1
|
Samui S, Biswas S, Basak S, Ghosh S, Muniyappa K, Naskar J. De novo designed aliphatic and aromatic peptides assemble into amyloid-like cytotoxic supramolecular nanofibrils. RSC Adv 2024; 14:4382-4388. [PMID: 38304566 PMCID: PMC10831423 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra07869h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Peptides are very interesting biomolecules that upon self-association form a variety of thermodynamically stable supramolecular structures of nanometric dimension e.g. nanotubes, nanorods, nanovesicles, nanofibrils, nanowires and many others. Herein, we report six peptide molecules having a general chemical structure, H-Gaba-X-X-OH (Gaba: γ-aminobutyric acid, X: amino acid). Out of these six peptides, three are aromatic and the others are aliphatic. Atomic force microscopic (AFM) studies reveal that except peptide 6 (H-Gaba-Trp-Trp-OH), all the reported peptides adopt nanofibrillar morphology upon aggregation in aqueous medium. These supramolecular assemblies can recognize amyloid-specific molecular probe congo red (CR) and thioflavine t (ThT) and exhibit all the characteristic properties of amyloids. The MTT cell viability assay reveals that the toxicity of both aliphatic and aromatic peptides increases with increasing concentration of the peptides to both cancer (HeLa) and non-cancer (HEK 293) cells. Of note, the aromatic peptides show a slightly higher cytotoxic effect compared to the aliphatic peptides. Overall, the studies highlight the self-assembling nature of the de novo designed aliphatic and aromatic peptides and pave the way towards elucidating the intricacies of pathogenic amyloid assemblies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Satyabrata Samui
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Kalyani Nadia WB 741235 India
| | - Soumi Biswas
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Kalyani Nadia WB 741235 India
| | - Shubhanwita Basak
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Kalyani Nadia WB 741235 India
| | - Shreya Ghosh
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Kalyani Nadia WB 741235 India
| | - K Muniyappa
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore Karnataka 560 012 India
| | - Jishu Naskar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Kalyani Nadia WB 741235 India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sambani K, Kontomaris SV, Yova D. Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging of Elastin Nanofibers Self-Assembly. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:4313. [PMID: 37374496 DOI: 10.3390/ma16124313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Elastin is an extracellular matrix protein, providing elasticity to the organs, such as skin, blood vessels, lungs and elastic ligaments, presenting self-assembling ability to form elastic fibers. The elastin protein, as a component of elastin fibers, is one of the major proteins found in connective tissue and is responsible for the elasticity of tissues. It provides resilience to the human body, assembled as a continuous mesh of fibers that require to be deformed repetitively and reversibly. Thus, it is of great importance to investigate the development of the nanostructural surface of elastin-based biomaterials. The purpose of this research was to image the self-assembling process of elastin fiber structure under different experimental parameters such as suspension medium, elastin concentration, temperature of stock suspension and time interval after the preparation of the stock suspension. atomic force microscopy (AFM) was applied in order to investigate how different experimental parameters affected fiber development and morphology. The results demonstrated that through altering a number of experimental parameters, it was possible to affect the self-assembly procedure of elastin fibers from nanofibers and the formation of elastin nanostructured mesh consisting of naturally occurring fibers. Further clarification of the contribution of different parameters on fibril formation will enable the design and control of elastin-based nanobiomaterials with predetermined characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyriaki Sambani
- Biomedical Optics and Applied Biophysics Laboratory, Division of Electromagnetics, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electrooptics and Electronic Materials, National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou, 15780 Athens, Greece
| | - Stylianos Vasileios Kontomaris
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Metropolitan College, 15125 Athens, Greece
- BioNanoTec Ltd., 2404 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Dido Yova
- Biomedical Optics and Applied Biophysics Laboratory, Division of Electromagnetics, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electrooptics and Electronic Materials, National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou, 15780 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Juanes-Gusano D, Santos M, Reboto V, Alonso M, Rodríguez-Cabello JC. Self-assembling systems comprising intrinsically disordered protein polymers like elastin-like recombinamers. J Pept Sci 2021; 28:e3362. [PMID: 34545666 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite lacking cooperatively folded structures under native conditions, numerous intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) nevertheless have great functional importance. These IDPs are hybrids containing both ordered and intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDPRs), the structure of which is highly flexible in this unfolded state. The conformational flexibility of these disordered systems favors transitions between disordered and ordered states triggered by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, folding into different dynamic molecular assemblies to enable proper protein functions. Indeed, prokaryotic enzymes present less disorder than eukaryotic enzymes, thus showing that this disorder is related to functional and structural complexity. Protein-based polymers that mimic these IDPs include the so-called elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs), which are inspired by the composition of natural elastin. Elastin-like recombinamers (ELRs) are ELPs produced using recombinant techniques and which can therefore be tailored for a specific application. One of the most widely used and studied characteristic structures in this field is the pentapeptide (VPGXG)n . The structural disorder in ELRs probably arises due to the high content of proline and glycine in the ELR backbone, because both these amino acids help to keep the polypeptide structure of elastomers disordered and hydrated. Moreover, the recombinant nature of these systems means that different sequences can be designed, including bioactive domains, to obtain specific structures for each application. Some of these structures, along with their applications as IDPs that self-assemble into functional vesicles or micelles from diblock copolymer ELRs, will be studied in the following sections. The incorporation of additional order- and disorder-promoting peptide/protein domains, such as α-helical coils or β-strands, in the ELR sequence, and their influence on self-assembly, will also be reviewed. In addition, chemically cross-linked systems with controllable order-disorder balance, and their role in biomineralization, will be discussed. Finally, we will review different multivalent IDPs-based coatings and films for different biomedical applications, such as spatially controlled cell adhesion, osseointegration, or biomaterial-associated infection (BAI).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Juanes-Gusano
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology) CIBER-BBN, Edificio Lucía, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Santos
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology) CIBER-BBN, Edificio Lucía, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Virginia Reboto
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology) CIBER-BBN, Edificio Lucía, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Matilde Alonso
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology) CIBER-BBN, Edificio Lucía, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - José Carlos Rodríguez-Cabello
