for the study of human NDs is proposed. The core of the proposed system is a comparative transcriptomic analysis of changes in signaling pathways during the expression of viral capsid proteins in yeast cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dmitry V. Mukha
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Stonebraker AR, Hankin R, Kapp KL, Li P, Valentine SJ, Legleiter J. Charge within Nt17 peptides modulates huntingtin aggregation and initial lipid binding events. Biophys Chem 2023; 303:107123. [PMID: 37852163 PMCID: PMC10843285 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.107123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Toxic aggregation of pathogenic huntingtin protein (htt) is implicated in Huntington's disease and influenced by various factors, including the first seventeen amino acids at the N-terminus (Nt17) and the presence of lipid membranes. Nt17 has a propensity to form an amphipathic α-helix in the presence of binding partners, which promotes α-helix rich oligomer formation and facilitates htt/lipid interactions. Within Nt17 are multiple sites that are subject to post-translational modification, including acetylation and phosphorylation. Acetylation can occur at lysine 6, 9, and/or 15 while phosphorylation can occur at threonine 3, serine 13, and/or serine 16. Such modifications impact aggregation and lipid binding through the alteration of various intra- and intermolecular interactions. When incubated with htt-exon1(46Q), free Nt17 peptides containing point mutations mimicking acetylation or phosphorylation reduced fibril formation and altered oligomer morphologies. Upon exposure to lipid vesicles, changes to peptide/lipid complexation were observed and peptide-containing oligomers demonstrated reduced lipid interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa R Stonebraker
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Rachel Hankin
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Kathryn L Kapp
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Peng Li
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Stephen J Valentine
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Justin Legleiter
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; Rockefeller Neurosciences Institutes, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sena LS, Lemes RB, Furtado GV, Saraiva-Pereira ML, Jardim LB. A model for the dynamics of expanded CAG repeat alleles: ATXN2 and ATXN3 as prototypes. Front Genet 2023; 14:1296614. [PMID: 38034492 PMCID: PMC10682950 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1296614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Spinocerebellar ataxia types 2 (SCA2) and 3 (SCA3/MJD) are diseases due to dominant unstable expansions of CAG repeats (CAGexp). Age of onset of symptoms (AO) correlates with the CAGexp length. Repeat instability leads to increases in the expanded repeats, to important AO anticipations and to the eventual extinction of lineages. Because of that, compensatory forces are expected to act on the maintenance of expanded alleles, but they are poorly understood. Objectives: we described the CAGexp dynamics, adapting a classical equation and aiming to estimate for how many generations will the descendants of a de novo expansion last. Methods: A mathematical model was adapted to encompass anticipation, fitness, and allelic segregation; and empirical data fed the model. The arbitrated ancestral mutations included in the model had the lowest CAGexp and the highest AO described in the literature. One thousand generations were simulated until the alleles were eliminated, fixed, or 650 generations had passed. Results: All SCA2 lineages were eliminated in a median of 10 generations. In SCA3/MJD lineages, 593 were eliminated in a median of 29 generations. The other ones were eliminated due to anticipation after the 650th generation or remained indefinitely with CAG repeats transitioning between expanded and unexpanded ranges. Discussion: the model predicted outcomes compatible with empirical data - the very old ancestral SCA3/MJD haplotype, and the de novo SCA2 expansions -, which previously seemed to be contradictory. This model accommodates these data into understandable dynamics and might be useful for other CAGexp disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Schenatto Sena
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Centros de Pesquisa Clínica e Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriel Vasata Furtado
- Centros de Pesquisa Clínica e Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Maria Luiza Saraiva-Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Centros de Pesquisa Clínica e Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Laura Bannach Jardim
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Centros de Pesquisa Clínica e Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kandola T, Venkatesan S, Zhang J, Lerbakken BT, Von Schulze A, Blanck JF, Wu J, Unruh JR, Berry P, Lange JJ, Box AC, Cook M, Sagui C, Halfmann R. Pathologic polyglutamine aggregation begins with a self-poisoning polymer crystal. eLife 2023; 12:RP86939. [PMID: 37921648 PMCID: PMC10624427 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A long-standing goal of amyloid research has been to characterize the structural basis of the rate-determining nucleating event. However, the ephemeral nature of nucleation has made this goal unachievable with existing biochemistry, structural biology, and computational approaches. Here, we addressed that limitation for polyglutamine (polyQ), a polypeptide sequence that causes Huntington's and other amyloid-associated neurodegenerative diseases when its length exceeds a characteristic threshold. To identify essential features of the polyQ amyloid nucleus, we used a direct intracellular reporter of self-association to quantify frequencies of amyloid appearance as a function of concentration, conformational templates, and rational polyQ sequence permutations. We found that nucleation of pathologically expanded polyQ involves segments of three glutamine (Q) residues at every other position. We demonstrate using molecular simulations that this pattern encodes a four-stranded steric zipper with interdigitated Q side chains. Once formed, the zipper poisoned its own growth by engaging naive polypeptides on orthogonal faces, in a fashion characteristic of polymer crystals with intramolecular nuclei. We further show that self-poisoning can be exploited to block amyloid formation, by genetically oligomerizing polyQ prior to nucleation. By uncovering the physical nature of the rate-limiting event for polyQ aggregation in cells, our findings elucidate the molecular etiology of polyQ diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tej Kandola
- Stowers Institute for Medical ResearchKansas CityUnited States
- The Open UniversityMilton KeynesUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Jiahui Zhang
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State UniversityRaleighUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Jianzheng Wu
- Stowers Institute for Medical ResearchKansas CityUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas CityUnited States
| | - Jay R Unruh
- Stowers Institute for Medical ResearchKansas CityUnited States
| | - Paula Berry
- Stowers Institute for Medical ResearchKansas CityUnited States
| | - Jeffrey J Lange
- Stowers Institute for Medical ResearchKansas CityUnited States
| | - Andrew C Box
- Stowers Institute for Medical ResearchKansas CityUnited States
| | - Malcolm Cook
- Stowers Institute for Medical ResearchKansas CityUnited States
| | - Celeste Sagui
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State UniversityRaleighUnited States
| | - Randal Halfmann
- Stowers Institute for Medical ResearchKansas CityUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Breznak SM, Peng Y, Deng L, Kotb NM, Flamholz Z, Rapisarda IT, Martin ET, LaBarge KA, Fabris D, Gavis ER, Rangan P. H/ACA snRNP-dependent ribosome biogenesis regulates translation of polyglutamine proteins. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade5492. [PMID: 37343092 PMCID: PMC10284551 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade5492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells in many systems, including Drosophila germline stem cells (GSCs), increase ribosome biogenesis and translation during terminal differentiation. Here, we show that the H/ACA small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) complex that promotes pseudouridylation of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and ribosome biogenesis is required for oocyte specification. Reducing ribosome levels during differentiation decreased the translation of a subset of messenger RNAs that are enriched for CAG trinucleotide repeats and encode polyglutamine-containing proteins, including differentiation factors such as RNA-binding Fox protein 1. Moreover, ribosomes were enriched at CAG repeats within transcripts during oogenesis. Increasing target of rapamycin (TOR) activity to elevate ribosome levels in H/ACA snRNP complex-depleted germlines suppressed the GSC differentiation defects, whereas germlines treated with the TOR inhibitor rapamycin had reduced levels of polyglutamine-containing proteins. Thus, ribosome biogenesis and ribosome levels can control stem cell differentiation via selective translation of CAG repeat-containing transcripts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shane M. Breznak
- Department of Biological Sciences, RNA Institute, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, LSRB 2033D, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Yingshi Peng
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Limin Deng
- Department of Biological Sciences, RNA Institute, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, LSRB 2033D, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55N Eagleville Rd, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Noor M. Kotb
- Department of Biological Sciences, RNA Institute, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, LSRB 2033D, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY 12144, USA
| | - Zachary Flamholz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Ian T. Rapisarda
- Department of Biological Sciences, RNA Institute, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, LSRB 2033D, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Medicine, 1858 W Grandview Blvd, Erie, PA 16509, USA
| | - Elliot T. Martin
- Department of Biological Sciences, RNA Institute, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, LSRB 2033D, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Kara A. LaBarge
- Department of Biological Sciences, RNA Institute, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, LSRB 2033D, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Dan Fabris
- Department of Biological Sciences, RNA Institute, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, LSRB 2033D, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55N Eagleville Rd, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Elizabeth R. Gavis
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Prashanth Rangan
