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Gonçalves PB, Cordeiro Y, Rennó Sodero AC. Understanding the mechanisms of green tea EGCG against amyloid β oligomer neurotoxicity through computational studies. RSC Adv 2024; 14:22525-22539. [PMID: 39015669 PMCID: PMC11251396 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra03343d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Oligomeric species of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) are pivotal in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, making them valuable therapeutic targets. Currently, there is no cure or preventive therapy available for AD, with only a few therapeutics offering temporary alleviation of symptoms. Natural products (NPs) are now considered promising anti-amyloid agents. Green tea catechins have garnered considerable attention due to their ability to remodel the toxic amyloid β peptide oligomers (AβOs) into non-toxic assemblies. Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanism underlying their effects on AβOs remains unclear. In this study, we employ a combination of binding site prediction, molecular docking, and dynamics simulations to gain mechanistic insights into the binding of the potent anti-amyloid epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and the less effective catechin, epicatechin (EC), on the structure of pore-forming Aβ tetramers (PDB ID 6RHY). This recently elucidated structure represents AβO(1-42) with two faces of the hydrophobic β-sheet core and hydrophilic edges. Our simulations revealed three potential druggable binding sites within the AβO: two in hydrophilic edges and one in the β-sheet core. Although both catechins bind via hydrogen bond (H-bond) and aromatic interactions to the three potential binding sites, EGCG interacted with key residues more efficiently than EC. We propose that EGCG may remodel AβOs preventing pore formation by binding to the hydrophilic edge binding sites. Additionally, EGCG interacts with key residues in the oligomer's β-sheet core binding site, crucial for fibrillar aggregation. A better understanding of how anti-amyloid compounds remodelling AβOs could be valuable for the development of new therapeutic strategies targeting Aβ in AD. Further experimental validation using point mutations involving key residues could be useful to define whether the establishment of these interactions is crucial for the EGCG remodelling effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Baltazar Gonçalves
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941-902 Brazil
| | - Yraima Cordeiro
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941-902 Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Rennó Sodero
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941-902 Brazil
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2
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Huang H, Zheng Y, Chang M, Song J, Xia L, Wu C, Jia W, Ren H, Feng W, Chen Y. Ultrasound-Based Micro-/Nanosystems for Biomedical Applications. Chem Rev 2024; 124:8307-8472. [PMID: 38924776 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Due to the intrinsic non-invasive nature, cost-effectiveness, high safety, and real-time capabilities, besides diagnostic imaging, ultrasound as a typical mechanical wave has been extensively developed as a physical tool for versatile biomedical applications. Especially, the prosperity of nanotechnology and nanomedicine invigorates the landscape of ultrasound-based medicine. The unprecedented surge in research enthusiasm and dedicated efforts have led to a mass of multifunctional micro-/nanosystems being applied in ultrasound biomedicine, facilitating precise diagnosis, effective treatment, and personalized theranostics. The effective deployment of versatile ultrasound-based micro-/nanosystems in biomedical applications is rooted in a profound understanding of the relationship among composition, structure, property, bioactivity, application, and performance. In this comprehensive review, we elaborate on the general principles regarding the design, synthesis, functionalization, and optimization of ultrasound-based micro-/nanosystems for abundant biomedical applications. In particular, recent advancements in ultrasound-based micro-/nanosystems for diagnostic imaging are meticulously summarized. Furthermore, we systematically elucidate state-of-the-art studies concerning recent progress in ultrasound-based micro-/nanosystems for therapeutic applications targeting various pathological abnormalities including cancer, bacterial infection, brain diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic diseases. Finally, we conclude and provide an outlook on this research field with an in-depth discussion of the challenges faced and future developments for further extensive clinical translation and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Huang
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
| | - Yi Zheng
- Department of Ultrasound, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, P. R. China
| | - Meiqi Chang
- Laboratory Center, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200071, P. R. China
| | - Jun Song
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
| | - Lili Xia
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
| | - Chenyao Wu
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
| | - Wencong Jia
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
| | - Hongze Ren
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
| | - Wei Feng
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
| | - Yu Chen
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
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3
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Kim HE. Influence of Biofilm Maturity on the Antibacterial Efficacy of Cold Atmospheric Plasma in Oral Microcosm Biofilms. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1056. [PMID: 38791017 PMCID: PMC11118202 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12051056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
As biofilms mature, biomass and extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) content increases, enhancing pathogenicity. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) against oral microcosm biofilms and the influence of biofilm maturity on treatment. Oral microcosm biofilms were cultured on hydroxyapatite disks for 2 and 6 days. Based on the treatment and biofilm maturity, these were subsequently allocated into six groups (N = 19 each): Groups 1 and 2 were incubated with distilled water for 1 min; Groups 3 and 4 were treated with CAP for 2 min, and Groups 5 and 6 were treated with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate for 1 min. Groups 1, 3, and 5 represent 2-day biofilms, and Groups 2, 4, and 6 represent 6-day biofilms. Treatments were repeated daily for 5 days. Antibacterial efficacy was analyzed by measuring oral biofilms' red fluorescence intensity (RatioR/G) and quantifying EPS content and bacterial viability. The RatioR/G was 1.089-fold and 1.104-fold higher in Groups 4 and 6 than in Groups 3 and 5 following antibacterial treatment, respectively (p < 0.001). EPS content increased by 1.71-fold in Group 6 than in Group 5 (p < 0.001). Bacterial survival rate was the lowest in Group 3 (p = 0.005). These findings underscore the relevance of CAP treatment in maintaining antibacterial efficacy regardless of the biofilm development stage, highlighting its potential utility in oral care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee-Eun Kim
- Department of Dental Hygiene, Gachon University College of Medical Science, Incheon 21936, Republic of Korea
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4