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology) CIBER-BBN, Edificio Lucía, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Schmelzer CEH, Duca L. Elastic fibers: formation, function, and fate during aging and disease. FEBS J 2021; 289:3704-3730. [PMID: 33896108 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Elastic fibers are extracellular components of higher vertebrates and confer elasticity and resilience to numerous tissues and organs such as large blood vessels, lungs, and skin. Their formation and maturation take place in a complex multistage process called elastogenesis. It requires interactions between very different proteins but also other molecules and leads to the deposition and crosslinking of elastin's precursor on a scaffold of fibrillin-rich microfibrils. Mature fibers are exceptionally resistant to most influences and, under healthy conditions, retain their biomechanical function over the life of the organism. However, due to their longevity, they accumulate damages during aging. These are caused by proteolytic degradation, formation of advanced glycation end products, calcification, oxidative damage, aspartic acid racemization, lipid accumulation, carbamylation, and mechanical fatigue. The resulting changes can lead to diminution or complete loss of elastic fiber function and ultimately affect morbidity and mortality. Particularly, the production of elastokines has been clearly shown to influence several life-threatening diseases. Moreover, the structure, distribution, and abundance of elastic fibers are directly or indirectly influenced by a variety of inherited pathological conditions, which mainly affect organs and tissues such as skin, lungs, or the cardiovascular system. A distinction can be made between microfibril-related inherited diseases that are the result of mutations in diverse microfibril genes and indirectly affect elastogenesis, and elastinopathies that are linked to changes in the elastin gene. This review gives an overview on the formation, structure, and function of elastic fibers and their fate over the human lifespan in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian E H Schmelzer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, Halle (Saale), Germany.,Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Laurent Duca
- UMR CNRS 7369 MEDyC, SFR CAP-Sante, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, France
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhou J, Venturelli L, Keiser L, Sekatskii SK, Gallaire F, Kasas S, Longo G, Knowles TPJ, Ruggeri FS, Dietler G. Environmental Control of Amyloid Polymorphism by Modulation of Hydrodynamic Stress. ACS NANO 2021; 15:944-953. [PMID: 33348981 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c07570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The phenomenon of amyloid polymorphism is a key feature of protein aggregation. Unravelling this phenomenon is of great significance for understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with neurodegenerative diseases and for the development of amyloid-based functional biomaterials. However, the understanding of the molecular origins and the physicochemical factors modulating amyloid polymorphs remains challenging. Herein, we demonstrate an association between amyloid polymorphism and environmental stress in solution, induced by an air/water interface in motion. Our results reveal that low-stress environments produce heterogeneous amyloid polymorphs, including twisted, helical, and rod-like fibrils, whereas high-stress conditions generate only homogeneous rod-like fibrils. Moreover, high environmental stress converts twisted fibrils into rod-like fibrils both in-pathway and after the completion of mature amyloid formation. These results enrich our understanding of the environmental origin of polymorphism of pathological amyloids and shed light on the potential of environmentally controlled fabrication of homogeneous amyloid biomaterials for biotechnological applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiangtao Zhou
- Laboratory of Physics of Living Matter, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Leonardo Venturelli
- Laboratory of Physics of Living Matter, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ludovic Keiser
- Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Instabilities, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sergey K Sekatskii
- Laboratory of Physics of Living Matter, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - François Gallaire
- Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Instabilities, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sandor Kasas
- Laboratory of Physics of Living Matter, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Longo
- Istituto di Struttura della Materia, CNR, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Roma, Italy
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K
| | - Francesco S Ruggeri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Giovanni Dietler
- Laboratory of Physics of Living Matter, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Grasso G, Rebella M, Morbiducci U, Tuszynski JA, Danani A, Deriu MA. The Role of Structural Polymorphism in Driving the Mechanical Performance of the Alzheimer's Beta Amyloid Fibrils. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2019; 7:83. [PMID: 31106199 PMCID: PMC6499180 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is related with the abnormal aggregation of amyloid β-peptides Aβ1−40 and Aβ1−42, the latter having a polymorphic character which gives rise to U- or S-shaped fibrils. Elucidating the role played by the nanoscale-material architecture on the amyloid fibril stability is a crucial breakthrough to better understand the pathological nature of amyloid structures and to support the rational design of bio-inspired materials. The computational study here presented highlights the superior mechanical behavior of the S-architecture, characterized by a Young's modulus markedly higher than the U-shaped architecture. The S-architecture showed a higher mechanical resistance to the enforced deformation along the fibril axis, consequence of a better interchain hydrogen bonds' distribution. In conclusion, this study, focusing the attention on the pivotal multiscale relationship between molecular phenomena and material properties, suggests the S-shaped Aβ1−42 species as a target of election in computational screen/design/optimization of effective aggregation modulators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianvito Grasso
- Istituto Dalle Molle di studi sull'Intelligenza Artificiale, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Manno, Switzerland
| | - Martina Rebella
- Polito BioMEDLab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Umberto Morbiducci
- Polito BioMEDLab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Jack A Tuszynski
- Polito BioMEDLab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy.,Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada
| | - Andrea Danani
- Istituto Dalle Molle di studi sull'Intelligenza Artificiale, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Manno, Switzerland
| | - Marco A Deriu
- Istituto Dalle Molle di studi sull'Intelligenza Artificiale, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Manno, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Gegel NO, Zhuravleva YY, Shipovskaya AB, Malinkina ON, Zudina IV. Influence of Chitosan Ascorbate Chirality on the Gelation Kinetics and Properties of Silicon-Chitosan-Containing Glycerohydrogels. Polymers (Basel) 2018; 10:E259. [PMID: 30966294 PMCID: PMC6414890 DOI: 10.3390/polym10030259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of the chirality of chitosan ascorbate on the gelation kinetics and the properties of hybrid silicon-chitosan-containing glycerohydrogels were studied with a deep estimation of the stereospecificity of chitosan polysalts with l- and d-ascorbic acid diastereomers and their biological effects. It has been established that l- and d-diastereomerically enriched chitosan ascorbates are characterized by a positive Cotton effect and differ in the wavelength of the maximum of the dichroic band (250 and 240 nm), as well as in the values of its specific ellipticity (21.8 × 10⁵ and 39.2 × 10⁵ deg·mL·dm-1·g-1), the sign of specific optical rotation (+ and -), the type of dispersion curves (anomalous and smooth), as well as the condensed phase morphology (anisodiametric particles with optical anisotropy and confocal domains of spherical shape, respectively). In the biomimetic sol-gel synthesis of silicon-chitosan-containing glycerohydrogels using silicon tetraglycerolate as a precursor, it was found that chitosan d-ascorbate retarded gelation. Thin congruent plates obtained from the corresponding glycerohydrogels based on chitosan d-ascorbate have higher mechanical strength and elasticity under uniaxial stretching and lower values of Young's modulus. It has been shown that the systems based on chitosan d-ascorbate show the greatest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus 209P and Escherichia coli 113-13 and significantly promote the viability of normal human dermal fibroblasts. The results of our assessment of the biological properties of chitosan polysalts are unexpected, since ascorbic acid exhibits biological activity as its l-isomer only.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia O Gegel
- Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants and Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Entuziastov 49, Saratov 410049, Russian.
- Department of High Molecular Compounds, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya 83, Saratov 410012, Russian.
| | - Yulia Yu Zhuravleva
- Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants and Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Entuziastov 49, Saratov 410049, Russian.
- Department of High Molecular Compounds, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya 83, Saratov 410012, Russian.
| | - Anna B Shipovskaya
- Department of High Molecular Compounds, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya 83, Saratov 410012, Russian.
| | - Olga N Malinkina
- Department of High Molecular Compounds, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya 83, Saratov 410012, Russian.
