1
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Wu X, Wang G, Zhao Z, Qian Z. In silico study on graphene quantum dots modified with various functional groups inhibiting α‑synuclein dimerization. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 667:723-730. [PMID: 38641462 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.04.111] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with various functional groups are hypothesized to inhibit the α-synuclein (αS) dimerization, a crucial step in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis. The potential of differently functionalized GQDs is systematically explored. EXPERIMENTS All-atom replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations (accumulating to 75.6 μs) in explicit water were performed to study the dimerization of the αS non-amyloid component region and the influence of GQDs modified with various functional groups. Conformation ensemble, binding behavior, and free energy analysis were conducted. FINDINGS All studied GQDs inhibit β-sheet and backbone hydrogen bond formation in αS dimers, leading to looser oligomeric conformations. Charged GQDs severely impede the growth of extended β-sheets by providing extra contact surface. GQD binding primarily disrupts αS inter-peptide interactions through π-π stacking, CH-π interactions, and for charged GQDs, additionally through salt-bridge and hydrogen bonding interactions. GQD-COO- showed the most optimal inhibitory effect, binding mode, and intensity, which holds promise for the development of nanomedicines targeting amyloid aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, and School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, and School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Ziqian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, and School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Zhenyu Qian
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, and School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China.
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2
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Abramov-Harpaz K, Lan-Mark S, Miller Y. Structural packing of the non-amyloid component core domain in α-synuclein plays a role in the stability of the fibrils. Biophys Chem 2024; 310:107239. [PMID: 38663121 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107239] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of many neurodegenerative diseases. The protein associated with PD is α-synuclein (AS). Aggregation of AS protein into oligomers, protofilaments, and finally to fibrils yields to the development of PD. The aggregation process of AS leads to the formation of polymorphic AS fibrils. Herein, we compared four polymorphic full-length AS1-140 fibrils, using extensive computational tools. The main conclusion of this study emphasizes the role of the structurally packed non-amyloid component (NAC) core domain in AS fibrils. Polymorphic AS fibrils that presented a packed NAC core domain, exhibited more β-sheets and fewer fluctuations in the NAC domain. Hence, these AS fibrils are more stable and populated than the AS fibrils, by which the NAC domains are more exposed, more fluctuate and less packed in the fibrillary structure. Therefore, this study emphasizes the importance of the NAC domain packing in the morphology of AS fibrils. The results obtained in this study will initiate future studies to develop compounds to prevent and inhibit AS aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Abramov-Harpaz
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be'er Sheva 8410501, Israel; Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beér-Sheva, 8410501, Israel; The School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beér-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Sapir Lan-Mark
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be'er Sheva 8410501, Israel; Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beér-Sheva, 8410501, Israel; The School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beér-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Yifat Miller
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be'er Sheva 8410501, Israel; Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beér-Sheva, 8410501, Israel; The School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beér-Sheva, 8410501, Israel.
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3
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Ali A, Holman AP, Rodriguez A, Osborne L, Kurouski D. Elucidating the mechanisms of α-Synuclein-lipid interactions using site-directed mutagenesis. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 198:106553. [PMID: 38839022 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106553] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-syn) is a small protein that is involved in cell vesicle trafficking in neuronal synapses. A progressive aggregation of this protein is the expected molecular cause of Parkinson's disease, a disease that affects millions of people around the world. A growing body of evidence indicates that phospholipids can strongly accelerate α-syn aggregation and alter the toxicity of α-syn oligomers and fibrils formed in the presence of lipid vesicles. This effect is attributed to the presence of high copies of lysines in the N-terminus of the protein. In this study, we performed site-directed mutagenesis and replaced one out of two lysines at each of the five sites located in the α-syn N-terminus. Using several biophysical and cellular approaches, we investigated the extent to which six negatively charged fatty acids (FAs) could alter the aggregation properties of K10A, K23A, K32A, K43A, and K58A α-syn. We found that FAs uniquely modified the aggregation properties of K43A, K58A, and WT α-syn, as well as changed morphology of amyloid fibrils formed by these mutants. At the same time, FAs failed to cause substantial changes in the aggregation rates of K10A, K23A, and K32A α-syn, as well as alter the morphology and toxicity of the corresponding amyloid fibrils. Based on these results, we can conclude that K10, K23, and K32 amino acid residues play a critical role in protein-lipid interactions since their replacement on non-polar alanines strongly suppressed α-syn-lipid interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Aidan P Holman
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States; Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Axell Rodriguez
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Luke Osborne
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States.