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Paul D, Agrawal R, Singh S. Alzheimer's disease and clinical trials. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2024; 35:31-44. [PMID: 38491747 DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2023-0264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is spreading its root disproportionately among the worldwide population. Many genes have been identified as the hallmarks of AD. Based upon the knowledge, many clinical trials have been designed and conducted. Attempts have been made to alleviate the pathology associated with AD by targeting the molecular products of these genes. Irrespective of the understanding on the genetic component of AD, many clinical trials have failed and imposed greater challenges on the path of drug discovery. Therefore, this review aims to identify research and review articles to pinpoint the limitations of drug candidates (thiethylperazine, CT1812, crenezumab, CNP520, and lecanemab), which are under or withdrawn from clinical trials. Thorough analysis of the cross-talk pathways led to the identification of many confounding factors, which could interfere with the success of clinical trials with drug candidates such as thiethylperazine, CT1812, crenezumab, and CNP520. Though these drug candidates were enrolled in clinical trials, yet literature review shows many limitations. These limitations raise many questions on the rationale behind the enrollments of these drug candidates in clinical trials. A meticulous prior assessment of the outcome of clinical studies may stop risky clinical trials at their inceptions. This may save time, money, and resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepraj Paul
- Department of Pharmacology, 621320 College of Pharmacy JSS Academy of Technical Education , Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rohini Agrawal
- Department of Pharmacology, 621320 College of Pharmacy JSS Academy of Technical Education , Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Swati Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, 621320 College of Pharmacy JSS Academy of Technical Education , Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
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5
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Kuang S, Zhu B, Zhang J, Yang F, Wu B, Ding W, Yang L, Shen S, Liang SH, Mondal P, Kumar M, Tanzi RE, Zhang C, Chao H, Ran C. A Photolabile Curcumin-Diazirine Analogue Enables Phototherapy with Physically and Molecularly Produced Light for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202312519. [PMID: 37721455 PMCID: PMC10615883 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202312519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) drugs has recently witnessed substantial achievement. To further enhance the pool of drug candidates, it is crucial to explore non-traditional therapeutic avenues. In this study, we present the use of a photolabile curcumin-diazirine analogue, CRANAD-147, to induce changes in properties, structures (sequences), and neurotoxicity of amyloid beta (Aβ) species both in cells and in vivo. This manipulation was achieved through irradiation with LED light or molecularly generated light, dubbed as "molecular light", emitted by the chemiluminescence probe ADLumin-4. Next, aided by molecular chemiluminescence imaging, we demonstrated that the combination of CRANAD-147/LED or CRANAD-147/ADLumin-4 (molecular light) could effectively slow down the accumulation of Aβs in transgenic 5xFAD mice in vivo. Leveraging the remarkable tissue penetration capacity of molecular light, phototherapy employing the synergistic effect of a photolabile Aβ ligand and molecular light emerges as a promising alternative to conventional AD treatment interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Kuang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Building 149, Charlestown, Boston, MA-02129, USA
| | - Biyue Zhu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Building 149, Charlestown, Boston, MA-02129, USA
| | - Jing Zhang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Building 149, Charlestown, Boston, MA-02129, USA
| | - Fan Yang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Building 149, Charlestown, Boston, MA-02129, USA
| | - Bo Wu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Building 149, Charlestown, Boston, MA-02129, USA
| | - Weihua Ding
- MGH Center for Translational Pain Research, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA-02129, USA
| | - Liuyue Yang
- MGH Center for Translational Pain Research, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA-02129, USA
| | - Shiqian Shen
- MGH Center for Translational Pain Research, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA-02129, USA
| | - Seven H Liang
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA-02114, USA
| | - Prasenjit Mondal
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA-02129, USA
| | - Mohanraja Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA-02139, USA
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA-02129, USA
| | - Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA-02129, USA
| | - Hui Chao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
| | - Chongzhao Ran
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Building 149, Charlestown, Boston, MA-02129, USA
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6
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Sengupta D, Naskar S, Mandal D. Reactive oxygen species for therapeutic application: Role of piezoelectric materials. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:25925-25941. [PMID: 37727027 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp01711g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
This perspective article emphasizes the significant role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in in vivo remedial therapy of various diseases and complications, capitalizing on their potential reactivity. Among the various influencers, herein, piezoelectric materials driven ROS generation activity is primarily considered. Intrinsic non-centrosymmetry of piezoelectric materials makes them suitable for distinct dipole formation in the presence of external mechanical stimuli. Such characteristics prompt the positioning of opposite charged carriers to execute associated redox transformations that effectively participate to generate ROS in the aqueous media of the cell cytoplasm, organelles and nucleus. The immense reactivity of piezoelectric material driven ROS is fostered to terminate cellular toxicity or curtail tumor cell growth, due to their higher specificity. This perspective considers the conjugated performance of piezoelectric materials and ultrasound which can remotely generate electrical charges that promote ROS production for therapeutic application. In particular, a substantial synopsis is provided for the remedial activity of numerous piezocatalytic materials in tumor cell apoptosis, antibacterial treatment, dental care and neurological disorders. Subsequently, the report precisely demonstrates the methods involving various spectrophotometric approaches for the analysis of the ROS. Finally, the key challenges of piezoelectric material-based therapy are discussed and systematic future progress is outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipanjan Sengupta
- Quantum Materials and Devices Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector81, Mohali 140306, India.
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad 244001, India
| | - Sudip Naskar
- Quantum Materials and Devices Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector81, Mohali 140306, India.
| | - Dipankar Mandal
- Quantum Materials and Devices Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector81, Mohali 140306, India.