- Department of Biological Sciences, RNA Institute, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, LSRB 2033D, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hong JY, Wang JY, Yue HW, Zhang XL, Zhang SX, Jiang LL, Hu HY. Coaggregation of polyglutamine (polyQ) proteins is mediated by polyQ-tract interactions and impairs cellular proteostasis. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2023. [PMID: 37171184 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Nine polyglutamine (polyQ) proteins have already been identified that are considered to be associated with the pathologies of neurodegenerative disorders called polyQ diseases, but whether these polyQ proteins mutually interact and synergize in proteinopathies remains to be elucidated. In this study, 4 polyQ-containing proteins, androgen receptor (AR), ataxin-7 (Atx7), huntingtin (Htt) and ataxin-3 (Atx3), are used as model molecules to investigate their heterologous coaggregation and consequent impact on cellular proteostasis. Our data indicate that the N-terminal fragment of polyQ-expanded (PQE) Atx7 or Htt can coaggregate with and sequester AR and Atx3 into insoluble aggregates or inclusions through their respective polyQ tracts. In vitro coprecipitation and NMR titration experiments suggest that this specific coaggregation depends on polyQ lengths and is probably mediated by polyQ-tract interactions. Luciferase reporter assay shows that these coaggregation and sequestration effects can deplete the cellular availability of AR and consequently impair its transactivation function. This study provides valid evidence supporting the viewpoint that coaggregation of polyQ proteins is mediated by polyQ-tract interactions and benefits our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the accumulation of different polyQ proteins in inclusions and their copathological causes of polyQ diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Ye Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jian-Yang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hong-Wei Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiang-Le Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shu-Xian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lei-Lei Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Hong-Yu Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Haver HN, Wedemeyer M, Butcher E, Peterson FC, Volkman BF, Scaglione KM. Mechanistic Insight into the Suppression of Polyglutamine Aggregation by SRCP1. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:549-560. [PMID: 36791332 PMCID: PMC10023506 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a hallmark of the polyglutamine diseases. One potential treatment for these diseases is suppression of polyglutamine aggregation. Previous work identified the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum as being naturally resistant to polyglutamine aggregation. Further work identified serine-rich chaperone protein 1 (SRCP1) as a protein that is both necessary in Dictyostelium and sufficient in human cells to suppress polyglutamine aggregation. Therefore, understanding how SRCP1 suppresses aggregation may be useful for developing therapeutics for the polyglutamine diseases. Here we utilized a de novo protein modeling approach to generate predictions of SRCP1's structure. Using our best-fit model, we generated mutants that were predicted to alter the stability of SRCP1 and tested these mutants' stability in cells. Using these data, we identified top models of SRCP1's structure that are consistent with the C-terminal region of SRCP1 forming a β-hairpin with a highly dynamic N-terminal region. We next generated a series of peptides that mimic the predicted β-hairpin and validated that they inhibit aggregation of a polyglutamine-expanded mutant huntingtin exon 1 fragment in vitro. To further assess mechanistic details of how SRCP1 inhibits polyglutamine aggregation, we utilized biochemical assays to determine that SRCP1 inhibits secondary nucleation in a manner dependent upon the regions flanking the polyglutamine tract. Finally, to determine if SRCP1 more could generally suppress protein aggregation, we confirmed that it was sufficient to inhibit aggregation of polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-3. Together these studies provide details into the structural and mechanistic basis of the inhibition of protein aggregation by SRCP1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Holly N. Haver
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710 USA
| | - Michael Wedemeyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226 USA
| | - Erin Butcher
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710 USA
| | - Francis C. Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226 USA
| | - Brian F. Volkman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226 USA
| | - K. Matthew Scaglione
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710 USA
- Department of Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710 USA
- Duke Center for Neurodegeneration and Neurotherapeutics, Durham, NC, 27710 USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Shahpasand-Kroner H, Siddique I, Malik R, Linares GR, Ivanova MI, Ichida J, Weil T, Münch J, Sanchez-Garcia E, Klärner FG, Schrader T, Bitan G. Molecular Tweezers: Supramolecular Hosts with Broad-Spectrum Biological Applications. Pharmacol Rev 2023; 75:263-308. [PMID: 36549866 PMCID: PMC9976797 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.122.000654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysine-selective molecular tweezers (MTs) are supramolecular host molecules displaying a remarkably broad spectrum of biologic activities. MTs act as inhibitors of the self-assembly and toxicity of amyloidogenic proteins using a unique mechanism. They destroy viral membranes and inhibit infection by enveloped viruses, such as HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, by mechanisms unrelated to their action on protein self-assembly. They also disrupt biofilm of Gram-positive bacteria. The efficacy and safety of MTs have been demonstrated in vitro, in cell culture, and in vivo, suggesting that these versatile compounds are attractive therapeutic candidates for various diseases, infections, and injuries. A lead compound called CLR01 has been shown to inhibit the aggregation of various amyloidogenic proteins, facilitate their clearance in vivo, prevent infection by multiple viruses, display potent anti-biofilm activity, and have a high safety margin in animal models. The inhibitory effect of CLR01 against amyloidogenic proteins is highly specific to abnormal self-assembly of amyloidogenic proteins with no disruption of normal mammalian biologic processes at the doses needed for inhibition. Therapeutic effects of CLR01 have been demonstrated in animal models of proteinopathies, lysosomal-storage diseases, and spinal-cord injury. Here we review the activity and mechanisms of action of these intriguing compounds and discuss future research directions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Molecular tweezers are supramolecular host molecules with broad biological applications, including inhibition of abnormal protein aggregation, facilitation of lysosomal clearance of toxic aggregates, disruption of viral membranes, and interference of biofilm formation by Gram-positive bacteria. This review discusses the molecular and cellular mechanisms of action of the molecular tweezers, including the discovery of distinct mechanisms acting in vitro and in vivo, and the application of these compounds in multiple preclinical disease models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hedieh Shahpasand-Kroner
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ibrar Siddique
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ravinder Malik
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Gabriel R Linares
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Magdalena I Ivanova
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Justin Ichida
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Tatjana Weil
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jan Münch
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Elsa Sanchez-Garcia
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Frank-Gerrit Klärner
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Thomas Schrader
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Gal Bitan
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Nowak B, Kozlowska E, Pawlik W, Fiszer A. Atrophin-1 Function and Dysfunction in Dentatorubral-Pallidoluysian Atrophy. Mov Disord 2023; 38:526-536. [PMID: 36809552 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) is a rare, incurable genetic disease that belongs to the group of polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases. DRPLA is the most common in the Japanese population; however, its global prevalence is also increasing due to better clinical recognition. It is characterized by cerebellar ataxia, myoclonus, epilepsy, dementia, and chorea. DRPLA is caused by dynamic mutation of CAG repeat expansion in ATN1 gene encoding the atrophin-1 protein. In the cascade of molecular disturbances, the pathological form of atrophin-1 is the initial factor, which has not been precisely characterized so far. Reports indicate that DRPLA is associated with disrupted protein-protein interactions (in which an expanded polyQ tract plays a crucial role), as well as gene expression deregulation. There is a great need to design efficient therapy that would address the underlying neurodegenerative process and thus prevent or alleviate DRPLA symptoms. An in-depth understanding of the normal atrophin-1 function and mutant atrophin-1 dysfunction is crucial for this purpose. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Nowak
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Emilia Kozlowska
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Weronika Pawlik
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Fiszer
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Saher O, Zaghloul EM, Umek T, Hagey DW, Mozafari N, Danielsen MB, Gouda AS, Lundin KE, Jørgensen PT, Wengel J, Smith CIE, Zain R. Chemical Modifications and Design Influence the Potency of Huntingtin Anti-Gene Oligonucleotides. Nucleic Acid Ther 2023; 33:117-131. [PMID: 36735581 PMCID: PMC10066784 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2022.0046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative, trinucleotide repeat (TNR) disorder affecting both males and females. It is caused by an abnormal increase in the length of CAG•CTG TNR in exon 1 of the Huntingtin gene (HTT). The resultant, mutant HTT mRNA and protein cause neuronal toxicity, suggesting that reduction of their levels would constitute a promising therapeutic approach. We previously reported a novel strategy in which chemically modified oligonucleotides (ONs) directly target chromosomal DNA. These anti-gene ONs were able to downregulate both HTT mRNA and protein. In this study, various locked nucleic acid (LNA)/DNA mixmer anti-gene ONs were tested to investigate the effects of varying ON length, LNA content, and fatty acid modification on HTT expression. Altering the length did not significantly influence the ON potency, while LNA content was critical for activity. Utilization of palmitoyl-modified LNA monomers enhanced the ON activity relatively to the corresponding nonmodified LNA under serum starvation conditions. Furthermore, the number of palmitoylated LNA monomers and their positioning greatly affected ON potency. In addition, we performed RNA sequencing analysis, which showed that the anti-gene ONs affect the "immune system process, mRNA processing, and neurogenesis." Furthermore, we observed that for repeat containing genes, there is a higher tendency for antisense off-targeting. Taken together, our findings provide an optimized design of anti-gene ONs that could potentially be developed as DNA-targeting therapeutics for this class of TNR-related diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Osama Saher
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Research Center Karolinska (TRACK), Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Huddinge, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Eman M Zaghloul
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Research Center Karolinska (TRACK), Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Huddinge, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Tea Umek
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Research Center Karolinska (TRACK), Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Daniel W Hagey
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Research Center Karolinska (TRACK), Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Negin Mozafari
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Research Center Karolinska (TRACK), Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Mathias B Danielsen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Biomolecular Nanoscale Engineering Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Alaa S Gouda
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Biomolecular Nanoscale Engineering Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Karin E Lundin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Research Center Karolinska (TRACK), Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Per T Jørgensen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Biomolecular Nanoscale Engineering Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jesper Wengel
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Biomolecular Nanoscale Engineering Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - C I Edvard Smith
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Research Center Karolinska (TRACK), Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Rula Zain