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4
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Coukos R, Krainc D. Key genes and convergent pathogenic mechanisms in Parkinson disease. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:393-413. [PMID: 38600347 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-024-00812-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by the preferential dysfunction and death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The onset and progression of PD is influenced by a diversity of genetic variants, many of which lack functional characterization. To identify the most high-yield targets for therapeutic intervention, it is important to consider the core cellular compartments and functional pathways upon which the varied forms of pathogenic dysfunction may converge. Here, we review several key PD-linked proteins and pathways, focusing on the mechanisms of their potential convergence in disease pathogenesis. These dysfunctions primarily localize to a subset of subcellular compartments, including mitochondria, lysosomes and synapses. We discuss how these pathogenic mechanisms that originate in different cellular compartments may coordinately lead to cellular dysfunction and neurodegeneration in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Coukos
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dimitri Krainc
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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5
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Zhao YD, Zhang W, Xing LZ, Xu J, Shi WM, Zhang YX. In vitro inhibition of α-Synuclein aggregation and disaggregation of preformed fibers by polyphenol hybrids with 2-conjugated benzothiazole. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2024; 105:129752. [PMID: 38631541 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2024.129752] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The misfolding and aggregation of α-Syn play a pivotal role in connecting diverse pathological pathways in Parkinson's disease (PD). Preserving α-Syn proteostasis and functionality by inhibiting its aggregation or disaggregating existing aggregates using suitable inhibitors represents a promising strategy for PD prevention and treatment. In this study, a series of benzothiazole-polyphenol hybrids was designed and synthesized. Three identified compounds exhibited notable inhibitory activities against α-Syn aggregation in vitro, with IC50 values in the low micromolar range. These inhibitors demonstrated sustained inhibitory effects throughout the entire aggregation process, stabilizing α-Syn proteostasis conformation. Moreover, the compounds effectively disintegrated preformed α-Syn oligomers and fibers, potentially by binding to specific domains within the fibers, inducing fibril instability, collapse, and ultimately resulting in smaller-sized aggregates and monomers. These findings offer valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of polyphenol hybrids with 2-conjugated benzothiazole targeting α-Syn aggregation in the treatment of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Dong Zhao
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Li-Zi Xing
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ji Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Road 100, 450001 Zhengzhou, China; Neuroscience Research Institute, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Road 100, 450001 Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Wei-Min Shi
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Yun-Xiao Zhang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
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6
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Han W, Wei M, Xu F, Niu Z. Aggregation and phase separation of α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024. [PMID: 38808534 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc01591f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
The deposition of α-synuclein (α-Syn) in Lewy bodies serves as a prominent pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent research has revealed that α-Syn can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) during its fibrillization. Over time, the maturation of the resulting condensates leads to a liquid-to-solid phase transition (LSPT) ultimately resulting in the amyloid deposition in cells which is linked to the pathogenesis and development of PD. Herein, we summarize the understanding of α-Syn aggregation which can be described by nucleation and elongation steps to obtain insights into the correlation of protein aggregation, structural polymorphism, and PD progression. Additionally, we discuss the LLPS phenomena of α-Syn and heterotypic cross-amyloid interactions with a focus on aberrant LSPT in the aggregation process. Exploring the underlying mechanisms and interplay between α-Syn aberrant aggregation, pathological phase transitions, and PD pathogenesis will shed light on potential therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanlu Han
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
| | - Mengrui Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
| | - Fei Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
| | - Zheng Niu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
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7
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Tapia-Arellano A, Cabrera P, Cortés-Adasme E, Riveros A, Hassan N, Kogan MJ. Tau- and α-synuclein-targeted gold nanoparticles: applications, opportunities, and future outlooks in the diagnosis and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:248. [PMID: 38741193 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02526-0] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of nanomaterials in medicine offers multiple opportunities to address neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. These diseases are a significant burden for society and the health system, affecting millions of people worldwide without sensitive and selective diagnostic methodologies or effective treatments to stop their progression. In this sense, the use of gold nanoparticles is a promising tool due to their unique properties at the nanometric level. They can be functionalized with specific molecules to selectively target pathological proteins such as Tau and α-synuclein for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, respectively. Additionally, these proteins are used as diagnostic biomarkers, wherein gold nanoparticles play a key role in enhancing their signal, even at the low concentrations present in biological samples such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid, thus enabling an early and accurate diagnosis. On the other hand, gold nanoparticles act as drug delivery platforms, bringing therapeutic agents directly into the brain, improving treatment efficiency and precision, and reducing side effects in healthy tissues. However, despite the exciting potential of gold nanoparticles, it is crucial to address the challenges and issues associated with their use in the medical field before they can be widely applied in clinical settings. It is critical to ensure the safety and biocompatibility of these nanomaterials in the context of the central nervous system. Therefore, rigorous preclinical and clinical studies are needed to assess the efficacy and feasibility of these strategies in patients. Since there is scarce and sometimes contradictory literature about their use in this context, the main aim of this review is to discuss and analyze the current state-of-the-art of gold nanoparticles in relation to delivery, diagnosis, and therapy for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as well as recent research about their use in preclinical, clinical, and emerging research areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Tapia-Arellano
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico (IDT), Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Santiago, Chile.
- Facultad de Cs. Qcas. y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDis), Santiago, Chile.
- Millenium Nucleus in NanoBioPhysics, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Pablo Cabrera
- Facultad de Cs. Qcas. y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDis), Santiago, Chile
| | - Elizabeth Cortés-Adasme
- Facultad de Cs. Qcas. y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDis), Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana Riveros
- Facultad de Cs. Qcas. y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDis), Santiago, Chile
| | - Natalia Hassan
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico (IDT), Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Santiago, Chile.
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDis), Santiago, Chile.
- Millenium Nucleus in NanoBioPhysics, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Marcelo J Kogan
- Facultad de Cs. Qcas. y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDis), Santiago, Chile.