| | - Irina V Zudina
- Department of High Molecular Compounds, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya 83, Saratov 410012, Russian.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Salza R, Lethias C, Ricard-Blum S. The Multimerization State of the Amyloid-β42 Amyloid Peptide Governs its Interaction Network with the Extracellular Matrix. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 56:991-1005. [PMID: 28106549 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The goals of this work were i) to identify the interactions of amyloid-β (Aβ)42 under monomeric, oligomeric, and fibrillar forms with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and receptors, ii) to determine the influence of Aβ42 supramolecular organization on these interactions, and iii) to identify the molecular functions, biological processes, and pathways targeted by Aβ42 in the ECM. The ECM and cell surface partners of Aβ42 and its supramolecular forms were identified with protein and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) arrays (81 molecules in triplicate) probed by surface plasmon resonance imaging. The number of partners of Aβ42 increased upon its multimerization, ranging from 4 for the peptide up to 53 for the fibrillar aggregates. The peptide interacted only with ECM proteins but their percentage among Aβ42 partners decreased upon multimerization. Aβ42 and its supramolecular forms recognized different molecular features on their partners, and the partners of Aβ42 fibrillar forms were enriched in laminin IV-A, N-terminal, and EGF-like domains. Aβ42 oligomerization triggered interactions with receptors, whereas Aβ42 fibrillogenesis promoted binding to GAGs, proteoglycans, enzymes, and growth factors and the ability to interact with perineuronal nets. Fibril aggregation bind to further membrane proteins including tumor endothelial marker-8, syndecan-4, and discoidin-domain receptor-2. The partners of the Aβ42 supramolecular forms are enriched in proteins contributing to cell growth and/or maintenance, involved in integrin cell surface interactions and expressed in kidney cancer, preadipocytes, and dentin. In conclusion, the supramolecular assembly of Aβ42 governs its ability to interact in vitro with ECM proteins, remodeling and crosslinking ECM enzymes, proteoglycans, and receptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Romain Salza
- Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (ICBMS), UMR 5246 CNRS - Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne cedex, France
| | - Claire Lethias
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique (LBTI), UMR 5305 CNRS - Université Lyon 1, Lyon, Cedex 07, France
| | - Sylvie Ricard-Blum
- Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (ICBMS), UMR 5246 CNRS - Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne cedex, France
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Boraldi F, Moscarelli P, Bochicchio B, Pepe A, Salvi AM, Quaglino D. Heparan sulfates facilitate harmless amyloidogenic fibril formation interacting with elastin-like peptides. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3115. [PMID: 29449596 PMCID: PMC5814424 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21472-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Heparan sulfates (HSs) modulate tissue elasticity in physiopathological conditions by interacting with various matrix constituents as tropoelastin and elastin-derived peptides. HSs bind also to protein moieties accelerating amyloid formation and influencing cytotoxic properties of insoluble fibrils. Interestingly, amyloidogenic polypeptides, despite their supposed pathogenic role, have been recently explored as promising bio-nanomaterials due to their unique and interesting properties. Therefore, we investigated the interactions of HSs, obtained from different sources and exhibiting various degree of sulfation, with synthetic amyloidogenic elastin-like peptides (ELPs), also looking at the effects of these interactions on cell viability and cell behavior using in vitro cultured fibroblasts, as a prototype of mesenchymal cells known to modulate the soft connective tissue environment. Results demonstrate, for the first time, that HSs, with differences depending on their sulfation pattern and chain length, interact with ELPs accelerating aggregation kinetics and amyloid-like fibril formation as well as self-association. Furthermore, these fibrils do not negatively affect fibroblasts’ cell growth and parameters of redox balance, and influence cellular adhesion properties. Data provide information for a better understanding of the interactions altering the elastic component in aging and in pathologic conditions and may pave the way for the development of composite matrix-based biomaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Boraldi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Pasquale Moscarelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Antonietta Pepe
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Anna M Salvi
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Daniela Quaglino
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Nanofibers of Human Tropoelastin-inspired peptides: Structural characterization and biological properties. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2017; 77:927-934. [PMID: 28532113 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2017.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Regenerative medicine is taking great advantage from the use of biomaterials in the treatments of a wide range of diseases and injuries. Among other biomaterials, self-assembling peptides are appealing systems due to their ability to spontaneously form nanostructured hydrogels that can be directly injected into lesions. Indeed, self-assembling peptide scaffolds are expected to behave as biomimetic matrices able to surround cells, to promote specific interactions, and to control and modify cell behavior by mimicking the native environment as well. We selected three pentadecapeptides inspired by Human Tropoelastin, a natural protein of the extracellular matrix, expected to show high biocompatibility. Moreover, the here proposed self-assembling peptides (SAPs) are able to spontaneously aggregate in nanofibers in biological environment, as revealed by AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy). Peptides were characterized by XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) and IRRAS (Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy) both as lyophilized (not aggregated) and as aggregated (nanofibers) samples in order to investigate some potential differences in their chemical composition and intermolecular interactions, and to analyze the surface and interface of nanofibers. Finally, an accurate investigation of the biological properties of the SAPs and of their interaction with cells was performed by culturing for the first time human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) in presence of SAPs. The final aim of this work was to assess if Human Tropoelastin-inspired nanostructured fibers could exert a cytotoxic effect and to evaluate their biocompatibility, cellular adhesion and proliferation.
Collapse
|
11
|
Wang W, Guo Z, Sun J, Li Z. Nano-mechanical characterization of disassembling amyloid fibrils using the Peak Force QNM method. Biopolymers 2017; 107:61-69. [PMID: 27696370 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The comprehensive understanding of disassembly mechanism of amyloid fibrils requires nano-scale characterization of the mechanical properties of amyloid fibrils during the disassembly process. In this work, gemini surfactant C12 C6 C12 Br2 micelles were used as a probe to disassemble Aβ(1-40) fibrils. The microstructure evolution and nano-mechanical properties of Aβ(1-40) fibrils during the disassembly process were systematically investigated by the Peak Force Quantitative Nano-mechanical (PF-QNM) technique. The results show an obvious decrease in Young's modulus of mature fibrils with high β-sheet contents (2.4 ± 1.0 GPa) in comparison to the resulting peptide/surfactant complexes (1.1 ± 0.8 GPa) with loose surface structures. Interestingly, the Young's modulus of spherical peptide/surfactant complexes on the core was more than 3 GPa. This strategy can be used as a standard protocol to investigate the interaction mechanism between amyloid fibrils and small molecules, which may open up new possibilities to explore the mechanism of relevant human diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenpin Wang
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Zongxia Guo
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Jing Sun
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Zhibo Li
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bochicchio B, Bracalello A, Pepe A. Characterization of a Crosslinked Elastomeric-Protein Inspired Polypeptide. Chirality 2016; 28:606-11. [PMID: 27403636 DOI: 10.1002/chir.22619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Materials inspired by natural proteins have a great appeal in tissue engineering for their biocompatibility and similarity to extracellular matrix (ECM). Chimeric polypeptides inspired by elastomeric proteins such as silk, elastin, and collagen are of outstanding interest in the field. A recombinant polypeptide constituted of three different blocks, each of them having sequences derived from elastin, resilin, and collagen proteins, was demonstrated to be a good candidate as biomaterial for its self-assembling characteristics and biocompatibility. Herein, taking advantage of the primary amine functionalities present in the linear polypeptide, we crosslinked it with 1,6-hexamethylene-diisocyanate (HMDI). The characterization of the obtained polypeptide was realized by CD spectroscopy, AFM, and SEM microscopies. The obtained results, although not conclusive, demonstrate that the crosslinked polypeptide gave rise to porous networks, thin nanowires, and films not observable for the linear polypeptide. Chirality 28:606-611, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brigida Bochicchio
- Laboratory of Protein-Inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Angelo Bracalello