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7
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Ning S, Sanchis-Gual R, Franco C, Wendel-Garcia PD, Ye H, Veciana A, Tang Q, Sevim S, Hertle L, Llacer-Wintle J, Qin XH, Zhu C, Cai J, Chen X, Nelson BJ, Puigmartí-Luis J, Pané S. Magnetic PiezoBOTs: a microrobotic approach for targeted amyloid protein dissociation. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:14800-14808. [PMID: 37646185 PMCID: PMC10517098 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr02418k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Piezoelectric nanomaterials have become increasingly popular in the field of biomedical applications due to their high biocompatibility and ultrasound-mediated piezocatalytic properties. In addition, the ability of these nanomaterials to disaggregate amyloid proteins, which are responsible for a range of diseases resulting from the accumulation of these proteins in body tissues and organs, has recently gained considerable attention. However, the use of nanoparticles in biomedicine poses significant challenges, including targeting and uncontrolled aggregation. To address these limitations, our study proposes to load these functional nanomaterials on a multifunctional mobile microrobot (PiezoBOT). This microrobot is designed by coating magnetic and piezoelectric barium titanate nanoparticles on helical biotemplates, allowing for the combination of magnetic navigation and ultrasound-mediated piezoelectric effects to target amyloid disaggregation. Our findings demonstrate that acoustically actuated PiezoBOTs can effectively reduce the size of aggregated amyloid proteins by over 80% in less than 10 minutes by shortening and dissociating constituent amyloid fibrils. Moreover, the PiezoBOTs can be easily magnetically manipulated to actuate the piezocatalytic nanoparticles to specific amyloidosis-affected tissues or organs, minimizing side effects. These biocompatible PiezoBOTs offer a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach for amyloidosis diseases by targeting and breaking down protein aggregates at specific organ or tissue sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Ning
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roger Sanchis-Gual
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Tannestrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Carlos Franco
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Tannestrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Pedro D Wendel-Garcia
- Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hao Ye
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Tannestrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Andrea Veciana
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Tannestrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Qiao Tang
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Tannestrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Semih Sevim
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Tannestrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Lukas Hertle
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Tannestrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Joaquin Llacer-Wintle
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Tannestrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Xiao-Hua Qin
- Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zürich, Leopold-Ruzicka-Weg 4, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Caihong Zhu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Cai
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiangzhong Chen
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Tannestrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Bradley J Nelson
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Tannestrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Josep Puigmartí-Luis
- Departament de Ciència dels Materials i Química Física, Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional, University of Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
- ICREA, Institució Catalana de Reserca i Estudis Avançats, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Pané
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Tannestrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
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8
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Ghasemitarei M, Ghorbi T, Yusupov M, Zhang Y, Zhao T, Shali P, Bogaerts A. Effects of Nitro-Oxidative Stress on Biomolecules: Part 1-Non-Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1371. [PMID: 37759771 PMCID: PMC10527456 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasma medicine, or the biomedical application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), is an expanding field within plasma research. CAP has demonstrated remarkable versatility in diverse biological applications, including cancer treatment, wound healing, microorganism inactivation, and skin disease therapy. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the effects of CAP remain incompletely understood. The therapeutic effects of CAP are largely attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), which play a crucial role in the biological responses induced by CAP. Specifically, RONS produced during CAP treatment have the ability to chemically modify cell membranes and membrane proteins, causing nitro-oxidative stress, thereby leading to changes in membrane permeability and disruption of cellular processes. To gain atomic-level insights into these interactions, non-reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have emerged as a valuable tool. These simulations facilitate the examination of larger-scale system dynamics, including protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions. In this comprehensive review, we focus on the applications of non-reactive MD simulations in studying the effects of CAP on cellular components and interactions at the atomic level, providing a detailed overview of the potential of CAP in medicine. We also review the results of other MD studies that are not related to plasma medicine but explore the effects of nitro-oxidative stress on cellular components and are therefore important for a broader understanding of the underlying processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ghasemitarei
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 14588-89694, Iran
- Research Group PLASMANT, Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tayebeh Ghorbi
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 14588-89694, Iran
| | - Maksudbek Yusupov
- School of Engineering, New Uzbekistan University, Tashkent 100007, Uzbekistan
- School of Engineering, Central Asian University, Tashkent 111221, Uzbekistan
- Laboratory of Thermal Physics of Multiphase Systems, Arifov Institute of Ion-Plasma and Laser Technologies, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent 100125, Uzbekistan
- Research Group PLASMANT, Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yuantao Zhang
- School of Electrical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
| | - Tong Zhao
- School of Electrical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
| | - Parisa Shali
- Research Unit Plasma Technology, Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Engineering and Agriculture, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annemie Bogaerts
- Research Group PLASMANT, Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
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9
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Selvarajan S, Shim H, Byun E, Kim A, Song SH. Protein redox by a piezoelectric acousto-nanodevice. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:12889-12893. [PMID: 37477602 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr01523h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Protein redox is responsible for many crucial biological processes; thus, the ability to modulate the redox proteins through external stimuli presents a unique opportunity to tune the system. In this work, we present an acousto-nanodevice that is capable of oxidizing redox protein under ultrasonic irradiation via surface-engineered barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles with a gold half-coating. Using cytochrome c as the model protein, we demonstrate nanodevice-mediated protein oxidation. BINased on our experimental observations, we reveal that the electron transfer occurs in one direction due to the alternating electrical polarization of BTO under ultrasound. Such unique unidirectional electron transfer is enabled by modulating the work function of the gold surface with respect to the redox center. The new class of ultrasonically powered nano-sized protein redox agents could be a modulator for biological processes with high selectivity and deeper treatment sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Selvarajan
- Department of Electronics Engineering, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33602, USA.
| | - Hyunji Shim
- Department of Electronics Engineering, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eunjeong Byun
- Department of Electronics Engineering, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea.
| | - Albert Kim
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33602, USA.
| | - Seung Hyun Song
- Department of Electronics Engineering, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Mañucat-Tan NB, Chowdhury A, Cataldi R, Abdullah RZ, Kumita JR, Wyatt AR. Hypochlorite-induced oxidation promotes aggregation and reduces toxicity of amyloid beta 1-42. Redox Biol 2023; 63:102736. [PMID: 37216700 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Exacerbated hypochlorite (OCl-) production is linked to neurodegenerative processes, but there is growing evidence that lower levels of hypochlorite activity are important to protein homeostasis. In this study we characterise the effects of hypochlorite on the aggregation and toxicity of amyloid beta peptide 1-42 (Aβ1-42), a major component of amyloid plaques that form in the brain in Alzheimer's disease. Our results demonstrate that treatment with hypochlorite promotes the formation of Aβ1-42 assemblies ≥100 kDa that have reduced surface exposed hydrophobicity compared to the untreated peptide. This effect is the result of the oxidation of Aβ1-42 at a single site as determined by mass spectrometry analysis. Although treatment with hypochlorite promotes the aggregation of Aβ1-42, the solubility of the peptide is enhanced and amyloid fibril formation is inhibited as assessed by filter trap assay, thioflavin T assay and transmission electron microscopy. The results of in vitro assays using SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells show that pre-treatment of Aβ1-42 with a sub-stoichiometric amount of hypochlorite substantially reduces its toxicity. The results of flow cytometry analysis and internalisation assays indicate that hypochlorite-induced modification of Aβ1-42 reduces its toxicity via at least two-distinct mechanism, reducing the total binding of Aβ1-42 to the surface of cells and facilitating the cell surface clearance of Aβ1-42 to lysosomes. Our data is consistent with a model in which tightly regulated production of hypochlorite in the brain is protective against Aβ-induced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noralyn B Mañucat-Tan
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, SA, Australia, 5048
| | - Ashfaq Chowdhury
- Yusef Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Rodrigo Cataldi
- Yusef Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Rafaa Zeineddine Abdullah
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2500
| | - Janet R Kumita
- Yusef Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK; Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK.
| | - Amy R Wyatt
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, SA, Australia, 5048.