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8
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Matveyenka M, Zhaliazka K, Kurouski D. Macrophages and Natural Killers Degrade α-Synuclein Aggregates. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:2565-2576. [PMID: 38635186 PMCID: PMC11080468 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.4c00160] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid oligomers and fibrils are protein aggregates that exert a high cell toxicity. Efficient degradation of these protein aggregates can minimize the spread and progression of neurodegeneration. In this study, we investigate the properties of natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages in the degradation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates grown in a lipid-free environment and in the presence of phosphatidylserine and cholesterol (PS/Cho), which are lipids that are directly associated with the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease. We found that both types of α-Syn aggregates were endocytosed by neurons, which caused strong damage to cell endosomes. Our results also indicated that PS/Cho vesicles drastically increased the toxicity of α-Syn fibrils formed in their presence compared to the toxicity of α-Syn aggregates grown in a lipid-free environment. Both NK cells and macrophages were able to degrade α-Syn and α-Syn/Cho monomers, oligomers, and fibrils. Quantitative analysis of protein degradation showed that macrophages demonstrated substantially more efficient internalization and degradation of amyloid aggregates in comparison to NK cells. We also found that amyloid aggregates induced the proliferation of macrophages and NK cells and significantly changed the expression of their cytokines and chemokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Matveyenka
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kiryl Zhaliazka
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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9
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He M, Zhang X, Ran X, Zhang Y, Nie X, Xiao B, Lei L, Zhai S, Zhu J, Zhang J, Li R, Liu Z, Zhu Y, Dai Z, He Z, Feng J, Zhang C. Black Phosphorus Nanosheets Protect Neurons by Degrading Aggregative α-syn and Clearing ROS in Parkinson's Disease. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2404576. [PMID: 38696266 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202404576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Although evidence indicates that the abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) in dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra is the main pathological feature of Parkinson's disease (PD), no compounds that have both α-syn antiaggregation and α-syn degradation functions have been successful in treating the disease in the clinic. Here, it is shown that black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs) interact directly with α-syn fibrils to trigger their disaggregation for PD treatment. Moreover, BPNSs have a specific affinity for α-syn through van der Waals forces. And BPNSs are found to activate autophagy to maintain α-syn homeostasis, improve mitochondrial dysfunction, reduce reactive oxygen species levels, and rescue neuronal death and synaptic loss in PC12 cells. It is also observed that BPNSs penetrate the blood-brain barrier and protect against dopamine neuron loss, alleviating behavioral disorders in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced mouse model and hA53T α-syn transgenic mice. Together, the study reveals that BPNSs have the potential as a novel integrated nanomedicine for clinical diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meina He
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
- Department of Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Xiangming Zhang
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
- Department of Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Xia Ran
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
- Department of Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Xiaoran Nie
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
- Department of Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Bo Xiao
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Li Lei
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Suzhen Zhai
- Department of Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - JinMing Zhu
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Rong Li
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Zuoji Liu
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Yuping Zhu
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
- Department of Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Zhijun Dai
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
- Department of Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Zhixu He
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Jian Feng
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
| | - Chunlin Zhang
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
- Department of Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 561113, China
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China
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10
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Abioye A, Akintade D, Mitchell J, Olorode S, Adejare A. Nonintuitive Immunogenicity and Plasticity of Alpha-Synuclein Conformers: A Paradigm for Smart Delivery of Neuro-Immunotherapeutics. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:609. [PMID: 38794271 PMCID: PMC11124533 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050609] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the extensive research successes and continuous developments in modern medicine in terms of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, the lack of clinically useful disease-modifying drugs or immunotherapeutic agents that can successfully treat or prevent neurodegenerative diseases is an ongoing challenge. To date, only one of the 244 drugs in clinical trials for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases has been approved in the past decade, indicating a failure rate of 99.6%. In corollary, the approved monoclonal antibody did not demonstrate significant cognitive benefits. Thus, the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing rapidly. Therefore, there is an urgent need for creative approaches to identifying and testing biomarkers for better diagnosis, prevention, and disease-modifying strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Overexpression of the endogenous α-synuclein has been identified as the driving force for the formation of the pathogenic α-synuclein (α-Syn) conformers, resulting in neuroinflammation, hypersensitivity, endogenous homeostatic responses, oxidative dysfunction, and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the conformational plasticity of α-Syn proffers that a certain level of α-Syn is essential for the survival of neurons. Thus, it exerts both neuroprotective and neurotoxic (regulatory) functions on neighboring neuronal cells. Furthermore, the aberrant metastable α-Syn conformers may be subtle and difficult to detect but may trigger cellular and molecular events including immune responses. It is well documented in literature that the misfolded α-Syn and its conformers that are released into the extracellular space from damaged or dead neurons trigger the innate and adaptive immune responses in PD. Thus, in this review, we discuss the nonintuitive plasticity and immunogenicity of the α-Syn conformers in the brain immune cells and their physiological and pathological consequences on the neuroimmune responses including neuroinflammation, homeostatic remodeling, and cell-specific interactions that promote neuroprotection in PD. We also critically reviewed the novel strategies for immunotherapeutic delivery interventions in PD pathogenesis including immunotherapeutic targets and potential nanoparticle-based smart drug delivery systems. It is envisioned that a greater understanding of the nonintuitive immunogenicity of aberrant α-Syn conformers in the brain's microenvironment would provide a platform for identifying valid therapeutic targets and developing smart brain delivery systems for clinically effective disease-modifying immunotherapeutics that can aid in the prevention and treatment of PD in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amos Abioye
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Belmont University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | - Damilare Akintade
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, UK; (D.A.); (J.M.); (S.O.)