- Laboratory of Protein-Inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Antonietta Pepe
- Laboratory of Protein-Inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Le DHT, Okubo T, Sugawara-Narutaki A. Beaded nanofibers assembled from double-hydrophobic elastin-like block polypeptides: Effects of trifluoroethanol. Biopolymers 2016; 103:175-85. [PMID: 25363567 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A "double-hydrophobic" elastin-like triblock polypeptide GPG has been constructed by mimicking the localization of proline- and glycine-rich hydrophobic domains of native elastin, a protein that provides elasticity and resilience to connective tissues. In this study, the effects of trifluoroethanol (TFE), an organic solvent that strongly affects secondary structures of polypeptides on self-assembly of GPG in aqueous solutions were systematically studied. Beaded nanofiber formation of GPG, where nanoparticles are initially formed by coacervation of the polypeptides followed by their connection into one-dimensional nanostructures, is accelerated by the addition of TFE at the concentrations up to 30% (v/v), whereas aggregates of nanoparticles are formed at 60% TFE. The concentration-dependent assembly pattern discussed is based on the influence of TFE on the secondary structures of GPG. Well-defined nanofibers whose diameter and secondary structures are controlled by TFE concentration may be ideal building blocks for constructing bioelastic materials in tissue engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duc H T Le
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Salvi AM, Moscarelli P, Bochicchio B, Lanza G, Castle JE. Combined effects of solvation and aggregation propensity on the final supramolecular structures adopted by hydrophobic, glycine-rich, elastin-like polypeptides. Biopolymers 2016; 99:292-313. [PMID: 23426573 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2012] [Revised: 08/11/2012] [Accepted: 09/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Previous work on elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) made of hydrophobic amino acids of the type XxxGlyGlyZzzGly (Xxx, Zzz = Val, Leu) has consistently shown that differing dominant supramolecular structures were formed when the suspending media were varied: helical, amyloid-like fibers when suspended in water and globules evolving into "string of bead" structures, poly(ValGlyGlyValGly), or cigar-like bundles, poly(ValGlyGlyLeuGly), when suspended in methyl alcohol. Comparative experiments with poly(LeuGlyGlyValGly) have further indicated that the interface energy plays a significant role and that solvation effects act in concomitance with the intrinsic aggregation propensity of the repeat sequence. Continuing our investigation on ELPs using surface (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy) and bulk (circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) techniques for their characterization, here we have compared the effect of suspending solvents (H(2)O, dimethylsulfoxide, ethylene glycol, and MeOH) on poly(ValGlyGlyValGly), the polypeptide most inclined to form long and well-refined helical fibers in water, searching for the signature of intermolecular interactions occurring between the polypeptide chains in the given suspension. The influence of sequence specificities has been studied by comparing poly(ValGlyGlyValGly) and poly(LeuGlyGlyValGly) with a similar degree of polymerization. Deposits on substrates of the polypeptides were characterized taking into account the differing evaporation rate of solvents, and tests on their stability in ultra high vacuum were performed. Finally, combining experimental and computational studies, we have revaluated the three-dimensional modeling previously proposed for the supramolecular assembly in water of poly(ValGlyGlyValGly). The results were discussed and rationalized also in the light of published data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Salvi
- Dipartimento di Chimica 'Antonio Mario Tamburro,' Università della Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Muthuraj B, Layek S, Balaji SN, Trivedi V, Iyer PK. Multiple function fluorescein probe performs metal chelation, disaggregation, and modulation of aggregated Aβ and Aβ-Cu complex. ACS Chem Neurosci 2015; 6:1880-91. [PMID: 26332658 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.5b00205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
An exceptional probe comprising indole-3-carboxaldehyde fluorescein hydrazone (FI) performs multiple tasks, namely, disaggregating amyloid β (Aβ) aggregates in different biomarker environments such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), Aβ1-40 fibrils, β-amyloid lysozyme aggregates (LA), and U87 MG human astrocyte cells. Additionally, the probe FI binds with Cu(2+) ions selectively, disrupts the Aβ aggregates that vary from few nanometers to micrometers, and prevents their reaggregation, thereby performing disaggregation and modulation of amyloid-β in the presence as well as absence of Cu(2+) ion. The excellent selectivity of probe FI for Cu(2+) was effectively utilized to modulate the assembly of metal-induced Aβ aggregates by metal chelation with the "turn-on" fluorescence via spirolactam ring opening of FI as well as the metal-free Aβ fibrils by noncovalent interactions. These results confirm that FI has exceptional ability to perform multifaceted tasks such as metal chelation in intracellular conditions using Aβ lysozyme aggregates in cellular environments by the disruption of β-sheet rich Aβ fibrils into disaggregated forms. Subsequently, it was confirmed that FI had the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and it also modulated the metal induced Aβ fibrils in cellular environments by "turn-on" fluorescence, which are the most vital properties of a probe or a therapeutic agent. Furthermore, the morphology changes were examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM), polarizable optical microscopy (POM), fluorescence microscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies. These results provide very valuable clues on the Aβ (CSF Aβ fibrils, Aβ1-40 fibrils, β-amyloid lysozyme aggregates) disaggregation behavior via in vitro studies, which constitute the first insights into intracellular disaggregation of Aβ by "turn-on" method thereby influencing amyloidogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B. Muthuraj
- Department of Chemistry, and ‡Department of Biosciences
and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati-781039, Assam, India
| | - Sourav Layek
- Department of Chemistry, and ‡Department of Biosciences
and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati-781039, Assam, India
| | - S. N. Balaji
- Department of Chemistry, and ‡Department of Biosciences
and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati-781039, Assam, India
| | - Vishal Trivedi
- Department of Chemistry, and ‡Department of Biosciences
and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati-781039, Assam, India
| | - Parameswar Krishnan Iyer
- Department of Chemistry, and ‡Department of Biosciences
and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati-781039, Assam, India
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Liu K, Pesce D, Ma C, Tuchband M, Shuai M, Chen D, Su J, Liu Q, Gerasimov JY, Kolbe A, Zajaczkowski W, Pisula W, Müllen K, Clark NA, Herrmann A. Solvent-free liquid crystals and liquids based on genetically engineered supercharged polypeptides with high elasticity. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2015; 27:2459-2465. [PMID: 25732045 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201405182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Revised: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A series of solvent-free elastin-like polypeptide liquid crystals and liquids are developed by electrostatic complexation of supercharged elastin-like polypeptides with surfactants. The smectic mesophases exhibit a high elasticity and the values can be easily tuned by varying the alkyl chain lengths of the surfactants or the lengths of the elastin-like polypeptides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Liu
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, Nijenborgh 4, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Anantharaj S, Jayakannan M. Amyloid-Like Hierarchical Helical Fibrils and Conformational Reversibility in Functional Polyesters Based on l-Amino Acids. Biomacromolecules 2015; 16:1009-20. [DOI: 10.1021/bm501903t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Santhanaraj Anantharaj
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)-Pune, Dr. Homi
Bhabha Road, Pune − 411008, Maharashtra, India
| | - Manickam Jayakannan
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)-Pune, Dr. Homi
Bhabha Road, Pune − 411008, Maharashtra, India
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Mechanical Properties and Failure of Biopolymers: Atomistic Reactions to Macroscale Response. Top Curr Chem (Cham) 2015; 369:317-43. [PMID: 26108895 DOI: 10.1007/128_2015_643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The behavior of chemical bonding under various mechanical loadings is an intriguing mechanochemical property of biological materials, and the property plays a critical role in determining their deformation and failure mechanisms. Because of their astonishing mechanical properties and roles in constituting the basis of a variety of physiologically relevant materials, biological protein materials have been intensively studied. Understanding the relation between chemical bond networks (structures) and their mechanical properties offers great possibilities to enable new materials design in nanotechnology and new medical treatments for human diseases. Here we focus on how the chemical bonds in biological systems affect mechanical properties and how they change during mechanical deformation and failure. Three representative cases of biomaterials related to the human diseases are discussed in case studies, including: amyloids, intermediate filaments, and collagen, each describing mechanochemical features and how they relate to the pathological conditions at multiple scales.