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11
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Kari S, Murugesan A, Thiyagarajan R, Kidambi S, Razzokov J, Selvaraj C, Kandhavelu M, Marimuthu P. Bias-force guided simulations combined with experimental validations towards GPR17 modulators identification. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 160:114320. [PMID: 36716660 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is known to be by far the most aggressive brain tumor to affect adults. The median survival rate of GBM patient's is < 15 months, while the GBM cells aggressively develop resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy with their self-renewal capacity which suggests the pressing need to develop novel preventative measures. We have recently proved that GPR17 -an orphan G protein-coupled receptor- is highly expressed on the GBM cell surface and it has a vital role to play in the disease progression. Despite the progress made on GBM downregulation, there still remain difficulties in developing a promising modulator for GPR17, till date. Here, we have performed robust virtual screening combined with biased-force pulling molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to predict high-affinity GPR17 modulators followed by experimental validation. Initially, the database containing 1379 FDA-approved drugs were screened against the orthosteric binding pocket of the GPR17. The external bias-potentials were then applied to the screened hits during the MD simulations which enabled to predict a spectrum of rupture peak force values that were used to select four approved drugs -ZINC000003792417 (Sacubitril), ZINC000014210457 (Victrelis), ZINC000001536109 (Pralatrexate) and ZINC000003925861 (Vorapaxar)- as top hits. The hits selected turns out to demonstrate unique dissociation pathways, interaction pattern, and change in polar network over time. Subsequently the selected hits with GPR17 were measured by inhibiting the forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in GBM cell lines, LN229 and SNB19. The ex vivo validations shows that Sacubitril drug can act as a full agonist, while Vorapaxar functions as a partial agonist for GPR17. The pEC50 of Sacubitril was identified as 4.841 and 4.661 for LN229 and SNB19, respectively. Small interference of the RNA (siRNA)- silenced the GPR17 to further validate the targeted binding of Sacubitril with GPR17. In the current investigation, we have identified new repurposable GPR17 specific drugs which are likely to increase the opportunity to treat orphan deadly diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Kari
- Molecular Signaling Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University and BioMediTech, P.O.Box 553, 33101 Tampere, Finland
| | - Akshaya Murugesan
- Molecular Signaling Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University and BioMediTech, P.O.Box 553, 33101 Tampere, Finland
| | - Ramesh Thiyagarajan
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Srivatsan Kidambi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 820 N 16th Street, 207 Othmer Hall, NE 68588, USA
| | - Jamoliddin Razzokov
- Institute of Fundamental and Applied Research, National Research University TIIAME, Kori Niyoziy 39, 100000 Tashkent, Uzbekistan; College of Engineering, Akfa University, Milliy Bog Street 264, 111221 Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Institute of Material Sciences, Academy of Sciences, Chingiz Aytmatov 2b, 100084 Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Department of Physics, National University of Uzbekistan, Universitet 4, 100174 Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Laboratory of Experimental Biophysics, Centre for Advanced Technologies, Universitet 7, 100174 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Chandrabose Selvaraj
- Department of Biotechnology, Division of Research and Innovation, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Chennai 602105, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Meenakshisundaram Kandhavelu
- Molecular Signaling Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University and BioMediTech, P.O.Box 553, 33101 Tampere, Finland.
| | - Parthiban Marimuthu
- Pharmaceutical Science Laboratory (PSL - Pharmacy) and Structural Bioinformatics Laboratory (SBL - Biochemistry), Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, FI-20520 Turku, Finland.
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12
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Razzokov J, Fazliev S, Makhkamov M, Marimuthu P, Baev A, Kurganov E. Effect of Electric Field on α-Synuclein Fibrils: Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076312. [PMID: 37047286 PMCID: PMC10094641 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The self-association of amylogenic proteins to the fibril form is considered a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD causes unintended or uncontrollable movements in its common symptoms. α-synuclein is the major cause of PD development and thus has been the main target of numerous studies to suppress and sequester its expression or effectively degrade it. Nonetheless, to date, there are no efficient and proven ways to prevent pathological protein aggregation. Recent investigations proposed applying an external electric field to interrupt the fibrils. This method is a non-invasive approach that has a certain benefit over others. We performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations by applying an electric field on highly toxic fibrils of α-synuclein to gain a molecular-level insight into fibril disruption mechanisms. The results revealed that the applied external electric field induces substantial changes in the conformation of the α-synuclein fibrils. Furthermore, we show the threshold value for electric field strength required to completely disrupt the α-synuclein fibrils by opening the hydrophobic core of the fibril. Thus, our findings might serve as a valuable foundation to better understand molecular-level mechanisms of the α-synuclein fibrils disaggregation process under an applied external electric field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamoliddin Razzokov
- Institute of Fundamental and Applied Research, National Research University TIIAME, Kori Niyoziy 39, Tashkent 100000, Uzbekistan
- R&D Center, New Uzbekistan University, Mustaqillik Avenue 54, Tashkent 100007, Uzbekistan
- Institute of Material Sciences, Academy of Sciences, Chingiz Aytmatov 2b, Tashkent 100084, Uzbekistan
- Department of Physics, National University of Uzbekistan, Universitet 4, Tashkent 100174, Uzbekistan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +998-90-116-23-20
| | - Sunnatullo Fazliev
- Max Planck School Matter to Life, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 205, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mukhriddin Makhkamov
- Laboratory of Experimental Biophysics, Centre for Advanced Technologies, Tashkent 100174, Uzbekistan
| | - Parthiban Marimuthu
- Pharmaceutical Science Laboratory (PSL–Pharmacy) and Structural Bioinformatics Laboratory (SBL–Biochemistry), Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Artyom Baev
- Laboratory of Experimental Biophysics, Centre for Advanced Technologies, Tashkent 100174, Uzbekistan
- Department of Biophysics, Biological Faculty, National University of Uzbekistan, Universitet 4, Tashkent 100174, Uzbekistan
| | - Erkin Kurganov
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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13