| | - James Mitchell
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, UK; (D.A.); (J.M.); (S.O.)
| | - Simisade Olorode
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, UK; (D.A.); (J.M.); (S.O.)
| | - Adeboye Adejare
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA;
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11
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Sharma K, Chib S, Gupta A, Singh R, Chalotra R. Interplay between α-synuclein and parkin genes: Insights of Parkinson's disease. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:586. [PMID: 38683365 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09520-7] [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: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex and debilitating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The pathogenesis of PD is intimately linked to the roles of two key molecular players, α-synuclein (α-syn) and Parkin. Understanding the intricate interplay between α-syn and Parkin is essential for unravelling the molecular underpinnings of PD. Their roles in synaptic function and protein quality control underscore their significance in neuronal health. Dysregulation of these processes, as seen in PD, highlights the potential for targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring normal protein homeostasis and mitigating neurodegeneration. Investigating the connections between α-syn, Parkin, and various pathological mechanisms provides insights into the complex web of factors contributing to PD pathogenesis and offers hope for the development of more effective treatments for this devastating neurological disorder. The present compilation provides an overview of their structures, regional and cellular locations, associations, physiological functions, and pathological roles in the context of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kajal Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India
| | - Shivani Chib
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India
| | - Aniket Gupta
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India
| | - Randhir Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India.
| | - Rishabh Chalotra
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India
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12
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Wang T, Liu W, Zhang Q, Jiao J, Wang Z, Gao G, Yang H. 4-Oxo-2-Nonenal- and Agitation-Induced Aggregates of α-Synuclein and Phosphorylated α-Synuclein with Distinct Biophysical Properties and Biomedical Applications. Cells 2024; 13:739. [PMID: 38727274 PMCID: PMC11082957 DOI: 10.3390/cells13090739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-syn) can form oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils, which are associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies. Both the lipid peroxidation product 4-oxo-2-nonenal (ONE) and agitation can induce aggregation of α-syn and phosphorylated α-syn. Thus, clarification of the characteristics of different α-syn species could help to select suitable aggregates for diagnosis and elucidate the pathogenesis of diseases. Here, we characterized ONE-induced wild-type (WT) α-syn aggregates (OW), ONE-induced phosphorylated α-syn (p-α-syn) aggregates (OP), agitation-induced α-syn preformed fibrils (PFF), and agitation-induced p-α-syn preformed fibrils (pPFF). Thioflavin T (ThT) dying demonstrated that OW and OP had fewer fibrils than the PFF and pPFF. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the lengths of PFF and pPFF were similar, but the diameters differed. OW and OP had more compact structures than PFF and pPFF. Aggregation of p-α-syn was significantly faster than WT α-syn. Furthermore, OW and OP were more sodium dodecyl sulfate-stable and proteinase K-resistant, suggesting greater stability and compactness, while aggregates of PFF and pPFF were more sensitive to proteinase K treatment. Both ONE- and agitation-induced aggregates were cytotoxic when added exogenously to SH-SY5Y cells with increasing incubation times, but the agitation-induced aggregates caused cell toxicity in a shorter time and more p-α-syn inclusions. Similarly, p-proteins were more cytotoxic than non-p-proteins. Finally, all four aggregates were used as standard antigens to establish sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the recognition efficiency of OW and OP was more sensitive than that of PFF and pPFF. The OW- and OP-specific ELISA for detection of p-α-syn and α-syn in plasma samples of Thy1-α-syn transgenic mice showed that the content of aggregates could reflect the extent of disease. ONE and agitation induced the formation of α-syn aggregates with distinct biophysical properties and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tie Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (T.W.); (W.L.); (Q.Z.); (J.J.); (Z.W.)
- Center of Parkinson’s Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Weijin Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (T.W.); (W.L.); (Q.Z.); (J.J.); (Z.W.)
- Center of Parkinson’s Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Qidi Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (T.W.); (W.L.); (Q.Z.); (J.J.); (Z.W.)
- Center of Parkinson’s Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Jie Jiao
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (T.W.); (W.L.); (Q.Z.); (J.J.); (Z.W.)
- Center of Parkinson’s Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Zihao Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (T.W.); (W.L.); (Q.Z.); (J.J.); (Z.W.)
- Center of Parkinson’s Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Ge Gao
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (T.W.); (W.L.); (Q.Z.); (J.J.); (Z.W.)
- Center of Parkinson’s Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (T.W.); (W.L.); (Q.Z.); (J.J.); (Z.W.)