Collapse
|
19
|
Wang Q, Xia X, Huang W, Lin Y, Xu Q, Kaplan DL. High Throughput Screening of Dynamic Silk-Elastin-Like Protein Biomaterials. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2014; 24:4303-4310. [PMID: 25505375 PMCID: PMC4258412 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201304106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The need for dynamic, elastomeric polymeric biomaterials remains high, with few options with tunable control of mechanical properties, and environmental responses. Yet the diversity of these types of protein polymers pursued for biomaterials-related needs remains limited. Robust high-throughput synthesis and characterization methods will address the need to expand options for protein-polymers for a range of applications. To address this need, a combinatorial library approach with high throughput screening is used to select specific examples of dynamic protein silk-elastin-like polypeptides (SELPs) with unique stimuli responsive features, including tensile strength, and adhesion. Using this approach 64 different SELPs with different sequences and molecular weights are selected out of over 2,000 recombinant E. coli colonies. New understanding of sequence-function relationships with this family of proteins is gained through this combinatorial-screening approach and can provide a guide to future library designs. Further, this approach yields new families of SELPs to match specific material functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qin Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155, United States
| | - Xiaoxia Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong-Chuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Wenwen Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155, United States
| | - Yinan Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155, United States
| | - Qiaobing Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155, United States
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155, United States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Muiznieks LD, Cirulis JT, van der Horst A, Reinhardt DP, Wuite GJ, Pomès R, Keeley FW. Modulated growth, stability and interactions of liquid-like coacervate assemblies of elastin. Matrix Biol 2014; 36:39-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2014.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
21
|
Moscarelli P, Boraldi F, Bochicchio B, Pepe A, Salvi AM, Quaglino D. Structural characterization and biological properties of the amyloidogenic elastin-like peptide (VGGVG)3. Matrix Biol 2014; 36:15-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2014.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Revised: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
22
|
Ridgley DM, Freedman BG, Lee PW, Barone JR. Genetically encoded self-assembly of large amyloid fibers. Biomater Sci 2014; 2:560-566. [DOI: 10.1039/c3bm60223k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Experimental results demonstrate that large amyloid fibers can be engineered at the DNA level, spanning four orders of magnitude.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D. M. Ridgley
- Biological Systems Engineering
- Virginia Tech
- Blacksburg, USA
| | - B. G. Freedman
- Biological Systems Engineering
- Virginia Tech
- Blacksburg, USA
| | - P. W. Lee
- Biological Systems Engineering
- Virginia Tech
- Blacksburg, USA
| | - J. R. Barone
- Biological Systems Engineering
- Virginia Tech
- Blacksburg, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Vassalli M, Sbrana F, Laurita A, Papi M, Bloise N, Visai L, Bochicchio B. Biological and structural characterization of a naturally inspired material engineered from elastin as a candidate for tissue engineering applications. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2013; 29:15898-15906. [PMID: 24328291 DOI: 10.1021/la403311x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The adoption of a biomimetic approach in the design and fabrication of innovative materials for biomedical applications is encountering a growing interest. In particular, new molecules are being engineered on the basis of proteins present in the extracellular matrix, such as fibronectin, collagen, or elastin. Following this approach scientists expect to be able not only to obtain materials with tailored mechanical properties but also to elicit specific biological responses inherited by the mimicked tissue. In the present work, a novel peptide, engineered starting from the sequence encoded by exon 28 of human tropoelastin, was characterized from a chemical, physical, and biological point of view. The obtained molecule was observed to aggregate at high temperatures, forming a material able to induce a biological effect similar to what elastin does in the physiological context. This material seems to be a good candidate to play a relevant role in future biomedical applications with special reference to vascular surgery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Vassalli
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Genova, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Volpatti LR, Knowles TPJ. Polymer physics inspired approaches for the study of the mechanical properties of amyloid fibrils. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/polb.23428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa R. Volpatti
- Department of Chemistry; University of Cambridge; Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW United Kingdom
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Department of Chemistry; University of Cambridge; Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Ridgley DM, Claunch EC, Barone JR. Characterization of large amyloid fibers and tapes with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY 2013; 67:1417-1426. [PMID: 24359656 DOI: 10.1366/13-07059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Amyloids are self-assembled protein structures implicated in a host of neurodegenerative diseases. Organisms can also produce "functional amyloids" to perpetuate life, and these materials serve as models for robust biomaterials. Amyloids are typically studied using fluorescent dyes, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), or Raman spectroscopy analysis of the protein amide I region, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) because the self-assembled β-sheet secondary structure of the amyloid can be easily identified with these techniques. Here, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy analyses are described to characterize amyloid structures beyond just identification of the β-sheet structure. It has been shown that peptide mixtures can self-assemble into nanometer-sized amyloid structures that then continue to self-assemble to the micrometer scale. The resulting structures are flat tapes of low rigidity or cylinders of high rigidity depending on the peptides in the mixture. By monitoring the aggregation of peptides in solution using FT-IR spectroscopy, it is possible to identify specific amino acids implicated in β-sheet formation and higher order self-assembly. It is also possible to predict the final tape or cylinder morphology and gain insight into the structure's physical properties based on observed intermolecular interactions during the self-assembly process. Tapes and cylinders are shown to both have a similar core self-assembled β-sheet structure. Soft tapes also have weak hydrophobic interactions between alanine, isoleucine, leucine, and valine that facilitate self-assembly. Rigid cylinders have similar hydrophobic interactions that facilitate self-assembly and also have extensive hydrogen bonding between glutamines. Raman spectroscopy performed on the dried tapes and fibers shows the persistence of these interactions. The spectroscopic analyses described could be generalized to other self-assembling amyloid systems to explain property and morphological differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devin M Ridgley
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech, 303 Seitz Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Elizabeth C Claunch
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech, 303 Seitz Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Justin R Barone
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech, 303 Seitz Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Carregal-Romero S, Rinklin P, Schulze S, Schäfer M, Ott A, Hühn D, Yu X, Wolfrum B, Weitzel KM, Parak WJ. Ion Transport Through Polyelectrolyte Multilayers. Macromol Rapid Commun 2013; 34:1820-6. [DOI: 10.1002/marc.201300571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Revised: 08/31/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Susana Carregal-Romero
- Fachbereich Physik; Philipps Universität Marburg; Marburg Germany
- BIONAND; Centro Andaluz de Nanomedicina y Biotecnología; Málaga Spain
| | - Philipp Rinklin
- Institute of Bioelectronics PGI-8/ICS-8, JARA-FIT; Forschungszentrum, Jülich Jülich Germany
| | - Susanne Schulze
- Fachbereich Chemie; Philipps Universität Marburg; Marburg Germany
| | - Martin Schäfer
- Fachbereich Chemie; Philipps Universität Marburg; Marburg Germany
| | - Andrea Ott
- Fachbereich Physik; Philipps Universität Marburg; Marburg Germany
| | - Dominik Hühn
- Fachbereich Physik; Philipps Universität Marburg; Marburg Germany
| | - Xiang Yu
- Fachbereich Physik; Philipps Universität Marburg; Marburg Germany
| | - Bernhard Wolfrum
- Institute of Bioelectronics PGI-8/ICS-8, JARA-FIT; Forschungszentrum, Jülich Jülich Germany
| | | | - Wolfgang J. Parak
- Fachbereich Physik; Philipps Universität Marburg; Marburg Germany
- CIC Biomagune; San Sebastian Spain
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Ndlovu H, Ashcroft AE, Radford SE, Harris SA. Molecular dynamics simulations of mechanical failure in polymorphic arrangements of amyloid fibrils containing structural defects. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2013; 4:429-440. [PMID: 23946911 PMCID: PMC3740767 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.4.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2012] [Accepted: 06/24/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We examine how the different steric packing arrangements found in amyloid fibril polymorphs can modulate their mechanical properties using steered molecular dynamics simulations. Our calculations demonstrate that for fibrils containing structural defects, their ability to resist force in a particular direction can be dominated by both the number and molecular details of the defects that are present. The simulations thereby suggest a hierarchy of factors that govern the mechanical resilience of fibrils, and illustrate the general principles that must be considered when quantifying the mechanical properties of amyloid fibres containing defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hlengisizwe Ndlovu
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Alison E Ashcroft
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Sheena E Radford
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Sarah A Harris