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Maghsoodi F, Martin TD, Chi EY. Partial Destabilization of Amyloid-β Protofibril by Methionine Photo-Oxidation: A Molecular Dynamic Simulation Study. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:10148-10159. [PMID: 36969430 PMCID: PMC10035002 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c07468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Selective photosensitized oxidation of amyloid protein aggregates is being investigated as a possible therapeutic strategy for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). Photo-oxidation has been shown to degrade amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates and ameliorate aggregate toxicity in vitro and reduce aggregate levels in the brains of AD animal models. To shed light on the mechanism by which photo-oxidation induces fibril destabilization, we carried out an all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to examine the effect of methionine (Met35) oxidation on the conformation and stability of a β-sheet-rich Aβ9-40 protofibril. Analyses of up to 1 μs simulations showed that the oxidation of the Met35 residues, which resulted in the addition of hydrophilic oxygens in the fibril core, reduced the overall conformational stability of the protofibril. Specifically, Met35 disrupted the hydrophobic interface that stabilizes the stacking of the two hexamers that comprise the protofibril. The oxidized protofibril is more solvent exposed and exhibits more backbone flexibility. However, the protofibril retained the underlying U-shaped architecture of each peptide upon oxidation, and although some loss of β-sheets occurred, a significant portion remained. Our simulation results are thus consistent with our experimental observation that photo-oxidation of Aβ40 fibril resulted in the dis-agglomeration and fragmentation of Aβ fibrils but did not cause complete disruption of the fibrillar morphology or β-sheet structures. The partial destabilization of Aβ aggregates supports the further development of photosensitized platforms for the targeting and clearing of Aβ aggregates as a therapeutic strategy for treating AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahimeh Maghsoodi
- Nanoscience
and Microsystems Engineering Graduate Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
- Center
for Biomedical Engineering, University of
New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Tye D. Martin
- Center
for Biomedical Engineering, University of
New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Eva Y. Chi
- Center
for Biomedical Engineering, University of
New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
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14
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Oxidative Damages on the Alzheimer's Related-Aβ Peptide Alters Its Ability to Assemble. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12020472. [PMID: 36830030 PMCID: PMC9951946 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress that can lead to oxidation of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is considered a key feature in Alzheimer's disease (AD), influencing the ability of Aβ to assemble into β-sheet rich fibrils that are commonly found in senile plaques of AD patients. The present study aims at investigating the fallouts of Aβ oxidation on the assembly properties of the Aβ peptide. To accomplish this, we performed kinetics and analysis on an oxidized Aβ (oxAβ) peptide, resulting from the attack of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are formed by the biologically relevant Cu/Aβ/dioxygen/ascorbate system. oxAβ was still able to assemble but displayed ill-defined and small oligomeric assemblies compared to the long and thick β-sheet rich fibrils from the non-oxidized counterpart. In addition, oxAβ does affect the assembly of the parent Aβ peptide. In a mixture of the two peptides, oxAβ has a mainly kinetic effect on the assembly of the Aβ peptide and was able to slow down the formation of Aβ fibril in a wide pH range [6.0-7.4]. However, oxAβ does not change the quantity and morphology of the Aβ fibrils formed to a significant extent. In the presence of copper or zinc di-cations, oxAβ assembled into weakly-structured aggregates rather than short, untangled Cu-Aβ fibrils and long untangled Zn-Aβ fibrils. The delaying effect of oxAβ on metal altered Aβ assembly was also observed. Hence, our results obtained here bring new insights regarding the tight interconnection between (i) ROS production leading to Aβ oxidation and (ii) Aβ assembly, in particular via the modulation of the Aβ assembly by oxAβ. It is the first time that co-assembly of oxAβ and Aβ under various environmental conditions (pH, metal ions …) are reported.
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15
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Busch L, Eggert S, Endres K, Bufe B. The Hidden Role of Non-Canonical Amyloid β Isoforms in Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2022; 11:3421. [PMID: 36359817 PMCID: PMC9654995 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advances have placed the pro-inflammatory activity of amyloid β (Aβ) on microglia cells as the focus of research on Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Researchers are confronted with an astonishing spectrum of over 100 different Aβ variants with variable length and chemical modifications. With the exception of Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40, the biological significance of most peptides for AD is as yet insufficiently understood. We therefore aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the contributions of these neglected Aβ variants to microglia activation. First, the impact of Aβ receptors, signaling cascades, scavenger mechanisms, and genetic variations on the physiological responses towards various Aβ species is described. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of different types of amyloid precursor protein processing for the generation of these Aβ variants in microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons, and highlight how alterations in secondary structures and oligomerization affect Aβ neurotoxicity. In sum, the data indicate that gene polymorphisms in Aβ-driven signaling pathways in combination with the production and activity of different Aβ variants might be crucial factors for the initiation and progression of different forms of AD. A deeper assessment of their interplay with glial cells may pave the way towards novel therapeutic strategies for individualized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Busch
- Department of Informatics and Microsystems Technology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, D-66482 Zweibruecken, Germany
| | - Simone Eggert
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, D-37075 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Kristina Endres
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University, D-55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Bernd Bufe
- Department of Informatics and Microsystems Technology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, D-66482 Zweibruecken, Germany
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16
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Mocanu CS, Niculaua M, Zbancioc G, Mangalagiu V, Drochioiu G. Novel Design of Neuropeptide-Based Drugs with β-Sheet Breaking Potential in Amyloid-Beta Cascade: Molecular and Structural Deciphers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052857. [PMID: 35269999 PMCID: PMC8911100 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Our work discusses the investigation of 75 peptide-based drugs with the potential ability to break the β-sheet structures of amyloid-beta peptides from senile plaques. Hence, this study offers a unique insight into the design of neuropeptide-based drugs with β-sheet breaker potential in the amyloid-beta cascade for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We started with five peptides (15QKLVFF20, 16KLVFF20, 17LVFF20, 16KLVF19 and 15QKLV18), to which 14 different organic acids were attached at the N-terminal. It was necessary to evaluate the physiochemical features of these sequences due to the biological correlation with our proposal. Hence, the preliminary analysis of different pharmacological features provided the necessary data to select the peptides with the best biocompatibility for administration purposes. Our approaches demonstrated that the peptides 17LVFF20, NA-17LVFF20, 16KLVF19 and NA-16KLVF19 (NA-nicotinic acid) have the ability to interfere with fibril formation and hence improve the neuro and cognitive functions. Moreover, the peptide conjugate NA-16KLVF19 possesses attractive pharmacological properties, demonstrated by in silico and in vitro studies. Tandem mass spectrometry showed no fragmentation for the spectra of 16KLVF19. Such important results suggest that under the action of protease, the peptide cleavage does not occur at all. Additionally, circular dichroism confirmed docking simulations and showed that NA-16KLVF19 may improve the β-sheet breaker mechanism, and thus the entanglement process of amyloid-beta peptides can be more effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosmin Stefan Mocanu
- Faculty of Chemistry, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bd., 700506 Iasi, Romania; (C.S.M.); (G.Z.)