- Center of Parkinson’s Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Beijing 100069, China
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13
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Aliakbari F, Marzookian K, Parsafar S, Hourfar H, Nayeri Z, Fattahi A, Raeiji M, Boroujeni NN, Otzen DE, Morshedi D. The impact of hUC MSC-derived exosome-nanoliposome hybrids on α-synuclein fibrillation and neurotoxicity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl3406. [PMID: 38569030 PMCID: PMC10990263 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl3406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid aggregation of α-synuclein (αSN) protein amplifies the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Consequently, blocking aggregation or redirecting self-assembly to less toxic aggregates could be therapeutic. Here, we improve brain-specific nanocarriers using a hybrid of exosomes (Ex) from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC MSCs) and nanoliposomes containing baicalein (Ex-NLP-Ba) and oleuropein (Ex-NLP-Ole). The hybrids contained both lipid membranes, Ex proteins, and baicalein or oleuropein. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis confirmed their proper integration. The hybrids reduced the extent of αSN fibrillation and interfered with secondary nucleation and disaggregation. They not only reduced αSN pathogenicity but also enhanced drug internalization into cells, surpassing the efficacy of NLP alone, and also crossed the blood-brain barrier in a cellular model. We conclude that Ex can be successfully extracted and efficiently merged with NLPs while retaining its original properties, demonstrating great potential as a theranostic drug delivery vehicle against NDs like PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhang Aliakbari
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Kimia Marzookian
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soha Parsafar
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamdam Hourfar
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Nayeri
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arghavan Fattahi
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Raeiji
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Narges Nasrollahi Boroujeni
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniel E. Otzen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO) and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Dina Morshedi
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Stroganova I, Willenberg H, Tente T, Depraz Depland A, Bakels S, Rijs AM. Exploring the Aggregation Propensity of PHF6 Peptide Segments of the Tau Protein Using Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Techniques. Anal Chem 2024; 96:5115-5124. [PMID: 38517679 PMCID: PMC10993201 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Peptide and protein aggregation involves the formation of oligomeric species, but the complex interplay between oligomers of different conformations and sizes complicates their structural elucidation. Using ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS), we aim to reveal these early steps of aggregation for the Ac-PHF6-NH2 peptide segment from tau protein, thereby distinguishing between different oligomeric species and gaining an understanding of the aggregation pathway. An important factor that is often neglected, but which can alter the aggregation propensity of peptides, is the terminal capping groups. Here, we demonstrate the use of IM-MS to probe the early stages of aggregate formation of Ac-PHF6-NH2, Ac-PHF6, PHF6-NH2, and uncapped PHF6 peptide segments. The aggregation propensity of the four PHF6 segments is confirmed using thioflavin T fluorescence assays and transmission electron microscopy. A novel approach based on post-IM fragmentation and quadrupole selection on the TIMS-Qq-ToF (trapped ion mobility) spectrometer was developed to enhance oligomer assignment, especially for the higher-order aggregates. This approach pushes the limits of IM identification of isobaric species, whose signatures appear closer to each other with increasing oligomer size, and provides new insights into the interpretation of IM-MS data. In addition, TIMS collision cross section values are compared with traveling wave ion mobility (TWIMS) data to evaluate potential instrumental bias in the trapped ion mobility results. The two IM-MS instrumental platforms are based on different ion mobility principles and have different configurations, thereby providing us with valuable insight into the preservation of weakly bound biomolecular complexes such as peptide aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuliia Stroganova
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Hannah Willenberg
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Thaleia Tente
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Agathe Depraz Depland
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Sjors Bakels
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Anouk M. Rijs
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
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15
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Dhavale DD, Barclay AM, Borcik CG, Basore K, Berthold DA, Gordon IR, Liu J, Milchberg MH, O'Shea JY, Rau MJ, Smith Z, Sen S, Summers B, Smith J, Warmuth OA, Perrin RJ, Perlmutter JS, Chen Q, Fitzpatrick JAJ, Schwieters CD, Tajkhorshid E, Rienstra CM, Kotzbauer PT. Structure of alpha-synuclein fibrils derived from human Lewy body dementia tissue. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2750. [PMID: 38553463 PMCID: PMC10980826 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46832-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The defining feature of Parkinson disease (PD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the accumulation of alpha-synuclein (Asyn) fibrils in Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. Here we develop and validate a method to amplify Asyn fibrils extracted from LBD postmortem tissue samples and use solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) studies to determine atomic resolution structure. Amplified LBD Asyn fibrils comprise a mixture of single protofilament and two protofilament fibrils with very low twist. The protofilament fold is highly similar to the fold determined by a recent cryo-electron microscopy study for a minority population of twisted single protofilament fibrils extracted from LBD tissue. These results expand the structural characterization of LBD Asyn fibrils and approaches for studying disease mechanisms, imaging agents and therapeutics targeting Asyn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhruva D Dhavale
- Department of Neurology and Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Alexander M Barclay
- Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Collin G Borcik
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Katherine Basore
- Center for Cellular Imaging, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Deborah A Berthold
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Isabelle R Gordon
- Department of Neurology and Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jialu Liu
- Department of Neurology and Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Moses H Milchberg
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Jennifer Y O'Shea
- Department of Neurology and Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Michael J Rau
- Center for Cellular Imaging, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Zachary Smith
- Department of Neurology and Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Soumyo Sen
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group, NIH Resource for Macromolecular Modeling and Visualization, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Department of Biochemistry, and Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Brock Summers
- Center for Cellular Imaging, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - John Smith
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Owen A Warmuth
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Richard J Perrin
- Department of Neurology and Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Joel S Perlmutter
- Department of Neurology and Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Radiology, Neuroscience, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - James A J Fitzpatrick
- Center for Cellular Imaging, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Charles D Schwieters
- Computational Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance Core, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Emad Tajkhorshid
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group, NIH Resource for Macromolecular Modeling and Visualization, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Department of Biochemistry, and Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Chad M Rienstra
- Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
- Morgridge Institute for Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