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Le DHT, Hanamura R, Pham DH, Kato M, Tirrell DA, Okubo T, Sugawara-Narutaki A. Self-assembly of elastin-mimetic double hydrophobic polypeptides. Biomacromolecules 2013; 14:1028-34. [PMID: 23495825 DOI: 10.1021/bm301887m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We have constructed a novel class of "double-hydrophobic" block polypeptides based on the hydrophobic domains found in native elastin, an extracellular matrix protein responsible for the elasticity and resilience of tissues. The block polypeptides comprise proline-rich poly(VPGXG) and glycine-rich poly(VGGVG), both of which dehydrate at higher temperature but form distinct secondary structures, β-turn and β-sheet respectively. In water at 45 °C, the block polypeptides initially assemble into nanoparticles rich in β-turn structures, which further connect into long (>10 μm), beaded nanofibers along with the increase in the β-sheet content. The nanofibers obtained are well-dispersed in water, and show thermoresponsive properties. Polypeptides comprising each block component assemble into different morphologies, showing that the conjugation of poly(VPGXG) and poly(VGGVG) plays a role for beaded fiber formation. These results may provide innovative ideas for designing peptide-based materials but also opportunities for developing novel materials useful for tissue engineering and drug delivery systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duc H T Le
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Li JJ, Yip CM. Super-resolved FT-IR spectroscopy: Strategies, challenges, and opportunities for membrane biophysics. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2013; 1828:2272-82. [PMID: 23500349 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2013.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2012] [Accepted: 02/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Direct correlation of molecular conformation with local structure is critical to studies of protein- and peptide-membrane interactions, particularly in the context of membrane-facilitated aggregation, and disruption or disordering. Infrared spectroscopy has long been a mainstay for determining molecular conformation, following folding dynamics, and characterizing reactions. While tremendous advances have been made in improving the spectral and temporal resolution of infrared spectroscopy, it has only been with the introduction of scanned-probe techniques that exploit the raster-scanning tip as either a source, scattering tool, or measurement probe that researchers have been able to obtain sub-diffraction limit IR spectra. This review will examine the history of correlated scanned-probe IR spectroscopies, from their inception to their use in studies of molecular aggregates, membrane domains, and cellular structures. The challenges and opportunities that these platforms present for examining dynamic phenomena will be discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: FTIR in membrane proteins and peptide studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J Li
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada M5S 3E1
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ridgley DM, Barone JR. Evolution of the amyloid fiber over multiple length scales. ACS NANO 2013; 7:1006-1015. [PMID: 23268732 DOI: 10.1021/nn303489a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The amyloid is a natural self-assembled peptide material comparable in specific stiffness to spider silk and steel. Throughout the literature there are many studies of the nanometer-sized amyloid fibril; however, peptide mixtures are capable of self-assembling beyond the nanometer scale into micrometer-sized fibers. Here, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used to observe the self-assembly of the peptide mixtures in solution for 20 days and the fibers upon drying. Beyond the nanometer scale, self-assembling fibers differentiate into two morphologies, cylindrical or rectangular cross-section, depending on peptide properties. Microscopic observations delineate a four stage self-assembly mechanism: (1) protofibril (2-4 nm high and 15-30 nm wide) formation; (2) protofibril aggregation into fibrils 6-10 nm high and 60-120 nm wide; (3) fibril aggregation into large fibrils and morphological differentiation where large fibrils begin to resemble the final fiber morphology of cylinders (WG peptides) or tapes (Gd:My peptides). WG large fibrils are 50 nm high and 480 nm wide and Gd:My large fibrils are 10 nm high and 150 nm wide; (4) micrometer-sized fiber formation upon drying at 480 h resulting in 18.0 μm diameter cylindrical fibers (WG peptides) and 14.0 μm wide and 6.0 μm thick flat tapes (Gd:My peptides). Evolution of the large fiber morphology can be rationalized on the basis of the peptide properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devin M Ridgley
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech, 303 Seitz Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Koroleva ON, Dubrovin EV, Khodak YA, Kuzmina NV, Yaminsky IV, Drutsa VL. The model of amyloid aggregation of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase σ70 subunit based on AFM data and in vitro assays. Cell Biochem Biophys 2013; 66:623-36. [PMID: 23306967 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-012-9507-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
To propose a model for recently described amyloid aggregation of E.coli RNA polymerase σ(70) subunit, we have investigated the role of its N-terminal region. For this purpose, three mutant variants of protein with deletions Δ1-73, Δ1-100 and Δ74-100 were constructed and studied in a series of in vitro assays and using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Specifically, all RNA polymerase holoenzymes, reconstituted with the use of mutant σ subunits, have shown reduced affinity for promoter-containing DNA and reduced activity in run-off transcription experiments (compared to that of WT species), thus substantiating the modern concept on the modulatory role of N-terminus in formation of open complex and transcription initiation. The ability of mutant proteins to form amyloid-like structures has been investigated using AFM, which revealed the increased propensity of mutant proteins to form rodlike aggregates with the effect being more pronounced for the mutant with the deletion Δ1-73 (10 fold increase). σ(70) subunit aggregation ability has shown complex dependence on the ionic surrounding, which we explain by Debye screening effect and the change of the internal state of the protein. Basing on the obtained data, we propose the model of amyloid fibril formation by σ(70) subunit, implying the involvement of N-terminal region according to the domain swapping mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga N Koroleva
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Irwin JA, Wong HE, Kwon I. Different Fates of Alzheimer’s Disease Amyloid-β Fibrils Remodeled by Biocompatible Small Molecules. Biomacromolecules 2012; 14:264-74. [DOI: 10.1021/bm3016994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A. Irwin
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and 2Institutes on Aging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4741, United
States
| | - H. Edward Wong
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and 2Institutes on Aging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4741, United
States
| | - Inchan Kwon
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and 2Institutes on Aging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4741, United
States
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Brandenburg E, Berlepsch HV, Leiterer J, Emmerling F, Koksch B. Formation of α-helical nanofibers by mixing β-structured and α-helical coiled coil peptides. Biomacromolecules 2012; 13:3542-51. [PMID: 22946440 DOI: 10.1021/bm300882d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The helical coiled coil is a well-studied folding motif that can be used for the design of nanometer-sized bioinspired fibrous structures with potential applications as functional materials. A two-component system of coiled coil based model peptides is investigated, which forms, under acidic conditions, uniform, hundreds of nanometers long, and ~2.6 nm thick trimeric α-helical fibers. In the absence of the other component and under the same solvent conditions, one model peptide forms β-sheet-rich amyloid fibrils and the other forms stable trimeric α-helical coiled coils, respectively. These observations reveal that the complementary interactions driving helical folding are much stronger here than those promoting the intermolecular β-sheet formation. The results of this study are important in the context of amyloid inhibition but also open up new avenues for the design of novel fibrous peptidic materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Brandenburg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Sweers KKM, Bennink ML, Subramaniam V. Nanomechanical properties of single amyloid fibrils. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2012; 24:243101. [PMID: 22585542 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/24/24/243101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are traditionally associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. However, the ability to form amyloid fibrils appears to be a more generic property of proteins. While disease-related, or pathological, amyloid fibrils are relevant for understanding the pathology and course of the disease, functional amyloids are involved, for example, in the exceptionally strong adhesive properties of natural adhesives. Amyloid fibrils are thus becoming increasingly interesting as versatile nanobiomaterials for applications in biotechnology. In the last decade a number of studies have reported on the intriguing mechanical characteristics of amyloid fibrils. In most of these studies atomic force microscopy (AFM) and atomic force spectroscopy play a central role. AFM techniques make it possible to probe, at nanometer length scales, and with exquisite control over the applied forces, biological samples in different environmental conditions. In this review we describe the different AFM techniques used for probing mechanical properties of single amyloid fibrils on the nanoscale. An overview is given of the existing mechanical studies on amyloid. We discuss the difficulties encountered with respect to the small fibril sizes and polymorphic behavior of amyloid fibrils. In particular, the different conformational packing of monomers within the fibrils leads to a heterogeneity in mechanical properties. We conclude with a brief outlook on how our knowledge of these mechanical properties of the amyloid fibrils can be exploited in the construction of nanomaterials from amyloid fibrils.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K K M Sweers
- Nanobiophysics, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Effect of sequence variation on the mechanical response of amyloid fibrils probed by steered molecular dynamics simulation. Biophys J 2012; 102:587-96. [PMID: 22325282 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.12.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2011] [Revised: 12/01/2011] [Accepted: 12/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanical failure of mature amyloid fibers produces fragments that act as seeds for the growth of new fibrils. Fragmentation may also be correlated with cytotoxicity. We have used steered atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to study the mechanical failure of fibrils formed by the amyloidogenic fragment of human amylin hIAPP20-29 subjected to force applied in a variety of directions. By introducing systematic variations to this peptide sequence in silico, we have also investigated the role of the amino-acid sequence in determining the mechanical stability of amyloid fibrils. Our calculations show that the force required to induce mechanical failure depends on the direction of the applied stress and upon the degree of structural order present in the β-sheet assemblies, which in turn depends on the peptide sequence. The results have implications for the importance of sequence-dependent mechanical properties on seeding the growth of new fibrils and the role of breakage events in cytotoxicity.