| | - Marius Niculaua
- Research Centre for Oenology Iași, Romanian Academy Iași Branch, 8 Carol I, 700505 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Gheorghita Zbancioc
- Faculty of Chemistry, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bd., 700506 Iasi, Romania; (C.S.M.); (G.Z.)
| | - Violeta Mangalagiu
- Department of Exact and Natural Sciences–CERNESIM Center, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bd., 700506 Iasi, Romania;
- Faculty of Food Engineering, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 13 Universitatii Str., 720229 Suceava, Romania
| | - Gabi Drochioiu
- Faculty of Chemistry, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bd., 700506 Iasi, Romania; (C.S.M.); (G.Z.)
- Correspondence:
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17
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Ghasemitarei M, Privat-Maldonado A, Yusupov M, Rahnama S, Bogaerts A, Ejtehadi MR. Effect of Cysteine Oxidation in SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain on Its Interaction with Two Cell Receptors: Insights from Atomistic Simulations. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:129-141. [PMID: 34965734 PMCID: PMC8751020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Binding of the SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein to cell receptors is vital for the entry of the virus into cells and subsequent infection. ACE2 is the main cell receptor for SARS-CoV-2, which can attach to the C-terminal receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein. The GRP78 receptor plays an anchoring role, which attaches to the RBD and increases the chance of other RBDs binding to ACE2. Although high levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are produced during viral infections, it is not clear how they affect the RBD structure and its binding to ACE2 and GRP78. In this research, we apply molecular dynamics simulations to study the effect of oxidation of the highly reactive cysteine (Cys) amino acids of the RBD on its binding to ACE2 and GRP78. The interaction energy of both ACE2 and GRP78 with the whole RBD, as well as with the RBD main regions, is compared in both the native and oxidized RBDs. Our results show that the interaction energy between the oxidized RBD and ACE2 is strengthened by 155 kJ/mol, increasing the binding of the RBD to ACE2 after oxidation. In addition, the interaction energy between the RBD and GRP78 is slightly increased by 8 kJ/mol after oxidation, but this difference is not significant. Overall, these findings highlight the role of RONS in the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein to host cell receptors and suggest an alternative mechanism by which RONS could modulate the entrance of viral particles into the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ghasemitarei
- Department
of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 14588-89694, Iran
- Research
Group PLASMANT, Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Angela Privat-Maldonado
- Research
Group PLASMANT, Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maksudbek Yusupov
- Research
Group PLASMANT, Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory
of Thermal Physics of Multiphase Systems, Arifov Institute of Ion-Plasma
and Laser Technologies, Academy of Sciences
of Uzbekistan, Durmon
yuli str. 33, 100125 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Shadi Rahnama
- Institute
for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology (INST), Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Avenue, Tehran 14588-89694, Iran
| | - Annemie Bogaerts
- Research
Group PLASMANT, Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
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18
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Protasov AV, Mirgorodskaya OA, Kozmin YP, Gobom J. A mass spectrometric approach to study the interaction of amyloid β peptides with human α-2-macroglobulin. Biochimie 2021; 191:62-68. [PMID: 34478776 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We used MALDI-MS to study the interaction of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides with alpha-2-macroglobulin (α2M). The binding of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides to alpha-2-macroglobulin (α2M) was found to inhibit the ability of trypsin to cleave out the peptide α2M 705-715 (Pep-α2M) from α2M. This was observed with both purified α2M and α2M in human serum. We found that Aβ 1-38, Aβ1-40, and Aβ 1-42, all inhibit the interaction of α2M with trypsin, with inhibition rate independent of the length of the Aβ peptide. Further, we show that for complete inhibition, two peptide molecules must be attached to one α2M molecule; one for each of its two subunits. A region was revealed within the Aβ sequence, in which proteolytic cleavage (Lys-28) and oxidation (Met-35) lead to a loss of their ability to inhibit the interaction of trypsin with α2M. Furthermore, we show that after the formation of a trypsin complex with α2M and cleavage of α2M to produce the α2M 705-715, Aβ peptides continue to bind to the protein in the same proportions. However, Aβ peptides treated with DMSO lost their ability to bind to α2M and thereby to inhibit the interaction of trypsin with α2M. While maintaining their primary structure, such an effect can be explained only by conformational changes in the peptides, suggesting the possibility to use our analytical approach to distinguish between conformational isomers of Aβ peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yuri Petrovich Kozmin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Johan Gobom
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden.
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19
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Jang J, Park CB. Near-Infrared-Active Copper Molybdenum Sulfide Nanocubes for Phonon-Mediated Clearance of Alzheimer's β-Amyloid Aggregates. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:18581-18593. [PMID: 33861570 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c03066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ternary chalcogenide materials have attracted significant interest in recent years because of their unique physicochemical and optoelectronic properties without relying on precious metals, rare earth metals, or toxic elements. Copper molybdenum sulfide (Cu2MoS4, CMS) nanocube is a biocompatible ternary chalcogenide nanomaterial that exhibits near-infrared (NIR) photocatalytic activity based on its low band gap and electron-phonon coupling property. Here, we study the efficacy of CMS nanocubes for dissociating neurotoxic Alzheimer's β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregates under NIR light. The accumulation of Aβ aggregates in the central nervous system is known to cause and exacerbate Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, clearance of the Aβ aggregates from the central nervous system is a considerable challenge due to their robust structure formed through self-assembly via hydrogen bonding and side-chain interactions. Our spectroscopic and microscopic analysis results have demonstrated that NIR-excited CMS nanocubes effectively disassemble Aβ fibrils by changing Aβ fibril's nanoscopic morphology, secondary structure, and primary structure. We have revealed that the toxicity of Aβ fibrils is alleviated by NIR-stimulated CMS nanocubes through in vitro analysis. Moreover, our ex vivo evaluations have suggested that the amount of Aβ plaques in AD mouse's brain decreased significantly by NIR-excited CMS nanocubes without causing any macroscopic damage to the brain tissue. Collectively, this study suggests the potential use of CMS nanocubes as a therapeutic ternary chalcogenide material to alleviate AD in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhyeong Jang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 335 Science Road, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Beum Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 335 Science Road, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
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20
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Cold Atmospheric Plasma Modification of Amyloid β. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063116. [PMID: 33803786 PMCID: PMC8003251 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has attracted much attention in the fields of biotechnology and medicine owing to its potential utility in clinical applications. Recently accumulating evidence has demonstrated that CAP influences protein structures. However, there remain open questions regarding the molecular mechanisms behind the CAP-induced structural perturbations of biomacromolecules. Here, we investigated the potential effects of CAP irradiation of amyloid β (Aβ), an amyloidogenic protein associated with Alzheimer's disease. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we observed gradual spectral changes in Aβ after a 10 s CAP pretreatment, which also suppressed its fibril formation, as revealed by thioflavin T assay. As per mass spectrometric analyses, these effects were attributed to selective oxidation of the methionine residue (Met) at position 35. Interestingly, this modification occurred when Aβ was dissolved into a pre-irradiated buffer, indicating that some reactive species oxidize the Met residue. Our results strongly suggest that the H2O2 generated in the solution by CAP irradiation is responsible for Met oxidation, which inhibits Aβ amyloid formation. The findings of the present study provide fundamental insights into plasma biology, giving clues for developing novel applications of CAP.