- National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Paul T Kotzbauer
- Department of Neurology and Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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16
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Durmaz Celik N, Ozben S, Ozben T. Unveiling Parkinson's disease through biomarker research: current insights and future prospects. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38529882 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2024.2331471] [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: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition marked by the gradual depletion of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Despite substantial strides in comprehending potential causative mechanisms, the validation of biomarkers with unequivocal evidence for routine clinical application remains elusive. Consequently, the diagnosis heavily relies on patients' clinical assessments and medical backgrounds. The imperative need for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers arises due to the prevailing limitations of treatments, which predominantly address symptoms without modifying the disease course. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the existing landscape of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for PD, drawing insights from contemporary literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazlı Durmaz Celik
- Department of Neurology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Serkan Ozben
- Department of Neurology, University of Health Sciences, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Tomris Ozben
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
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17
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Maiti S, Singh A, Maji T, Saibo NV, De S. Experimental methods to study the structure and dynamics of intrinsically disordered regions in proteins. Curr Res Struct Biol 2024; 7:100138. [PMID: 38707546 PMCID: PMC11068507 DOI: 10.1016/j.crstbi.2024.100138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic proteins often feature long stretches of amino acids that lack a well-defined three-dimensional structure and are referred to as intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) or regions (IDRs). Although these proteins challenge conventional structure-function paradigms, they play vital roles in cellular processes. Recent progress in experimental techniques, such as NMR spectroscopy, single molecule FRET, high speed AFM and SAXS, have provided valuable insights into the biophysical basis of IDP function. This review discusses the advancements made in these techniques particularly for the study of disordered regions in proteins. In NMR spectroscopy new strategies such as 13C detection, non-uniform sampling, segmental isotope labeling, and rapid data acquisition methods address the challenges posed by spectral overcrowding and low stability of IDPs. The importance of various NMR parameters, including chemical shifts, hydrogen exchange rates, and relaxation measurements, to reveal transient secondary structures within IDRs and IDPs are presented. Given the high flexibility of IDPs, the review outlines NMR methods for assessing their dynamics at both fast (ps-ns) and slow (μs-ms) timescales. IDPs exert their functions through interactions with other molecules such as proteins, DNA, or RNA. NMR-based titration experiments yield insights into the thermodynamics and kinetics of these interactions. Detailed study of IDPs requires multiple experimental techniques, and thus, several methods are described for studying disordered proteins, highlighting their respective advantages and limitations. The potential for integrating these complementary techniques, each offering unique perspectives, is explored to achieve a comprehensive understanding of IDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aakanksha Singh
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, WB, 721302, India
| | - Tanisha Maji
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, WB, 721302, India
| | - Nikita V. Saibo
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, WB, 721302, India
| | - Soumya De
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, WB, 721302, India
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18
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Chen S, Puri A, Bell B, Fritsche J, Palacios HH, Balch M, Sprunger ML, Howard MK, Ryan JJ, Haines JN, Patti GJ, Davis AA, Jackrel ME. HTRA1 disaggregates α-synuclein amyloid fibrils and converts them into non-toxic and seeding incompetent species. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2436. [PMID: 38499535 PMCID: PMC10948756 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46538-8] [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: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is closely linked to α-synuclein (α-syn) misfolding and accumulation in Lewy bodies. The PDZ serine protease HTRA1 degrades fibrillar tau, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease, and inactivating mutations to mitochondrial HTRA2 are implicated in PD. Here, we report that HTRA1 inhibits aggregation of α-syn as well as FUS and TDP-43, which are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. The protease domain of HTRA1 is necessary and sufficient for inhibiting aggregation, yet this activity is proteolytically-independent. Further, HTRA1 disaggregates preformed α-syn fibrils, rendering them incapable of seeding aggregation of endogenous α-syn, while reducing HTRA1 expression promotes α-syn seeding. HTRA1 remodels α-syn fibrils by targeting the NAC domain, the key domain catalyzing α-syn amyloidogenesis. Finally, HTRA1 detoxifies α-syn fibrils and prevents formation of hyperphosphorylated α-syn accumulations in primary neurons. Our findings suggest that HTRA1 may be a therapeutic target for a range of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Anuradhika Puri
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Braxton Bell
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Joseph Fritsche
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Hector H Palacios
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Maurie Balch
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Macy L Sprunger
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Matthew K Howard
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Jeremy J Ryan
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Jessica N Haines
- Department of Neurology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Gary J Patti
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Department of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Albert A Davis
- Department of Neurology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Meredith E Jackrel
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
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19
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Kumar R, Chowdhury S, Ledeen R. Alpha-Synuclein and GM1 Ganglioside Co-Localize in Neuronal Cytosol Leading to Inverse Interaction-Relevance to Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3323. [PMID: 38542297 PMCID: PMC10970170 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Research on GM1 ganglioside and its neuroprotective role in Parkinson's disease (PD), particularly in mitigating the aggregation of α-Synuclein (aSyn), is well established across various model organisms. This essential molecule, GM1, is intimately linked to preventing aSyn aggregation, and its deficiency is believed to play a key role in the initiation of PD. In our current study, we attempted to shed light on the cytosolic interactions between GM1 and aSyn based on previous reports demonstrating gangliosides and monomeric aSyn to be present in neuronal cytosol. Native-PAGE and Western blot analysis of neuronal cytosol from mouse brains demonstrated the presence of both GM1 and monomeric aSyn in the neuronal cytosol of normal mouse brain. To demonstrate that an adequate level of GM1 prevents the aggregation of aSyn, we used NG108-15 and SH-SY5Y cells with and without treatment of 1-phenyl-2-palmitoyl-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PPMP), which inhibits the synthesis/expression of GM1. Cells treated with PPMP to reduce GM1 expression showed a significant increase in the formation of aggregated aSyn compared to untreated cells. We thus demonstrated that sufficient GM1 prevents the aggregation of aSyn. For this to occur, aSyn and GM1 must show proximity within the neuron. The present study provides evidence for such co-localization in neuronal cytosol, which also facilitates the inverse interaction revealed in studies with the two cell types above. This adds to the explanation of how GM1 prevents the aggregation of aSyn and onset of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Robert Ledeen
- Department of Pharmacology Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA; (R.K.); (S.C.)