Collapse
|
36
|
Yang G, Wong MK, Lin LE, Yip CM. Nucleation and growth of elastin-like peptide fibril multilayers: an in situ atomic force microscopy study. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2011; 22:494018. [PMID: 22101911 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/22/49/494018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Controlling how molecules assemble into complex supramolecular architectures requires careful consideration of the subtle inter- and intra-molecular interactions that control their association. This is particularly crucial in the context of assembly at interfaces, where both surface chemistry and structure can play a role in directing structure formation. We report here the results of a study into the self-assembly of the elastin-like peptide EP I on structurally modified highly ordered pyrolytic graphite, including the role of spatial confinement on fibril nucleation and the growth of oriented fibril multilayers. In situ atomic force microscopy performed in fluid and at elevated temperature provided direct evidence of frustrated fibril nuclei and oriented growth of independent fibril domains. These results portend the application of this in situ strategy for studies of the nucleation and growth mechanisms of other fibril- and amyloid-forming proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guocheng Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Ridgley DM, Ebanks KC, Barone JR. Peptide Mixtures Can Self-Assemble into Large Amyloid Fibers of Varying Size and Morphology. Biomacromolecules 2011; 12:3770-9. [DOI: 10.1021/bm201005k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Devin M. Ridgley
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech, 303 Seitz Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia
24061, United States
| | - Keira C. Ebanks
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech, 303 Seitz Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia
24061, United States
| | - Justin R. Barone
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech, 303 Seitz Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia
24061, United States
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Bracalello A, Santopietro V, Vassalli M, Marletta G, Del Gaudio R, Bochicchio B, Pepe A. Design and production of a chimeric resilin-, elastin-, and collagen-like engineered polypeptide. Biomacromolecules 2011; 12:2957-65. [PMID: 21707089 DOI: 10.1021/bm2005388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Protein-inspired biomaterials have gained great interest as an alternative to synthetic polymers, in particular, for their potential use as biomedical devices. The potential inspiring models are mainly proteins able to confer mechanical properties to tissues and organs, such as elasticity (elastin, resilin, spider silk) and strength (collagen, silk). The proper combination of repetitive sequences, each of them derived from different proteins, represents a useful tool for obtaining biomaterials with tailored mechanical properties and biological functions. In this report we describe the design, the production, and the preliminary characterization of a chimeric polypeptide, based on sequences derived from the highly resilient proteins resilin and elastin and from collagen-like sequences. The results show that the obtained chimeric recombinant material exhibits promising self-assembling properties. Young's modulus of the fibers was determined by AFM image analysis and lies in the range of 0.1-3 MPa in agreement with the expectations for elastin-like and resilin-like materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Bracalello
- Department of Chemistry Antonio M. Tamburrro, University of Basilicata , 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Salvi AM, Moscarelli P, Satriano G, Bochicchio B, Castle JE. Influence of amino acid specificities on the molecular and supramolecular organization of glycine-rich elastin-like polypeptides in water. Biopolymers 2011; 95:702-21. [PMID: 21509743 DOI: 10.1002/bip.21636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2011] [Revised: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 03/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Elastin-like polypeptides adopt complex supramolecular structures, showing either a hydrophobic or a hydrophilic surface, depending on their surrounding environment and the supporting substrate. The preferred organization is important in many situations ranging from biocompatibility to bio-function. Here we compare the n-repeat pentamer LeuGlyGlyValGly (n = 7) with the analogue ValGlyGlyValGly (n = 5), as water suspensions and as deposits on silicon substrates. These sequences contain the repeat XxxGlyGlyZzzGly (Xxx, Zzz = Val, Leu) motif belonging to the hydrophobic glycine-rich domain of elastin and represent a simplified model from which to obtain information on molecular interactions functional to elastin itself. The compounds studied differ only by the presence of the -CH(2)- spacer in the Leu moiety and thus the work was aimed at revealing the influence of this spacer element on self assembly. Both polypeptides were studied under identical conditions, using combined techniques, to identify differences in their conformational states both at molecular (CD, FTIR) and supramolecular (XPS, AFM) levels. By these means, together with a Congo Red spectroscopic assay of β-sheet formation in water, a clear correlation between amino acid sequences (sequence specificity) and their kinetics and ordering of aggregation has emerged. The novel outcomes of this work are from the supplementary measurements, made to augment the AFM and XPS studies, showing that the significant step in the self assembly of both polypeptides takes place in the liquid phase and from the finding that the substitution of Val by Leu in the first position of the pentapeptide effectively inhibits the formation of amyloidal fibers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Salvi
- Dipartimento di Chimica Antonio Mario Tamburro, Università della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Sharpe S, Simonetti K, Yau J, Walsh P. Solid-State NMR characterization of autofluorescent fibrils formed by the elastin-derived peptide GVGVAGVG. Biomacromolecules 2011; 12:1546-55. [PMID: 21456595 PMCID: PMC3089984 DOI: 10.1021/bm101486s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The characterization of the molecular structure and physical properties of self-assembling peptides is an important aspect of optimizing their utility as scaffolds for biomaterials and other applications. Here we report the formation of autofluorescent fibrils by an octapeptide (GVGVAGVG) derived via a single amino acid substitution in one of the hydrophobic repeat elements of human elastin. This is the shortest and most well-defined peptide so far reported to exhibit intrinsic fluorescence in the absence of a discrete fluorophore. Structural characterization by FTIR and solid-state NMR reveals a predominantly β-sheet conformation for the peptide in the fibrils, which are likely assembled in an amyloid-like cross-β structure. Investigation of dynamics and the effects of hydration on the peptide are consistent with a rigid, water excluded structure, which has implications for the likely mechanism of intrinsic fibril fluorescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Sharpe
- Molecular Structure and Function Programme, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Paparcone R, Cranford SW, Buehler MJ. Self-folding and aggregation of amyloid nanofibrils. NANOSCALE 2011; 3:1748-1755. [PMID: 21347488 DOI: 10.1039/c0nr00840k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Amyloids are highly organized protein filaments, rich in β-sheet secondary structures that self-assemble to form dense plaques in brain tissues affected by severe neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's Disease). Identified as natural functional materials in bacteria, in addition to their remarkable mechanical properties, amyloids have also been proposed as a platform for novel biomaterials in nanotechnology applications including nanowires, liquid crystals, scaffolds and thin films. Despite recent progress in understanding amyloid structure and behavior, the latent self-assembly mechanism and the underlying adhesion forces that drive the aggregation process remain poorly understood. On the basis of previous full atomistic simulations, here we report a simple coarse-grain model to analyze the competition between adhesive forces and elastic deformation of amyloid fibrils. We use simple model system to investigate self-assembly mechanisms of fibrils, focused on the formation of self-folded nanorackets and nanorings, and thereby address a critical issue in linking the biochemical (Angstrom) to micrometre scales relevant for larger-scale states of functional amyloid materials. We investigate the effect of varying the interfibril adhesion energy on the structure and stability of self-folded nanorackets and nanorings and demonstrate that these aggregated amyloid fibrils are stable in such states even when the fibril-fibril interaction is relatively weak, given that the constituting amyloid fibril length exceeds a critical fibril length-scale of several hundred nanometres. We further present a simple approach to directly determine the interfibril adhesion strength from geometric measures. In addition to providing insight into the physics of aggregation of amyloid fibrils our model enables the analysis of large-scale amyloid plaques and presents a new method for the estimation and engineering of the adhesive forces responsible of the self-assembly process of amyloid nanostructures, filling a gap that previously existed between full atomistic simulations of primarily ultra-short fibrils and much larger micrometre-scale amyloid aggregates. Via direct simulation of large-scale amyloid aggregates consisting of hundreds of fibrils we demonstrate that the fibril length has a profound impact on their structure and mechanical properties, where the critical fibril length-scale derived from our analysis of self-folded nanorackets and nanorings defines the structure of amyloid aggregates. A multi-scale modeling approach as used here, bridging the scales from Angstroms to micrometres, opens a wide range of possible nanotechnology applications by presenting a holistic framework that balances mechanical properties of individual fibrils, hierarchical self-assembly, and the adhesive forces determining their stability to facilitate the design of de novo amyloid materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Paparcone