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21
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Oxidation of Innate Immune Checkpoint CD47 on Cancer Cells with Non-Thermal Plasma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13030579. [PMID: 33540720 PMCID: PMC7867277 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-thermal plasma (NTP) therapy has been emerging as a promising cancer treatment strategy, and recently, its ability to locally induce immunogenic cancer cell death is being unraveled. We hypothesized that the chemical species produced by NTP reduce immunosuppressive surface proteins and checkpoints that are overexpressed on cancerous cells. Here, 3D in vitro tumor models, an in vivo mouse model, and molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the effect of NTP on CD47, a key innate immune checkpoint. CD47 is immediately modulated after NTP treatment and simulations reveal the potential oxidized salt-bridges responsible for conformational changes. Umbrella sampling simulations of CD47 with its receptor, signal-regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα), demonstrate that the induced-conformational changes reduce its binding affinity. Taken together, this work provides new insight into fundamental, chemical NTP-cancer cell interaction mechanisms and a previously overlooked advantage of present NTP cancer therapy: reducing immunosuppressive signals on the surface of cancer cells.
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22
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Hazafa A, Batool A, Ahmad S, Amjad M, Chaudhry SN, Asad J, Ghuman HF, Khan HM, Naeem M, Ghani U. Humanin: A mitochondrial-derived peptide in the treatment of apoptosis-related diseases. Life Sci 2021; 264:118679. [PMID: 33130077 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Humanin (HN) is a small mitochondrial-derived cytoprotective polypeptide encoded by mtDNA. HN exhibits protective effects in several cell types, including leukocytes, germ cells, neurons, tissues against cellular stress conditions and apoptosis through regulating various signaling mechanisms, such as JAK/STAT pathway and interaction of BCL-2 family of protein. HN is an essential cytoprotective peptide in the human body that regulates mitochondrial functions under stress conditions. The present review aims to evaluate HN peptide's antiapoptotic activities as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of cancer, diabetes mellitus, male infertility, bone-related diseases, cardiac diseases, and brain diseases. Based on in vitro and in vivo studies, HN significantly suppressed the apoptosis during the treatment of bone osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and neurodegenerative diseases. According to accumulated data, it is concluded that HN exerts the proapoptotic activity of TNF-α in cancer, which makes HN as a novel therapeutic agent in the treatment of cancer and suggested that along with HN, the development of another mitochondrial-derived peptide could be a viable therapeutic option against different oxidative stress and apoptosis-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abu Hazafa
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan.
| | - Ammara Batool
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Saeed Ahmad
- Centre of Biotechnology & Microbiology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Amjad
- Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Sundas Nasir Chaudhry
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Jamal Asad
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Health Sciences Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hasham Feroz Ghuman
- Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Naeem
- College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Usman Ghani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
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23
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Jang J, Kim K, Yoon J, Park CB. Piezoelectric materials for ultrasound-driven dissociation of Alzheimer's β-amyloid aggregate structure. Biomaterials 2020; 255:120165. [PMID: 32540759 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Piezoelectric materials can evoke electrochemical reactions by transferring charge carriers to reactants upon receiving mechanical stimuli. We report a newly discovered function of piezoelectric bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) nanosheets for dissociating Alzheimer's β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregates through ultrasound-induced redox reactions. The accumulation of Aβ aggregates (e.g., Aβ fibrils, plaques) in the central nervous system is a major pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, clearing Aβ aggregates is considered a key for treating AD, but the dissociation of Aβ aggregates is challenging due to their extremely robust structure consisting of β-sheets. BiOCl nanosheets are a biocompatible piezoelectric material with piezocatalytic activity in response to ultrasound. Our analyses using multiple spectroscopic and microscopic tools have revealed that BiOCl nanosheets effectively disassemble Aβ fibrils under ultrasound stimulation. Sono-activated BiOCl nanosheets produce piezo-induced oxidative stress, which effectively destabilizes the β-sheets in Aβ fibrils. In vitro evolution has also shown that sono-activated BiOCl nanosheets can effectively alleviate the neuro-toxicity of Aβ fibrils. Furthermore, ex vivo evolution demonstrated that amount of Aβ plaques in AD mouse's brain slices was drastically reduced by treatment with sono-activated BiOCl nanosheets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhyeong Jang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 335 Science Road, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Kayoung Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 335 Science Road, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeho Yoon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 335 Science Road, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Beum Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 335 Science Road, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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24
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Marimuthu P, Razzokov J, Eshonqulov G. Disruption of conserved polar interactions causes a sequential release of Bim mutants from the canonical binding groove of Mcl1. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 158:364-374. [PMID: 32376253 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.04.243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mcl1 is an important anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl2 family proteins that are upregulated in several cancer malignancies. The canonical binding groove (CBG) located at the surface of Mcl1 exhibits a critical role in binding partners selectively via the BH3-domain of pro-apoptotic Bcl2 family members that trigger the downregulation of Mcl1 function. There are several crystal structures of point-mutated pro-apoptotic Bim peptides in complex with Mcl1. However, the mechanistic effects of such point-mutations towards peptide binding and complex stability still remain unexplored. Here, the effects of the reported point mutations in Bim peptides and their binding mechanisms to Mcl1 were computationally evaluated using atomistic-level steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations. A range of external-forces and constant-velocities were applied to the Bim peptides to uncover the mechanistic basis of peptide dissociation from the CBG of Mcl1. Although the peptides showed similarities in their dissociation pathways, the peak rupture forces varied significantly. According to simulations results, the disruption of the conserved polar contacts at the complex interface causes a sequential release of the peptides from the CBG of Mcl1. Overall, the results obtained from the current study may provide valuable insights for the development of novel anti-cancer peptide-inhibitors that can downregulate Mcl1's function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parthiban Marimuthu
- Structural Bioinformatics Laboratory (SBL), Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, FI-20520 Turku, Finland.