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Research Center Karolinska (TRACK), Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Huddinge, Sweden.,Centre for Rare Diseases, Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Saha G, Ghosh S, Dubey VK, Saudagar P. Gene Alterations Induced by Glutamine (Q) Encoding CAG Repeats Associated with Neurodegeneration. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2575:3-23. [PMID: 36301468 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2716-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have been reported linking the role of polyglutamine (polyQ) disease-associated proteins with altered gene regulation induced by an unstable trinucleotide (CAG) repeat. Owing to their dynamic nature of expansion, these DNA repeats form secondary structures interfering with the normal cellular mechanisms like replication and transcription and, thereby, have become the underlying cause of numerous neurodegenerative disorders involving mental retardation and/or muscular or neuronal degeneration. Despite the widespread expression of the disease-causing protein, specific subsets of neurons are susceptible to specific patterns of inheritance and clinical symptoms. Although this cell-type selectivity is still elusive and less understood, it has been found that aberrant transcriptional regulation is one of the primary causes of polyQ diseases where the functions of histone-modifying complexes are disrupted. Besides, epigenetic modifications play a critical role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. In this chapter, we will be delving into how these polyQ repeats induce the self-assembly and aggregation of altered carrier proteins based on gene alterations, causing neuronal toxicity and cellular deaths. Besides, genomic instability in CAG repeats due to altered chromatin-related enzymes will be highlighted, along with epigenetic changes present in many polyQ disorders. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms in the root cause of these disorders will culminate in identifying therapeutic approaches for the treatment of these neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gundappa Saha
- Department of Basic & Translational Sciences, Penn Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sukanya Ghosh
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Vikash Kumar Dubey
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prakash Saudagar
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Warangal, Telangana, India.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Suárez-Sánchez R, Ávila-Avilés RD, Hernández-Hernández JM, Sánchez-Celis D, Azotla-Vilchis CN, Gómez-Macías ER, Leyva-García N, Ortega A, Magaña JJ, Cisneros B, Hernández-Hernández O. RNA Foci Formation in a Retinal Glial Model for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 13:life13010023. [PMID: 36675972 PMCID: PMC9861853 DOI: 10.3390/life13010023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cerebellar ataxia and retinopathy. SCA7 is caused by a CAG expansion in the ATXN7 gene, which results in an extended polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the encoded protein, the ataxin-7. PolyQ expanded ataxin-7 elicits neurodegeneration in cerebellar Purkinje cells, however, its impact on the SCA7-associated retinopathy remains to be addressed. Since Müller glial cells play an essential role in retinal homeostasis, we generate an inducible model for SCA7, based on the glial Müller MIO-M1 cell line. The SCA7 pathogenesis has been explained by a protein gain-of-function mechanism, however, the contribution of the mutant RNA to the disease cannot be excluded. In this direction, we found nuclear and cytoplasmic foci containing mutant RNA accompanied by subtle alternative splicing defects in MIO-M1 cells. RNA foci were also observed in cells from different lineages, including peripheral mononuclear leukocytes derived from SCA7 patient, suggesting that this molecular mark could be used as a blood biomarker for SCA7. Collectively, our data showed that our glial cell model exhibits the molecular features of SCA7, which makes it a suitable model to study the RNA toxicity mechanisms, as well as to explore therapeutic strategies aiming to alleviate glial dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Suárez-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Medicina Genómica, Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis, Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de México 14389, Mexico
| | - Rodolfo Daniel Ávila-Avilés
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 07360, Mexico
| | - J. Manuel Hernández-Hernández
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 07360, Mexico
| | - Daniel Sánchez-Celis
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 07360, Mexico
| | - Cuauhtli N. Azotla-Vilchis
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 07360, Mexico
| | - Enue R. Gómez-Macías
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 07360, Mexico
| | - Norberto Leyva-García
- Laboratorio de Medicina Genómica, Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis, Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de México 14389, Mexico
| | - Arturo Ortega
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 07360, Mexico
| | - Jonathan J. Magaña
- Laboratorio de Medicina Genómica, Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis, Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de México 14389, Mexico
- Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Departamento de Bioingeniería, Tecnológico de Monterrey-Campus Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 14380, Mexico
| | - Bulmaro Cisneros
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 07360, Mexico
| | - Oscar Hernández-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Medicina Genómica, Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis, Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de México 14389, Mexico
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +52-(55)-5999-1000 (ext. 14710)
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Okumura H, Kawasaki T, Nakamura K. Probing protein misfolding and dissociation with an infrared free-electron laser. Methods Enzymol 2022; 679:65-96. [PMID: 36682873 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.08.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Misfolding is observed in the mutant proteins that are causative for neurodegenerative disorders such as polyglutamine diseases. These proteins are prone to aggregate in the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells. To reproduce cells with the aggregated proteins, gene expression system is usually applied, in which the expression construct having the mutated DNA sequence of the interest is transfected into cells. The transfected DNA is finally converted into the mutant protein, which is gradually aggregated in the cells. In addition, a simple method to prepare the cells having aggregates inside has been recently applied. Peptides were first aggregated by incubating them in water. The aggregates are spontaneously taken up by cells because aggregated proteins generally transfer between cells. Peptides with different degrees of aggregation can be made by changing the incubation times and temperatures, which enables to examine contribution of aggregation to the toxicity to the recipient cells. Moreover, such cells can be used for therapeutic researches of diseases in which aggregates are involved. In this chapter, we show methods to induce aggregation of peptides. The functional analyses of the cells with aggregates are also described. Then, experimental dissociation of the aggregates produced using this method by mid infrared free electron laser irradiation and its theoretical support by molecular dynamics simulation are introduced as the therapeutic research for neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hisashi Okumura
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan; Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan; Department of Structural Molecular Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takayasu Kawasaki
- Accelerator Laboratory, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Nakamura
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Adegbuyiro A, Stonebraker AR, Sedighi F, Fan CK, Hodges B, Li P, Valentine SJ, Legleiter J. Oxidation Promotes Distinct Huntingtin Aggregates in the Presence and Absence of Membranes. Biochemistry 2022; 61:1517-1530. [PMID: 35759798 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) domain within the first exon of the huntingtin (htt) protein is the underlying cause of Huntington's disease, a genetic neurodegenerative disorder. PolyQ expansion triggers htt aggregation into oligomers, fibrils, and inclusions. The 17 N-terminal amino acids (Nt17) of htt-exon1, which directly precede the polyQ domain enhances polyQ fibrillization and functions as a lipid-binding domain. A variety of post-translational modifications occur within Nt17, including oxidation of two methionine residues. Here, the impact of oxidation within Nt17 on htt aggregation both in the presence and absence of lipid membranes was investigated. Treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reduced fibril formation in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in shorter fibrils and an increased oligomer population. With excessive H2O2 treatments, fibrils developed a unique morphological feature around their periphery. In the presence of total brain lipid vesicles, H2O2 impacted fibrillization in a similar manner. That is, oligomerization was promoted at the expense of fibril elongation. The interaction of unoxidized and oxidized htt with supported lipid bilayers was directly observed using in situ atomic force microscopy. Without oxidation, granular htt aggregates developed on the bilayer surface. However, in the presence of H2O2, distinct plateau-like regions initially developed on the bilayer surface that gave way to rougher patches containing granular aggregates. Collectively, these observations suggest that oxidation of methionine residues within Nt17 plays a crucial role in both the aggregation of htt and its ability to interact with lipid surfaces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adewale Adegbuyiro
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Alyssa R Stonebraker
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Faezeh Sedighi
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Caleb K Fan
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Breanna Hodges
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Peng Li
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Stephen J Valentine
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Justin Legleiter
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States.,Rockefeller Neurosciences Institutes, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Lee WS, Al-Ramahi I, Jeong HH, Jang Y, Lin T, Adamski CJ, Lavery LA, Rath S, Richman R, Bondar VV, Alcala E, Revelli JP, Orr HT, Liu Z, Botas J, Zoghbi HY. Cross-species genetic screens identify transglutaminase 5 as a regulator of polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-1. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:e156616. [PMID: 35499073 PMCID: PMC9057624 DOI: 10.1172/jci156616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative disorders are caused by abnormal accumulation of misfolded proteins. In spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), accumulation of polyglutamine-expanded (polyQ-expanded) ataxin-1 (ATXN1) causes neuronal toxicity. Lowering total ATXN1, especially the polyQ-expanded form, alleviates disease phenotypes in mice, but the molecular mechanism by which the mutant ATXN1 is specifically modulated is not understood. Here, we identified 22 mutant ATXN1 regulators by performing a cross-species screen of 7787 and 2144 genes in human cells and Drosophila eyes, respectively. Among them, transglutaminase 5 (TG5) preferentially regulated mutant ATXN1 over the WT protein. TG enzymes catalyzed cross-linking of ATXN1 in a polyQ-length-dependent manner, thereby preferentially modulating mutant ATXN1 stability and oligomerization. Perturbing Tg in Drosophila SCA1 models modulated mutant ATXN1 toxicity. Moreover, TG5 was enriched in the nuclei of SCA1-affected neurons and colocalized with nuclear ATXN1 inclusions in brain tissue from patients with SCA1. Our work provides a molecular insight into SCA1 pathogenesis and an opportunity for allele-specific targeting for neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Won-Seok Lee
- Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Science Program, and
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ismael Al-Ramahi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Hyun-Hwan Jeong
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics-Neurology, and
| | - Youjin Jang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Tao Lin
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Carolyn J. Adamski
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Laura A. Lavery
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Smruti Rath
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ronald Richman
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Vitaliy V. Bondar
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Elizabeth Alcala
- Exceptional Research Opportunities Program, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Revelli
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Harry T. Orr
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Zhandong Liu
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics-Neurology, and
| | - Juan Botas