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20
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Xing LZ, Zhang W, Zhao YD, Xu J, Zhang YX. Pyrazolamide derivatives inhibit α-Synuclein aggregation, disaggregate preformed fibers, and reduce inclusion formation in neuron cells. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116198. [PMID: 38368711 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116198] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
α-Syn fibers, the primary cause and central element of Lewy bodies (LB), play a pivotal role in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). This research aims to identify more potent inhibitors of α-Syn aggregation. A series of N-aryl-3-aryl-pyrazole-5-carboxamide derivatives were designed and synthesized for this purpose. Among them, four candidate compounds, combining pyrazole and polyphenol blocks, were identified through screening, demonstrating good inhibitory effects with IC50 values in the low micromolar range (1.25-4.29 μM). Two candidates exhibited high permeability through the blood-brain barrier. Mechanistic studies using various methods revealed that the candidates preferentially bind to the aggregation-prone domains-proNAC or NAC domains of α-Syn. This binding hinders the conformational transition from random coil/α-helix to β-sheet, preserving α-Syn proteostasis. As a result, it interferes with α-Syn nuclei formation, prolongs the lag phase, decelerates the elongation phase, and ultimately impedes the formation of α-Syn fibrils. Additionally, the candidates demonstrated promising results in the disaggregation of preformed α-Syn fibers, potentially by binding to specific sites near the β-sheet domain within fibers. This reduces fiber stability, causing rapid collapse and yielding smaller aggregates and monomers. Crucially, the candidate compounds exhibited significant inhibitory efficacy against α-Syn aggregation within nerve cells with low cytotoxicity. This resulted in a notable inhibition of the formation of LB-like α-Syn inclusions. These compounds show considerable promise as potential therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Zi Xing
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ya-Dong Zhao
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ji Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience Research Institute, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Road 100, 450001, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Yun-Xiao Zhang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052, Zhengzhou, China.
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21
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Kandel R, Jung J, Neal S. Proteotoxic stress and the ubiquitin proteasome system. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 156:107-120. [PMID: 37734998 PMCID: PMC10807858 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitin proteasome system maintains protein homeostasis by regulating the breakdown of misfolded proteins, thereby preventing misfolded protein aggregates. The efficient elimination is vital for preventing damage to the cell by misfolded proteins, known as proteotoxic stress. Proteotoxic stress can lead to the collapse of protein homeostasis and can alter the function of the ubiquitin proteasome system. Conversely, impairment of the ubiquitin proteasome system can also cause proteotoxic stress and disrupt protein homeostasis. This review examines two impacts of proteotoxic stress, 1) disruptions to ubiquitin homeostasis (ubiquitin stress) and 2) disruptions to proteasome homeostasis (proteasome stress). Here, we provide a mechanistic description of the relationship between proteotoxic stress and the ubiquitin proteasome system. This relationship is illustrated by findings from several protein misfolding diseases, mainly neurodegenerative diseases, as well as from basic biology discoveries from yeast to mammals. In addition, we explore the importance of the ubiquitin proteasome system in endoplasmic reticulum quality control, and how proteotoxic stress at this organelle is alleviated. Finally, we highlight how cells utilize the ubiquitin proteasome system to adapt to proteotoxic stress and how the ubiquitin proteasome system can be genetically and pharmacologically manipulated to maintain protein homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Kandel
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Jasmine Jung
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Sonya Neal
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
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22
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Schwab K, Magbagbeolu M, Theuring F, Harrington CR, Wischik CM, Riedel G. Solubility of α-synuclein species in the L62 mouse model of synucleinopathy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6239. [PMID: 38486089 PMCID: PMC10940722 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56735-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) into Lewy bodies is a hallmark of synucleinopathies, a group of neurological disorders that include Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Small oligomers as well as larger fibrils of α-Syn have been suggested to induce cell toxicity leading to a degenerative loss of neurones. A richer understanding of α-Syn aggregation in disease, however, requires the identification of the different α-Syn species and the characterisation of their biochemical properties. We here aimed at a more in-depth characterisation of the α-Syn transgenic mice, Line 62 (L62), and examined the deposition pattern and solubility of human and murine α-Syn in these mice using immunohistochemical and biochemical methods. Application of multiple antibodies confirmed mAb syn204 as the most discriminatory antibody for human α-Syn in L62. Syn204 revealed an intense and widespread immunohistochemical α-Syn labelling in parietal cortex and hippocampus, and to a lower level in basal forebrain and hindbrain regions. The labelled α-Syn represented somatic inclusions as well as processes and synaptic endings. Biochemical analysis revealed a Triton-resistant human α-Syn pool of large oligomers, a second pool of small oligomers that was not resistant to solubilization with urea/Triton. A third SDS-soluble pool of intermediate sized aggregates containing a mixture of both, human and mouse α-Syn was also present. These data suggest that several pools of α-Syn can exist in neurones, most likely in different cellular compartments. Information about these different pools is important for the development of novel disease modifying therapies aimed at α-Syn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karima Schwab
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Forester Hill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK.