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave. Room 1-235A&B, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Kolbe A, del Mercato LL, Abbasi AZ, Rivera Gil P, Gorzini SJ, Huibers WHC, Poolman B, Parak WJ, Herrmann A. De Novo Design of Supercharged, Unfolded Protein Polymers, and Their Assembly into Supramolecular Aggregates. Macromol Rapid Commun 2010; 32:186-90. [DOI: 10.1002/marc.201000491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
|
43
|
Muiznieks LD, Weiss AS, Keeley FW. Structural disorder and dynamics of elastin. Biochem Cell Biol 2010; 88:239-50. [PMID: 20453927 DOI: 10.1139/o09-161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin is a self-assembling, extracellular-matrix protein that is the major provider of tissue elasticity. Here we review structural studies of elastin from over four decades, and draw together evidence for solution flexibility and conformational disorder that is inherent in all levels of structural organization. The characterization of disorder is consistent with an entropy-driven mechanism of elastic recoil. We conclude that conformational disorder is a constitutive feature of elastin structure and function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D Muiznieks
- Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
The nanoscale properties of bacterial inclusion bodies and their effect on mammalian cell proliferation. Biomaterials 2010; 31:5805-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2010] [Accepted: 04/04/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
45
|
Hu X, Wang X, Rnjak J, Weiss AS, Kaplan DL. Biomaterials derived from silk-tropoelastin protein systems. Biomaterials 2010; 31:8121-31. [PMID: 20674969 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2010] [Accepted: 07/07/2010] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
A structural protein blend system based on silkworm silk fibroin and recombinant human tropoelastin is described. Silk fibroin, a semicrystalline fibrous protein with beta-sheet crystals provides mechanical strength and controllable biodegradation, while tropoelastin, a noncrystallizable elastic protein provides elasticity. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) indicated that silk becomes miscible with tropoelastin at different blend ratios, without macrophase separation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed secondary structural changes of the blend system (beta-sheet content) before and after methanol treatment. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nano-indentation demonstrated that blending silk and tropoelastin at different ratios resulted in modification of mechanical features, with resilience from approximately 68%- approximately 97%, and elastic modulus between 2 and 9 Mpa, depending on the ratio of the two polymers. Some of these values are close to those of native aortic elastin or elastin-like polypeptides. Significantly, during blending and drying silk-tropoelastin form micro- and nano-scale porous morphologies which promote human mesenchymal stem cell attachment and proliferation. These blends offer a new protein biomaterial system for cell support and tailored biomaterial properties to match mechanical needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Zhou X, Cui C, Zhang J, Liu J, Liu J. Nanomechanics of individual amyloid fibrils using atomic force microscopy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s11434-010-3201-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
47
|
Xu Z, Paparcone R, Buehler MJ. Alzheimer's abeta(1-40) amyloid fibrils feature size-dependent mechanical properties. Biophys J 2010; 98:2053-62. [PMID: 20483312 PMCID: PMC2872369 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2009.12.4317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2009] [Revised: 12/16/2009] [Accepted: 12/21/2009] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are highly ordered protein aggregates that are associated with several pathological processes, including prion propagation and Alzheimer's disease. A key issue in amyloid science is the need to understand the mechanical properties of amyloid fibrils and fibers to quantify biomechanical interactions with surrounding tissues, and to identify mechanobiological mechanisms associated with changes of material properties as amyloid fibrils grow from nanoscale to microscale structures. Here we report a series of computational studies in which atomistic simulation, elastic network modeling, and finite element simulation are utilized to elucidate the mechanical properties of Alzheimer's Abeta(1-40) amyloid fibrils as a function of the length of the protein filament for both twofold and threefold symmetric amyloid fibrils. We calculate the elastic constants associated with torsional, bending, and tensile deformation as a function of the size of the amyloid fibril, covering fibril lengths ranging from nanometers to micrometers. The resulting Young's moduli are found to be consistent with available experimental measurements obtained from long amyloid fibrils, and predicted to be in the range of 20-31 GPa. Our results show that Abeta(1-40) amyloid fibrils feature a remarkable structural stability and mechanical rigidity for fibrils longer than approximately 100 nm. However, local instabilities that emerge at the ends of short fibrils (on the order of tens of nanometers) reduce their stability and contribute to their disassociation under extreme mechanical or chemical conditions, suggesting that longer amyloid fibrils are more stable. Moreover, we find that amyloids with lengths shorter than the periodicity of their helical pitch, typically between 90 and 130 nm, feature significant size effects of their bending stiffness due the anisotropy in the fibril's cross section. At even smaller lengths (50 nm), shear effects dominate lateral deformation of amyloid fibrils, suggesting that simple Euler-Bernoulli beam models fail to describe the mechanics of amyloid fibrils appropriately. Our studies reveal the importance of size effects in elucidating the mechanical properties of amyloid fibrils. This issue is of great importance for comparing experimental and simulation results, and gaining a general understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the growth of ectopic amyloid materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiping Xu
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Raffaella Paparcone
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Center for Computational Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Paparcone R, Keten S, Buehler MJ. Atomistic simulation of nanomechanical properties of Alzheimer’s Aβ(1–40) amyloid fibrils under compressive and tensile loading. J Biomech 2010; 43:1196-201. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2009] [Revised: 11/12/2009] [Accepted: 11/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
|
49
|
Antonicelli F, Bellon G, Lorimier S, Hornebeck W. Role of the elastin receptor complex (S-Gal/Cath-A/Neu-1) in skin repair and regeneration. Wound Repair Regen 2009; 17:631-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-475x.2009.00525.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
|
50
|
Doostkam S, Bohl JRE, Sahraian A, Mahjoor AA. Amyloid deposits in senile vertebral arteries, immunohistological and ultrastructural findings. Pak J Biol Sci 2008; 11:1852-1855. [PMID: 18817230 DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2008.1852.1855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
In a study on amyloid deposits in vertebral arteries, many elderly patients showed amyloid deposits in the perivascular tissue. These proved to be senile systemic amyloidosis of the transthyretin-type by immunohistochemistry. Amyloid deposits were also found in the arterial wall. These intramural amyloid deposits showed significant affinity to elastic material of the arterial wall. The intramural amyloid deposits did not react with any of the known or available antibodies to amyloid subtypes. Only a polyclonal antibody to human elastin could mark this type of amyloid. It may therefore be assumed that the precursor protein of this amyloid is derived from elastin molecules. By electron microscopy, the light microscopic amyloid deposits were of fibrillary structure, typical for amyloid with a direct contact to elastic material.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Doostkam
- Department of Neuropathology, Neurocentre, University Hospital of Freiburg, Germany
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|