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Huda Y. Zoghbi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics-Neurology, and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Roy M, Nath AK, Pal I, Dey SG. Second Sphere Interactions in Amyloidogenic Diseases. Chem Rev 2022; 122:12132-12206. [PMID: 35471949 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Amyloids are protein aggregates bearing a highly ordered cross β structural motif, which may be functional but are mostly pathogenic. Their formation, deposition in tissues and consequent organ dysfunction is the central event in amyloidogenic diseases. Such protein aggregation may be brought about by conformational changes, and much attention has been directed toward factors like metal binding, post-translational modifications, mutations of protein etc., which eventually affect the reactivity and cytotoxicity of the associated proteins. Over the past decade, a global effort from different groups working on these misfolded/unfolded proteins/peptides has revealed that the amino acid residues in the second coordination sphere of the active sites of amyloidogenic proteins/peptides cause changes in H-bonding pattern or protein-protein interactions, which dramatically alter the structure and reactivity of these proteins/peptides. These second sphere effects not only determine the binding of transition metals and cofactors, which define the pathology of some of these diseases, but also change the mechanism of redox reactions catalyzed by these proteins/peptides and form the basis of oxidative damage associated with these amyloidogenic diseases. The present review seeks to discuss such second sphere modifications and their ramifications in the etiopathology of some representative amyloidogenic diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2Dm), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and prion diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madhuparna Roy
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, 2A & 2B, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Arnab Kumar Nath
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, 2A & 2B, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Ishita Pal
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, 2A & 2B, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Somdatta Ghosh Dey
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, 2A & 2B, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Aggresome assembly at the centrosome is driven by CP110–CEP97–CEP290 and centriolar satellites. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:483-496. [PMID: 35411088 PMCID: PMC9033585 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00869-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Protein degradation is critical to maintaining cellular homeostasis, and perturbation of the ubiquitin proteasome system leads to the accumulation of protein aggregates. These aggregates are either directed towards autophagy for destruction or sequestered into an inclusion, termed the aggresome, at the centrosome. Utilizing high-resolution quantitative analysis, here, we define aggresome assembly at the centrosome in human cells. Centriolar satellites are proteinaceous granules implicated in the trafficking of proteins to the centrosome. During aggresome assembly, satellites were required for the growth of the aggresomal structure from an initial ring of phosphorylated HSP27 deposited around the centrioles. The seeding of this phosphorylated HSP27 ring depended on the centrosomal proteins CP110, CEP97 and CEP290. Owing to limiting amounts of CP110, senescent cells, which are characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates, were defective in aggresome formation. Furthermore, satellites and CP110–CEP97–CEP290 were required for the aggregation of mutant huntingtin. Together, these data reveal roles for CP110–CEP97–CEP290 and satellites in the control of cellular proteostasis and the aggregation of disease-relevant proteins. Prosser et al. report that centriolar satellite and centrosomal proteins seed aggresomes, perinuclear inclusions of misfolded proteins, and may play a role in aggresome formation during senescence and huntingtin aggregation.
Collapse
|
24
|
Srinivasan E, Ram V, Rajasekaran R. A review on Huntington protein Insight into protein aggregation and therapeutic interventions. Curr Drug Metab 2022; 23:260-282. [PMID: 35319359 DOI: 10.2174/1389200223666220321103942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a distressing, innate neurodegenerative disease that descends from CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene causing behavioral changes, motor dysfunction, and dementia in children and adults. Mutation in huntingtin (HTT) protein has been suggested to cause neuron loss in the cortex and striatum through various mechanisms including abnormal regulation of transcription, proteasomal dysfunction, post-translational modification, and other events, regulating toxicity. Pathogenesis of HD involves cleavage of the huntingtin protein followed by the neuronal accumulation of its aggregated form. Several research groups made possible efforts to reduce huntingtin gene expression, protein accumulation, and protein aggregation using inhibitors and molecular chaperones as developing drugs against HD. Herein, we review the mechanism proposed towards the formation of HTT protein aggregation and the impact of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Srinivasan
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore - 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
- Department of Bioinformatics, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, Chennai - 602105, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Vavish Ram
- Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore - 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - R Rajasekaran
- Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore - 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Margreiter MA, Witzenberger M, Wasser Y, Davydova E, Janowski R, Metz J, Habib P, Sahnoun SEM, Sobisch C, Poma B, Palomino-Hernandez O, Wagner M, Carell T, Jon Shah N, Schulz JB, Niessing D, Voigt A, Rossetti G. Small-molecule modulators of TRMT2A decrease PolyQ aggregation and PolyQ-induced cell death. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:443-458. [PMID: 35070167 PMCID: PMC8759985 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are characterized by an expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeats encoding for an uninterrupted prolonged polyQ tract. We previously identified TRMT2A as a strong modifier of polyQ-induced toxicity in an unbiased large-scale screen in Drosophila melanogaster. This work aimed at identifying and validating pharmacological TRMT2A inhibitors as treatment opportunities for polyQ diseases in humans. Computer-aided drug discovery was implemented to identify human TRMT2A inhibitors. Additionally, the crystal structure of one protein domain, the RNA recognition motif (RRM), was determined, and Biacore experiments with the RRM were performed. The identified molecules were validated for their potency to reduce polyQ aggregation and polyQ-induced cell death in human HEK293T cells and patient derived fibroblasts. Our work provides a first step towards pharmacological inhibition of this enzyme and indicates TRMT2A as a viable drug target for polyQ diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Margreiter
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany.,Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen, 52425 Aachen, Germany
| | - Monika Witzenberger
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Structural Biology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Yasmine Wasser
- Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Elena Davydova
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Structural Biology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Robert Janowski
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Structural Biology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Metz
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany
| | - Pardes Habib
- Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,JARA - BRAIN - Translational Medicine, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sabri E M Sahnoun
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Carina Sobisch
- Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Benedetta Poma
- Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Oscar Palomino-Hernandez
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany.,Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen, 52425 Aachen, Germany
| | - Mirko Wagner
- Department Chemie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Thomas Carell
- Department Chemie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
| | - N Jon Shah
- JARA - BRAIN - Translational Medicine, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-11), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany
| | - Jörg B Schulz
- Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,JARA - BRAIN - Translational Medicine, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-11), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany
| | - Dierk Niessing
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Structural Biology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Aaron Voigt
- Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,JARA - BRAIN - Translational Medicine, Aachen, Germany
| | - Giulia Rossetti
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany.,Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,Juelich Supercomputing Center (JSC), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany.,Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Kolkwitz PE, Mohrlüder J, Willbold D. Inhibition of Polyglutamine Misfolding with D-Enantiomeric Peptides Identified by Mirror Image Phage Display Selection. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12020157. [PMID: 35204656 PMCID: PMC8961585 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Nine heritable diseases are known that are caused by unphysiologically elongated polyglutamine tracts in human proteins leading to misfolding, aggregation and neurodegeneration. Current therapeutic strategies include efforts to inhibit the expression of the respective gene coding for the polyglutamine-containing proteins. There are, however, concerns that this may interfere with the physiological function of the respective protein. We aim to stabilize the protein’s native conformation by D-enantiomeric peptide ligands to prevent misfolding and aggregation, shift the equilibrium between aggregates and monomers towards monomers and dissolve already existing aggregates into non-toxic and functional monomers. Here, we performed a mirror image phage display selection on the polyglutamine containing a fragment of the androgen receptor. An elongated polyglutamine tract in the androgen receptor causes spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). The selected D-enantiomeric peptides were tested for their ability to inhibit polyglutamine-induced androgen receptor aggregation. We identified D-enantiomeric peptide QF2D-2 (sqsqwstpqGkwshwprrr) as the most promising candidate. It binds to an androgen receptor fragment with 46 consecutive glutamine residues and decelerates its aggregation, even in seeded experiments. Therefore, QF2D-2 may be a promising drug candidate for SBMA treatment or even for all nine heritable polyglutamine diseases, since its aggregation-inhibiting property was shown also for a more general polyglutamine target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Elisabeth Kolkwitz
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (P.E.K.); (J.M.)
| | - Jeannine Mohrlüder
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (P.E.K.); (J.M.)
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (P.E.K.); (J.M.)
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
N-alpha-acetylation of Huntingtin protein increases its propensity to aggregate. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101363. [PMID: 34732320 PMCID: PMC8640455 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a poly-CAG expansion in the first exon of the HTT gene, resulting in an extended poly-glutamine tract in the N-terminal domain of the Huntingtin (Htt) protein product. Proteolytic fragments of the poly-glutamine–containing N-terminal domain form intranuclear aggregates that are correlated with HD. Post-translational modification of Htt has been shown to alter its function and aggregation properties. However, the effect of N-terminal Htt acetylation has not yet been considered. Here, we developed a bacterial system to produce unmodified or N-terminally acetylated and aggregation-inducible Htt protein. We used this system together with biochemical, biophysical, and imaging studies to confirm that the Htt N-terminus is an in vitro substrate for the NatA N-terminal acetyltransferase and show that N-terminal acetylation promotes aggregation. These studies represent the first link between N-terminal acetylation and the promotion of a neurodegenerative disease and implicates NatA-mediated Htt acetylation as a new potential therapeutic target in HD.