| | - Jamoliddin Razzokov
- Research Group PLASMANT, Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gofur Eshonqulov
- Department of Physics, National University of Uzbekistan, 100174 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
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25
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Liu G, Jiao Y, Lin Y, Hao H, Dou Y, Yang J, Jiang CS, Chang P. Discovery and Biological Evaluation of New Selective Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors with Anti-Aβ Aggregation Activity through Molecular Docking-Based Virtual Screening. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2020; 68:161-166. [PMID: 31813907 DOI: 10.1248/cpb.c19-00927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Discovery of novel multifunctional inhibitors targeting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has becoming a hot spot in anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug development. In the present study, four potent small molecule inhibitors (A01, A02, A03 and A04) of AChE with new chemical scaffold were identified. Inhibitor A03 displayed the most potent inhibition activity on AChE at enzymatic level with IC50 value of 180 nM, and high selectivity towards AChE over butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) by more than 100-fold. The binding modes of compounds A01-A04 were carefully analyzed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to provide informative clues for further structure modification. Finally, the anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation and neuroprotective activity were also well investigated. Our findings highlighted the therapeutic promise of AChE inhibitors A01-A04 for AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangpu Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University
| | - Yang Jiao
- Shandong Institute for Food and Drug Control
| | | | - Haifang Hao
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan
| | - Yanli Dou
- Shandong Institute for Food and Drug Control
| | - Juan Yang
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | - Cheng-Shi Jiang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan
| | - Ping Chang
- Department of Pharmacy, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University
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26
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Elucidating the Effect of Static Electric Field on Amyloid Beta 1-42 Supramolecular Assembly. J Mol Graph Model 2020; 96:107535. [PMID: 31978828 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2020.107535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation is recognized to be a key toxic factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease, which is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder. In vitro experiments have elucidated that Aβ aggregation depends on several factors, such as pH, temperature and peptide concentration. Despite the research effort in this field, the fundamental mechanism responsible for the disease progression is still unclear. Recent research has proposed the application of electric fields as a non-invasive therapeutic option leading to the disruption of amyloid fibrils. In this regard, a molecular level understanding of the interactions governing the destabilization mechanism represents an important research advancement. Understanding the electric field effects on proteins, provides a more in-depth comprehension of the relationship between protein conformation and electrostatic dipole moment. The present study focuses on investigating the effect of static Electric Field (EF) on the conformational dynamics of Aβ fibrils by all-atom Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. The outcome of this work provides novel insight into this research field, demonstrating how the Aβ assembly may be destabilized by the applied EF.
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27
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Modifying the Tumour Microenvironment: Challenges and Future Perspectives for Anticancer Plasma Treatments. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11121920. [PMID: 31810265 PMCID: PMC6966454 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11121920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumours are complex systems formed by cellular (malignant, immune, and endothelial cells, fibroblasts) and acellular components (extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents and secreted factors). A close interplay between these factors, collectively called the tumour microenvironment, is required to respond appropriately to external cues and to determine the treatment outcome. Cold plasma (here referred as ‘plasma’) is an emerging anticancer technology that generates a unique cocktail of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species to eliminate cancerous cells via multiple mechanisms of action. While plasma is currently regarded as a local therapy, it can also modulate the mechanisms of cell-to-cell and cell-to-ECM communication, which could facilitate the propagation of its effect in tissue and distant sites. However, it is still largely unknown how the physical interactions occurring between cells and/or the ECM in the tumour microenvironment affect the plasma therapy outcome. In this review, we discuss the effect of plasma on cell-to-cell and cell-to-ECM communication in the context of the tumour microenvironment and suggest new avenues of research to advance our knowledge in the field. Furthermore, we revise the relevant state-of-the-art in three-dimensional in vitro models that could be used to analyse cell-to-cell and cell-to-ECM communication and further strengthen our understanding of the effect of plasma in solid tumours.
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28
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Jiang CS, Ge YX, Cheng ZQ, Wang YY, Tao HR, Zhu K, Zhang H. Discovery of New Selective Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) Inhibitors with Anti-Aβ Aggregation Activity: Structure-Based Virtual Screening, Hit Optimization and Biological Evaluation. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24142568. [PMID: 31311169 PMCID: PMC6680840 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24142568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a series of selective butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitors was designed and synthesized from the structural optimization of hit 1, a 4-((3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)methyl)benzoic acid derivative identified by virtual screening our compound library. The in vitro enzyme assay results showed that compounds 9 ((4-((3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)methyl)phenyl)(pyrrolidin-1-yl)methanone) and 23 (N-(2-bromophenyl)-4-((3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)methyl)benzamide) displayed improved BChE inhibitory activity and good selectivity towards BChE versus AChE. Their binding modes were probed by molecular docking and further validated by molecular dynamics simulation. Kinetic analysis together with molecular modeling studies suggested that these derivatives could target both the catalytic active site (CAS) and peripheral anionic site (PAS) of BChE. In addition, the selected compounds 9 and 23 displayed anti-Aβ1–42 aggregation activity in a dose-dependent manner, and they did not show obvious cytotoxicity towards SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Also, both compounds showed significantly protective activity against Aβ1-42-induced toxicity in a SH-SY5Y cell model. The present results provided a new valuable chemical template for the development of selective BChE inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Shi Jiang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China.
| | - Yong-Xi Ge
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Cheng
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Yin-Yin Wang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Hong-Rui Tao
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Meteria Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Kongkai Zhu
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China.
| | - Hua Zhang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China.
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