Collapse
|
28
|
Haas E, Incebacak RD, Hentrich T, Huridou C, Schmidt T, Casadei N, Maringer Y, Bahl C, Zimmermann F, Mills JD, Aronica E, Riess O, Schulze-Hentrich JM, Hübener-Schmid J. A Novel SCA3 Knock-in Mouse Model Mimics the Human SCA3 Disease Phenotype Including Neuropathological, Behavioral, and Transcriptional Abnormalities Especially in Oligodendrocytes. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 59:495-522. [PMID: 34716557 PMCID: PMC8786755 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02610-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 is the most common autosomal dominant inherited ataxia worldwide, caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the Ataxin-3 gene resulting in a polyglutamine (polyQ)-expansion in the corresponding protein. The disease is characterized by neuropathological, phenotypical, and specific transcriptional changes in affected brain regions. So far, there is no mouse model available representing all the different aspects of the disease, yet highly needed for a better understanding of the disease pathomechanisms. Here, we characterized a novel Ataxin-3 knock-in mouse model, expressing a heterozygous or homozygous expansion of 304 CAACAGs in the murine Ataxin-3 locus using biochemical, behavioral, and transcriptomic approaches. We compared neuropathological, and behavioral features of the new knock-in model with the in SCA3 research mostly used YAC84Q mouse model. Further, we compared transcriptional changes found in cerebellar samples of the SCA3 knock-in mice and post-mortem human SCA3 patients. The novel knock-in mouse is characterized by the expression of a polyQ-expansion in the murine Ataxin-3 protein, leading to aggregate formation, especially in brain regions known to be vulnerable in SCA3 patients, and impairment of Purkinje cells. Along these neuropathological changes, the mice showed a reduction in body weight accompanied by gait and balance instability. Transcriptomic analysis of cerebellar tissue revealed age-dependent differential expression, enriched for genes attributed to myelinating oligodendrocytes. Comparing these changes with those found in cerebellar tissue of SCA3 patients, we discovered an overlap of differentially expressed genes pointing towards similar gene expression perturbances in several genes linked to myelin sheaths and myelinating oligodendrocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Haas
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rana D Incebacak
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Hentrich
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Chrisovalantou Huridou
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schmidt
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Casadei
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,DFG NGS Competence Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yacine Maringer
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carola Bahl
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Frank Zimmermann
- Interfaculty Biomedical Facility (IBF) Biotechnology lab, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - James D Mills
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,DFG NGS Competence Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julia M Schulze-Hentrich
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jeannette Hübener-Schmid
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. .,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
McGurk L, Rifai OM, Shcherbakova O, Perlegos AE, Byrns CN, Carranza FR, Zhou HW, Kim HJ, Zhu Y, Bonini NM. Toxicity of pathogenic ataxin-2 in Drosophila shows dependence on a pure CAG repeat sequence. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:1797-1810. [PMID: 34077532 PMCID: PMC8444453 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 is a polyglutamine (polyQ) disease associated with an expanded polyQ domain within the protein product of the ATXN2 gene. Interestingly, polyQ repeat expansions in ATXN2 are also associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and parkinsonism depending upon the length of the polyQ repeat expansion. The sequence encoding the polyQ repeat also varies with disease presentation: a pure CAG repeat is associated with SCA2, whereas the CAG repeat in ALS and parkinsonism is typically interrupted with the glutamine encoding CAA codon. Here, we asked if the purity of the CAG sequence encoding the polyQ repeat in ATXN2 could impact the toxicity of the ataxin-2 protein in vivo in Drosophila. We found that ataxin-2 encoded by a pure CAG repeat conferred toxicity in the retina and nervous system, whereas ataxin-2 encoded by a CAA-interrupted repeat or CAA-only repeat failed to confer toxicity, despite expression of the protein at similar levels. Furthermore, the CAG-encoded ataxin-2 protein aggregated in the fly eye, while ataxin-2 encoded by either a CAA/G or CAA repeat remained diffuse. The toxicity of the CAG-encoded ataxin-2 protein was also sensitive to the translation factor eIF4H, a known modifier of the toxic GGGGCC repeat in flies. These data indicate that ataxin-2 encoded by a pure CAG versus interrupted CAA/G polyQ repeat domain is associated with differential toxicity, indicating that mechanisms associated with the purity of the sequence of the polyQ domain contribute to disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leeanne McGurk
- Division of Cell & Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Olivia M Rifai
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | - China N Byrns
- Neurosciences Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Medical Sciences Training Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Faith R Carranza
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Henry W Zhou
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hyung-Jun Kim
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yongqing Zhu
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nancy M Bonini
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Neurosciences Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Cryo-electron tomography provides topological insights into mutant huntingtin exon 1 and polyQ aggregates. Commun Biol 2021; 4:849. [PMID: 34239038 PMCID: PMC8266869 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02360-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative trinucleotide repeat disorder caused by an expanded poly-glutamine (polyQ) tract in the mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein. The formation and topology of filamentous mHTT inclusions in the brain (hallmarks of HD implicated in neurotoxicity) remain elusive. Using cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging, here we show that mHTT exon 1 and polyQ-only aggregates in vitro are structurally heterogenous and filamentous, similar to prior observations with other methods. Yet, we find filaments in both types of aggregates under ~2 nm in width, thinner than previously reported, and regions forming large sheets. In addition, our data show a prevalent subpopulation of filaments exhibiting a lumpy slab morphology in both aggregates, supportive of the polyQ core model. This provides a basis for future cryoET studies of various aggregated mHTT and polyQ constructs to improve their structure-based modeling as well as their identification in cells without fusion tags.
Collapse
|
31
|
Groover SE, Adegbuyiro A, Fan CK, Hodges BL, Beasley M, Taylor K, Stonebraker AR, Siriwardhana C, Legleiter J. Macromolecular crowding in solution alters huntingtin interaction and aggregation at interfaces. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021; 206:111969. [PMID: 34246856 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.111969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by an extended polyglutamine (polyQ) domain within the first exon of the huntingtin protein (htt). PolyQ expansion directly invokes the formation of a heterogenous mixture of toxic htt aggregates, including fibrils and oligomers. While htt is a cytosolic protein, it also associates with numerous membranous surfaces within the cell, leading to altered organelle morphology and dysfunction. Here, the impact of macromolecular crowding on htt aggregation in bulk solution and at solid/liquid or membrane/liquid interfaces was investigated. Dextran, Ficoll, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were used as crowding agents. In bulk solution, crowding enhanced the heterogeneity of non-fibrillar aggregate species formed in a crowder dependent manner. However, crowding agents interfered with the deposition of htt fibrils on mica, suggesting that a crowded aqueous phase influences the interaction of htt with interfaces. By use of in situ atomic force microcopy (AFM), the aggregation of htt directly at mica and bilayer interfaces was tracked. The predominate aggregates type observed to form at the mica interface was fibrillar, but oligomeric aggregates of various stabilities were also observed. Crowding in the aqueous phase suppressed deposition and formation of htt aggregates on mica. In contrast, the addition of crowders enhanced deposition of htt aggregates onto supported total brain lipid extract (TBLE) bilayers. Different crowding agents led to distinct htt aggregates on supported bilayers with unique morphological impact on bilayer integrity. Collectively, these observations point to the complexity of htt aggregation at interfaces and that crowding in the aqueous phase profoundly influences this process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon E Groover
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States
| | - Adewale Adegbuyiro
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States
| | - Caleb K Fan
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States
| | - Breanna L Hodges
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States
| | - Maryssa Beasley
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States
| | - Katelyn Taylor
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States
| | - Alyssa R Stonebraker
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States
| | - Chathuranga Siriwardhana
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States
| | - Justin Legleiter
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States; Rockefeller Neurosciences Institutes, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States; Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Fisher RS, Jimenez RM, Soto E, Kalev D, Elbaum-Garfinkle S. An apparent core/shell architecture of polyQ aggregates in the aging Caenorhabditis elegans neuron. Protein Sci 2021; 30:1482-1486. [PMID: 33966305 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is caused by a polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the huntingtin protein which results in its abnormal aggregation in the nervous system. Huntingtin aggregates are linked to toxicity and neuronal dysfunction, but a comprehensive understanding of the aggregation mechanism in vivo remains elusive. Here, we examine the morphology of polyQ aggregates in Caenorhabditis elegans mechanosensory neurons as a function of age using confocal and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. We find that aggregates in young worms are mostly spherical with homogenous intensity, but as the worm ages aggregates become substantially more heterogeneous. Most prominently, in older worms we observe an apparent core/shell morphology of polyQ assemblies with decreased intensity in the center. The fluorescence lifetime of polyQ is uniform across the aggregate indicating that the dimmed intensity in the assembly center is most likely not due to quenching or changes in local environment, but rather to displacement of fluorescent polyQ from the central region. This apparent core/shell architecture of polyQ aggregates in aging C. elegans neurons contributes to the diverse landscape of polyQ aggregation states implicated in Huntington's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S Fisher
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rosa Meyo Jimenez
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth Soto
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Darin Kalev
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shana Elbaum-Garfinkle
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA.,Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry and Biology, The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
PolyQ-expanded proteins impair cellular proteostasis of ataxin-3 through sequestering the co-chaperone HSJ1 into aggregates. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7815. [PMID: 33837238 PMCID: PMC8035147 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87382-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion of proteins can trigger protein misfolding and amyloid-like aggregation, which thus lead to severe cytotoxicities and even the respective neurodegenerative diseases. However, why polyQ aggregation is toxic to cells is not fully elucidated. Here, we took the fragments of polyQ-expanded (PQE) ataxin-7 (Atx7) and huntingtin (Htt) as models to investigate the effect of polyQ aggregates on the cellular proteostasis of endogenous ataxin-3 (Atx3), a protein that frequently appears in diverse inclusion bodies. We found that PQE Atx7 and Htt impair the cellular proteostasis of Atx3 by reducing its soluble as well as total Atx3 level but enhancing formation of the aggregates. Expression of these polyQ proteins promotes proteasomal degradation of endogenous Atx3 and accumulation of its aggregated form. Then we verified that the co-chaperone HSJ1 is an essential factor that orchestrates the balance of cellular proteostasis of Atx3; and further discovered that the polyQ proteins can sequester HSJ1 into aggregates or inclusions in a UIM domain-dependent manner. Thereby, the impairment of Atx3 proteostasis may be attributed to the sequestration and functional loss of cellular HSJ1. This study deciphers a potential mechanism underlying how PQE protein triggers proteinopathies, and also provides additional evidence in supporting the hijacking hypothesis that sequestration of cellular interacting partners by protein aggregates leads to cytotoxicity or neurodegeneration.
Collapse
|
34
|
MED15 prion-like domain forms a coiled-coil responsible for its amyloid conversion and propagation. Commun Biol 2021; 4:414. [PMID: 33772081 PMCID: PMC7997880 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01930-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A disordered to β-sheet transition was thought to drive the functional switch of Q/N-rich prions, similar to pathogenic amyloids. However, recent evidence indicates a critical role for coiled-coil (CC) regions within yeast prion domains in amyloid formation. We show that many human prion-like domains (PrLDs) contain CC regions that overlap with polyQ tracts. Most of the proteins bearing these domains are transcriptional coactivators, including the Mediator complex subunit 15 (MED15) involved in bridging enhancers and promoters. We demonstrate that the human MED15-PrLD forms homodimers in solution sustained by CC interactions and that it is this CC fold that mediates the transition towards a β-sheet amyloid state, its chemical or genetic disruption abolishing aggregation. As in functional yeast prions, a GFP globular domain adjacent to MED15-PrLD retains its structural integrity in the amyloid state. Expression of MED15-PrLD in human cells promotes the formation of cytoplasmic and perinuclear inclusions, kidnapping endogenous full-length MED15 to these aggregates in a prion-like manner. The prion-like properties of MED15 are conserved, suggesting novel mechanisms for the function and malfunction of this transcription coactivator.
Collapse
|
35
|
Croce KR, Yamamoto A. Dissolving the Complex Role Aggregation Plays in Neurodegenerative Disease. Mov Disord 2021; 36:1061-1069. [PMID: 33755257 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Prominent neuropathological hallmarks of many adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases include the deposition and accumulation of misfolded proteins or conformers; however, their role in pathogenesis has remained unclear. This is in part due to the deceptive simplicity of the question and our limited understanding of how protein homeostasis is maintained in the compartmentalized cells of the central nervous system, especially in the context of the adult brain. Building on studies from simple cell-based systems and invertebrate animals, we recently identified a protein central to the specific and selective turnover of aggregated proteins in the adult brain, the autophagy-linked FYVE protein (Alfy)/Wdfy3. Depletion of Alfy levels in a mouse model of Huntington's disease showed that it accelerated the accumulation of the aggregated mutant huntingtin protein, as well as the onset of behavioral deficits. Although the motor dysfunction was accelerated in the model, this was in the absence of increasing overt cell loss, implicating protein aggregates as a modifier of circuit dysfunction rather than driving degeneration per se. We discuss these findings in the context of what is known about protein accumulation and how we can use proteins such as Alfy to determine if protein accumulation is a shared pathogenic event across different adult-onset diseases. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R Croce
- Doctoral Program in Pathobiology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ai Yamamoto
- Departments of Neurology, Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Chen YW, Rahman SK. Fatal Attraction: The Case of Toxic Soluble Dimers of Truncated PQBP-1 Mutants in X-Linked Intellectual Disability. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052240. [PMID: 33668121 PMCID: PMC7956452 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The frameshift mutants K192Sfs*7 and R153Sfs*41, of the polyglutamine tract-binding protein 1 (PQBP-1), are stable intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). They are each associated with the severe cognitive disorder known as the Renpenning syndrome, a form of X-linked intellectual disability (XLID). Relative to the monomeric wild-type protein, these mutants are dimeric, contain more folded contents, and have higher thermal stabilities. Comparisons can be drawn to the toxic oligomerisation in the “conformational diseases”, which collectively describe medical conditions involving a substantial protein structural transition in the pathogenic mechanism. At the molecular level, the end state of these diseases is often cytotoxic protein aggregation. The conformational disease proteins contain varying extents of intrinsic disorder, and the consensus pathogenesis includes an early oligomer formation. We reviewed the experimental characterisation of the toxic oligomers in representative cases. PQBP-1 mutant dimerisation was then compared to the oligomerisation of the conformational disease proteins. The PQBP-1 mutants are unique in behaving as stable soluble dimers, which do not further develop into higher oligomers or aggregates. The toxicity of the PQBP-1 mutant dimers lies in the native functions (in transcription regulation and possibly, RNA splicing) being compromised, rather than proceeding to aggregation. Other examples of stable IDP dimers were discussed and we speculated on the roles of IDP dimerisation in protein evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wai Chen
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom 999077, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom 999077, Hong Kong
- Correspondence:
| | - Shah Kamranur Rahman
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Mitsuhashi S, Frith MC, Matsumoto N. Genome-wide survey of tandem repeats by nanopore sequencing shows that disease-associated repeats are more polymorphic in the general population. BMC Med Genomics 2021; 14:17. [PMID: 33413375 PMCID: PMC7791882 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-020-00853-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tandem repeats are highly mutable and contribute to the development of human disease by a variety of mechanisms. It is difficult to predict which tandem repeats may cause a disease. One hypothesis is that changeable tandem repeats are the source of genetic diseases, because disease-causing repeats are polymorphic in healthy individuals. However, it is not clear whether disease-causing repeats are more polymorphic than other repeats. Methods We performed a genome-wide survey of the millions of human tandem repeats using publicly available long read genome sequencing data from 21 humans. We measured tandem repeat copy number changes using tandem-genotypes. Length variation of known disease-associated repeats was compared to other repeat loci. Results We found that known Mendelian disease-causing or disease-associated repeats, especially CAG and 5′UTR GGC repeats, are relatively long and polymorphic in the general population. We also show that repeat lengths of two disease-causing tandem repeats, in ATXN3 and GLS, are correlated with near-by GWAS SNP genotypes. Conclusions We provide a catalog of polymorphic tandem repeats across a variety of repeat unit lengths and sequences, from long read sequencing data. This method especially if used in genome wide association study, may indicate possible new candidates of pathogenic or biologically important tandem repeats in human genomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Satomi Mitsuhashi
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Fukuura 3-9, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan. .,Department of Genomic Function and Diversity, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, M&D Tower 24F, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.
| | - Martin C Frith
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tokyo, Japan.,Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan.,Computational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD-OIL), AIST, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naomichi Matsumoto
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Fukuura 3-9, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Zhang XY, Li J, Li CJ, Lin YQ, Huang CH, Zheng X, Song XC, Tu ZC, Li XJ, Yan S. Differential development and electrophysiological activity in cultured cortical neurons from the mouse and cynomolgus monkey. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:2446-2452. [PMID: 33907033 PMCID: PMC8374592 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.313056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro cultures of primary cortical neurons are widely used to investigate neuronal function. However, it has yet to be fully investigated whether there are significant differences in development and function between cultured rodent and primate cortical neurons, and whether these differences influence the utilization of cultured cortical neurons to model pathological conditions. Using in vitro culture techniques combined with immunofluorescence and electrophysiological methods, our study found that the development and maturation of primary cerebral cortical neurons from cynomolgus monkeys were slower than those from mice. We used a microelectrode array technique to compare the electrophysiological differences in cortical neurons, and found that primary cortical neurons from the mouse brain began to show electrical activity earlier than those from the cynomolgus monkey. Although cultured monkey cortical neurons developed slowly in vitro, they exhibited typical pathological features-revealed by immunofluorescent staining-when infected with adeno-associated viral vectors expressing mutant huntingtin (HTT), the Huntington's disease protein. A quantitative analysis of the cultured monkey cortical neurons also confirmed that mutant HTT significantly reduced the length of neurites. Therefore, compared with the primary cortical neurons of mice, cultured monkey cortical neurons have longer developmental and survival times and greater sustained physiological activity, such as electrophysiological activity. Our findings also suggest that primary cynomolgus monkey neurons cultured in vitro can simulate a cell model of human neurodegenerative disease, and may be useful for investigating time-dependent neuronal death as well as treatment via neuronal regeneration. All mouse experiments and protocols were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Jinan University of China (IACUC Approval No. 20200512-04) on May 12, 2020. All monkey experiments were approved by the IACUC protocol (IACUC Approval No. LDACU 20190820-01) on August 23, 2019 for animal management and use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Yan Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration; Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jun Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration; Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Cai-Juan Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration; Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ying-Qi Lin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration; Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Chun-Hui Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration; Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiao Zheng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration; Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xi-Chen Song
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration; Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhu-Chi Tu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration; Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration; Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Sen Yan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration; Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Silva FJ, Muñoz-Benavent M, García-Ferris C, Latorre A. Blattella germanica displays a large arsenal of antimicrobial peptide genes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21058. [PMID: 33273496 PMCID: PMC7712779 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77982-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Defence systems against microbial pathogens are present in most living beings. The German cockroach Blattella germanica requires these systems to adapt to unhealthy environments with abundance of pathogenic microbes, in addition to potentially control its symbiotic systems. To handle this situation, four antimicrobial gene families (defensins, termicins, drosomycins and attacins) were expanded in its genome. Remarkably, a new gene family (blattellicins) emerged recently after duplication and fast evolution of an attacin gene, which is now encoding larger proteins with the presence of a long stretch of glutamines and glutamic acids. Phylogenetic reconstruction, within Blattellinae, suggests that this duplication took place before the divergence of Blattella and Episymploce genera. The latter harbours a long attacin gene (pre-blattellicin), but the absence of the encoded Glx-region suggests that this element evolved recently in the Blattella lineage. A screening of AMP gene expression in available transcriptomic SR projects of B. germanica showed that, while some AMPs are expressed during almost the whole development, others are restricted to shorter periods. Blattellicins are highly expressed only in adult females. None of the available SR tissue projects could be associated with blattellicins’ expression, suggesting that it takes place in other tissues, maybe the gut.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Silva
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), University of Valencia-CSIC, Paterna, Spain. .,Genomics and Health Area, Foundation for the Promotion of Sanitary and Biomedical Research, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Maria Muñoz-Benavent
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), University of Valencia-CSIC, Paterna, Spain
| | - Carlos García-Ferris
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), University of Valencia-CSIC, Paterna, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Amparo Latorre
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), University of Valencia-CSIC, Paterna, Spain.,Genomics and Health Area, Foundation for the Promotion of Sanitary and Biomedical Research, Valencia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Malek EG, Salameh JS, Makki A. Kennedy's disease: an under-recognized motor neuron disorder. Acta Neurol Belg 2020; 120:1289-1295. [PMID: 32839928 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-020-01472-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Kennedy's disease or spinal bulbar muscular atrophy is a rare, inherited and slowly progressive multisystem disease mostly manifesting with a motor neuron disease phenotype leading to disability. The slow progression, partial androgen insensitivity, electrophysiological evidence of sensory neuronopathy, and relatively spared central nervous system pathways help differentiate it from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. To date, there is no treatment or cure with clinical care mainly focused on accurate diagnosis, symptom management, patient education, and genetic counselling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elia G Malek
- Neurology Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Riad El-Solh, P.O.Box 11-0236, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Johnny S Salameh
- Neurology Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Riad El-Solh, P.O.Box 11-0236, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Achraf Makki
- Neurology Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Riad El-Solh, P.O.Box 11-0236, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Groover SE, Beasley M, Ramamurthy V, Legleiter J. Phosphomimetic Mutations Impact Huntingtin Aggregation in the Presence of a Variety of Lipid Systems. Biochemistry 2020; 59:4681-4693. [PMID: 33256402 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the abnormal expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the first exon of the htt protein (htt). PolyQ expansion triggers the aggregation of htt into a variety of structures, including oligomers and fibrils. This aggregation is impacted by the first 17 N-terminal amino acids (Nt17) of htt that directly precedes the polyQ domain. Beyond impacting aggregation, Nt17 associates with lipid membranes by forming an amphipathic α-helix. Post-translational modifications within Nt17 are known to modify HD pathology, and in particular, phosphorylation at T3, S13, and/or S16 retards fibrillization and ameliorates the phenotype in HD models. Due to Nt17's propensity to interact with lipid membranes, the impact of introducing phosphomimetic mutations (T3D, S13D, and S16D) into htt-exon1 on aggregation in the presence of a variety of model lipid membranes (total brain lipid extract, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine, and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-1'-rac-glycerol) was investigated. Phosphomimetic mutations altered htt's interaction with and aggregation in the presence of lipids; however, this was dependent on the lipid system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon E Groover
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Maryssa Beasley
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Visvanathan Ramamurthy
- Department of Ophthalmology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States.,Rockefeller Neurosciences Institutes, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Drive, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States
| | - Justin Legleiter
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States.,Rockefeller Neurosciences Institutes, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Drive, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Drive, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Tabachnick-Cherny S, Pinto S, Berko D, Curato C, Wolf Y, Porat Z, Karmona R, Tirosh B, Jung S, Navon A. Polyglutamine-Related Aggregates Can Serve as a Potent Antigen Source for Cross-Presentation by Dendritic Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 205:2583-2594. [PMID: 33067378 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Protective MHC class I-dependent immune responses require an overlap between repertoires of proteins directly presented on target cells and cross-presented by professional APC, specifically dendritic cells. How stable proteins that rely on defective ribosomal proteins for direct presentation are captured for cell-to-cell transfer remains enigmatic. In this study, we address this issue using a combination of in vitro (C57BL/6-derived mouse cell lines) and in vivo (C57BL/6 mouse strains) approaches involving stable and unstable versions of OVA model Ags displaying defective ribosomal protein-dependent and -independent Ag presentation, respectively. Apoptosis, but not necrosis, of donor cells was found associated with robust global protein aggregate formation and captured stable proteins permissive for cross-presentation. Potency of aggregates to serve as Ag source was directly demonstrated using polyglutamine-equipped model substrates. Collectively, our data implicate global protein aggregation in apoptotic cells as a mechanism that ensures the overlap between MHC class I epitopes presented directly or cross-presented by APC and demonstrate the unusual ability of dendritic cells to process stable protein aggregates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shira Tabachnick-Cherny
- Department of Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Sivan Pinto
- Department of Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Dikla Berko
- Department of Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Caterina Curato
- Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Yochai Wolf
- Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Ziv Porat
- Department of Biological Services, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; and
| | - Rotem Karmona
- Department of Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Boaz Tirosh
- The Institute for Drug Research, The School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Steffen Jung
- Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel;
| | - Ami Navon
- Department of Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel;
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Delfino L, Mason RP, Kyriacou CP, Giorgini F, Rosato E. Rab8 Promotes Mutant HTT Aggregation, Reduces Neurodegeneration, and Ameliorates Behavioural Alterations in a Drosophila Model of Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2020; 9:253-263. [PMID: 33044189 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-200411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Altered cellular vesicle trafficking has been linked to the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease (HD), a fatal, inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutation of the huntingtin (HTT) protein. The Rab GTPase family of proteins plays a key role in regulation of vesicle trafficking, with distinct Rabs helping specify membrane identity and mediating cellular processes including budding, motility and tethering of vesicles to their targets. In recent years several Rab GTPases-notably, Rab5 and Rab11-have been linked to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, including HD. OBJECTIVE We investigated whether Rab8, which regulates post-Golgi vesicle trafficking, is able to improve HD-relevant phenotypes in a well-characterised model. METHODS We overexpressed Rab8 in a Drosophila model of HD testing cellular, behavioural, and molecular phenotypes. RESULTS We found that Rab8 overexpression ameliorated several disease-related phenotypes in fruit flies expressing a mutant HTT fragment throughout the nervous system, including neurodegeneration of photoreceptor neurons, reduced eclosion of the adult fly from the pupal case and shortened lifespan. Rab8 overexpression also normalised aberrant circadian locomotor behaviour in flies expressing mutant HTT in a specific population of neurons that regulate the circadian clock. Intriguingly, expression of Rab8 increased the accumulation of SDS-insoluble aggregated species of mutant HTT. CONCLUSION Collectively, our findings demonstrate that increased Rab8 levels protect against mutant HTT toxicity and potentiate its aggregation, likely reducing the accumulation of downstream toxic soluble species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Delfino
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Robert P Mason
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Ezio Rosato
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Pei W, Chen ZS, Chan HYE, Zheng L, Liang C, Huang C. Isolation and Identification of a Novel Anti-protein Aggregation Activity of Lignin-Carbohydrate Complex From Chionanthus retusus Leaves. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:573991. [PMID: 33102457 PMCID: PMC7546364 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.573991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) is the biological macromolecule that has been demonstrated to exert multiple biological functions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anti-tumorigenesis, which support its broad application in the bioengineering field. However, it remains elusive the involvements of LCC in human neurological disorders, especially those with the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). In this study, we found a previously undetermined anti-protein aggregation activity of LCC. Initially, two individual LCC preparations and carbohydrate-free lignin were isolated from the water-extracted waste residues of Chionanthus retusus (C. retusus) tender leaves. The chemical compositional analysis revealed that lignin (61.5%) is the predominant constituent in the lignin-rich LCC (LCC-L-CR), whereas the carbohydrate-rich LCC (LCC-C-CR) is mainly composed of carbohydrate (60.9%) with the xylan as the major constituent (42.1%). The NMR structural characterization showed that LCC-L-CR preparation is enriched in benzyl ether linkage, while phenyl glycoside is the predominant type of linkage in LCC-C-CR. Both LCC and lignin preparations showed antioxidant activities as exemplified by their abilities to scavenge free radicals in cultured mammalian cells and ROS in zebrafish. We further demonstrated a pronounced capability of LCC-L-CR in inhibiting the aggregation of expanded Ataxin-3, disease protein of SCA type 3, in human neuronal cells. Taken together, our study highlights the antioxidant and novel anti-protein aggregation activities of the C. retusus tender leaves-derived LCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Pei
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Department of Bioengineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhefan Stephen Chen
- Nexus of Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, China.,Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, China
| | - Ho Yin Edwin Chan
- Nexus of Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, China.,Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, China
| | - Liming Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Chen Liang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Caoxing Huang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Department of Bioengineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Implications of the Orb2 Amyloid Structure in Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186910. [PMID: 32967102 PMCID: PMC7555547 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease is a progressive, autosomal dominant, neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene. As a result, the translated protein, huntingtin, contains an abnormally long polyglutamine stretch that makes it prone to misfold and aggregating. Aggregation of huntingtin is believed to be the cause of Huntington’s disease. However, understanding on how, and why, huntingtin aggregates are deleterious has been hampered by lack of enough relevant structural data. In this review, we discuss our recent findings on a glutamine-based functional amyloid isolated from Drosophila brain and how this information provides plausible structural insight on the structure of huntingtin deposits in the brain.
Collapse
|
46
|
O'Brien KM, Rix AS, Grove TJ, Sarrimanolis J, Brooking A, Roberts M, Crockett EL. Characterization of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 pathway in hearts of Antarctic notothenioid fishes. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 250:110505. [PMID: 32966875 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2020.110505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The ability of Antarctic notothenioid fishes to mount a robust molecular response to hypoxia is largely unknown. The transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), a heterodimer of HIF-1α and HIF-1β subunits, is the master regulator of oxygen homeostasis in most metazoans. We sought to determine if, in the hearts of Antarctic notothenioids, HIF-1 is activated and functional in response to either an acute heat stress or hypoxia. The red-blooded Notothenia coriiceps and the hemoglobinless icefish, Chaenocephalus aceratus, were exposed to their critical thermal maximum (CTMAX) or hypoxia (5.0 ± 0.3 mg of O2 L-1) for 2 h. Additionally, N. coriiceps was exposed to 2.3 ± 0.3 mg of O2 L-1 for 12 h, and red-blooded Gobionotothen gibberifrons was exposed to both levels of hypoxia. Levels of HIF-1α were quantified in nuclei isolated from heart ventricles using western blotting. Transcript levels of genes involved in anaerobic metabolism, and known to be regulated by HIF-1, were quantified by real-time PCR, and lactate levels were measured in heart ventricles. Protein levels of HIF-1α increase in nuclei of hearts of N. coriiceps and C. aceratus in response to exposure to CTMAX and in hearts of N. coriiceps exposed to severe hypoxia, yet mRNA levels of anaerobic metabolic genes do not increase in any species, nor do lactate levels increase, suggesting that HIF-1 does not stimulate metabolic remodeling in hearts of notothenioids under these conditions. Together, these data suggest that Antarctic notothenioids may be vulnerable to hypoxic events, which are likely to increase with climate warming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K M O'Brien
- Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America.
| | - A S Rix
- Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - T J Grove
- Department of Biology, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA 31698, United States of America
| | - J Sarrimanolis
- Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - A Brooking
- Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - M Roberts
- Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - E L Crockett
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Proteotoxicity and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165646. [PMID: 32781742 PMCID: PMC7460676 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a major burden for our society, affecting millions of people worldwide. A main goal of past and current research is to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying proteotoxicity, a common theme among these incurable and debilitating conditions. Cell proteome alteration is considered to be one of the main driving forces that triggers neurodegeneration, and unraveling the biological complexity behind the affected molecular pathways constitutes a daunting challenge. This review summarizes the current state on key processes that lead to cellular proteotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, providing a comprehensive landscape of recent literature. A foundational understanding of how proteotoxicity affects disease etiology and progression may provide essential insight towards potential targets amenable of therapeutic intervention.
Collapse
|
48
|
Chavali S, Singh AK, Santhanam B, Babu MM. Amino acid homorepeats in proteins. Nat Rev Chem 2020; 4:420-434. [PMID: 37127972 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-020-0204-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Amino acid homorepeats, or homorepeats, are polypeptide segments found in proteins that contain stretches of identical amino acid residues. Although abnormal homorepeat expansions are linked to pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases, homorepeats are prevalent in eukaryotic proteomes, suggesting that they are important for normal physiology. In this Review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the biological functions of homorepeats, which range from facilitating subcellular protein localization to mediating interactions between proteins across diverse cellular pathways. We explore how the functional diversity of homorepeat-containing proteins could be linked to the ability of homorepeats to adopt different structural conformations, an ability influenced by repeat composition, repeat length and the nature of flanking sequences. We conclude by highlighting how an understanding of homorepeats will help us better characterize and develop therapeutics against the human diseases to which they contribute.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sreenivas Chavali
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati, India.
| | - Anjali K Singh
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati, India
| | - Balaji Santhanam
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Structural Biology and Center for Data Driven Discovery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - M Madan Babu
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Structural Biology and Center for Data Driven Discovery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Zhang S, Williamson NA, Duvick L, Lee A, Orr HT, Korlin-Downs A, Yang P, Mok YF, Jans DA, Bogoyevitch MA. The ataxin-1 interactome reveals direct connection with multiple disrupted nuclear transport pathways. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3343. [PMID: 32620905 PMCID: PMC7334205 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17145-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract form of ataxin-1 drives disease progression in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). Although known to form distinctive intranuclear bodies, the cellular pathways and processes that polyQ-ataxin-1 influences remain poorly understood. Here we identify the direct and proximal partners constituting the interactome of ataxin-1[85Q] in Neuro-2a cells, pathways analyses indicating a significant enrichment of essential nuclear transporters, pointing to disruptions in nuclear transport processes in the presence of elevated levels of ataxin-1. Our direct assessments of nuclear transporters and their cargoes confirm these observations, revealing disrupted trafficking often with relocalisation of transporters and/or cargoes to ataxin-1[85Q] nuclear bodies. Analogous changes in importin-β1, nucleoporin 98 and nucleoporin 62 nuclear rim staining are observed in Purkinje cells of ATXN1[82Q] mice. The results highlight a disruption of multiple essential nuclear protein trafficking pathways by polyQ-ataxin-1, a key contribution to furthering understanding of pathogenic mechanisms initiated by polyQ tract proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sunyuan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Williamson
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Lisa Duvick
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Alexander Lee
- Nuclear Signalling Lab., Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Harry T Orr
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Austin Korlin-Downs
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Praseuth Yang
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Yee-Foong Mok
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - David A Jans
- Nuclear Signalling Lab., Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
| | - Marie A Bogoyevitch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Gray AL, Annan L, Dick JRT, La Spada AR, Hanna MG, Greensmith L, Malik B. Deterioration of muscle force and contractile characteristics are early pathological events in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy mice. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:dmm042424. [PMID: 32152060 PMCID: PMC7272358 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.042424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), also known as Kennedy's Disease, is a late-onset X-linked progressive neuromuscular disease, which predominantly affects males. The pathological hallmarks of the disease are selective loss of spinal and bulbar motor neurons, accompanied by weakness, atrophy and fasciculations of bulbar and limb muscles. SBMA is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the gene that encodes the androgen receptor (AR) protein. Disease manifestation is androgen dependent and results principally from a toxic gain of AR function. There are currently no effective treatments for this debilitating disease. It is important to understand the course of the disease in order to target therapeutics to key pathological stages. This is especially relevant in disorders such as SBMA, for which disease can be identified before symptom onset, through family history and genetic testing. To fully characterise the role of muscle in SBMA, we undertook a longitudinal physiological and histological characterisation of disease progression in the AR100 mouse model of SBMA. Our results show that the disease first manifests in skeletal muscle, before any motor neuron degeneration, which only occurs in late-stage disease. These findings reveal that alterations in muscle function, including reduced muscle force and changes in contractile characteristics, are early pathological events in SBMA mice and suggest that muscle-targeted therapeutics may be effective in SBMA.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Gray
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Leonette Annan
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - James R T Dick
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Albert R La Spada
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Center for Neurodegeneration and Neurotherapeutics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michael G Hanna
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- UCL MRC International Centre for Genomic Medicine in Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Linda Greensmith
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Bilal Malik
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| |
Collapse
|