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Mandy Magbagbeolu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franz Theuring
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Charles R Harrington
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Forester Hill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., 395 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5RP, UK
| | - Claude M Wischik
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Forester Hill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., 395 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5RP, UK
| | - Gernot Riedel
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Forester Hill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
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23
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Zhang Z, Wang R, Zhou H, Wu D, Cao Y, Zhang C, Sun H, Mu C, Hao Z, Ren H, Wang N, Yu S, Zhang J, Tao M, Wang C, Liu Y, Liu L, Liu Y, Zang J, Wang G. Inhibition of EHMT1/2 rescues synaptic damage and motor impairment in a PD mouse model. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:128. [PMID: 38472451 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05176-5] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic dysregulation that leads to alterations in gene expression and is suggested to be one of the key pathophysiological factors of Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we found that α-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFFs) induced histone H3 dimethylation at lysine 9 (H3K9me2) and increased the euchromatic histone methyltransferases EHMT1 and EHMT2, which were accompanied by neuronal synaptic damage, including loss of synapses and diminished expression levels of synaptic-related proteins. Furthermore, the levels of H3K9me2 at promoters in genes that encode the synaptic-related proteins SNAP25, PSD95, Synapsin 1 and vGLUT1 were increased in primary neurons after PFF treatment, which suggests a linkage between H3K9 dimethylation and synaptic dysfunction. Inhibition of EHMT1/2 with the specific inhibitor A-366 or shRNA suppressed histone methylation and alleviated synaptic damage in primary neurons that were treated with PFFs. In addition, the synaptic damage and motor impairment in mice that were injected with PFFs were repressed by treatment with the EHMT1/2 inhibitor A-366. Thus, our findings reveal the role of histone H3 modification by EHMT1/2 in synaptic damage and motor impairment in a PFF animal model, suggesting the involvement of epigenetic dysregulation in PD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixiong Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dan Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yifan Cao
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chuang Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongyang Sun
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chenchen Mu
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zongbing Hao
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haigang Ren
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center of Trauma Medicine, Institute of Trauma Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Nana Wang
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215163, China
| | - Shuang Yu
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215163, China
| | - Jingzhong Zhang
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215163, China
| | - Mengdan Tao
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Can Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yan Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Liu Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Changsha, 410005, China
| | - Yanli Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianye Zang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Guanghui Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
- MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
- Center of Translational Medicine, First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215400, China.
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24
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Ali A, Holman AP, Rodriguez A, Zhaliazka K, Osborne L, Kurouski D. Large Unilamellar Vesicles of Phosphatidic Acid Reduce the Toxicity of α-Synuclein Fibrils. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:1334-1341. [PMID: 38373398 PMCID: PMC10915799 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c01012] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a severe pathology that is caused by a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta as well as other areas in the brain. These neurodegeneration processes are linked to the abrupt aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn), a small protein that is abundant at presynaptic nerve termini, where it regulates cell vesicle trafficking. Due to the direct interactions of α-syn with cell membranes, a substantial amount of work was done over the past decade to understand the role of lipids in α-syn aggregation. However, the role of phosphatidic acid (PA), a negatively charged phospholipid with a small polar head, remains unclear. In this study, we examined the effect of PA large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) on α-syn aggregation. We found that PA LUVs with 16:0, 18:0, and 18:1 FAs drastically reduced the toxicity of α-syn fibrils if were present in a 1:1 molar ratio with the protein. Our results also showed that the presence of these vehicles changed the rate of α-syn aggregation and altered the morphology and secondary structure of α-syn fibrils. These results indicate that PA LUVs can be used as a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce the toxicity of α-syn fibrils formed upon PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Aidan P. Holman
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Axell Rodriguez
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kiryl Zhaliazka
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Luke Osborne
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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25
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Ali A, Dou T, Holman AP, Hung A, Osborne L, Pickett D, Rodriguez A, Zhaliazka K, Kurouski D. The influence of zwitterionic and anionic phospholipids on protein aggregation. Biophys Chem 2024; 306:107174. [PMID: 38211368 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107174] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
The progressive aggregation of misfolded proteins is the underlying molecular cause of numerous pathologies including Parkinson's disease and injection and transthyretin amyloidosis. A growing body of evidence indicates that protein deposits detected in organs and tissues of patients diagnosed with such pathologies contain fragments of lipid membranes. In vitro experiments also showed that lipid membranes could strongly change the aggregation rate of amyloidogenic proteins, as well as alter the secondary structure and toxicity of oligomers and fibrils formed in their presence. In this review, the effect of large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) composed of zwitterionic and anionic phospholipids on the aggregation rate of insulin, lysozyme, transthyretin (TTR) and α- synuclein (α-syn) will be discussed. The manuscript will also critically review the most recent findings on the lipid-induced changes in the secondary structure of protein oligomers and fibrils, as well as reveal the extent to which lipids could alter the toxicity of protein aggregates formed in their presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Tianyi Dou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Aidan P Holman
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States; Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Andrew Hung
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Luke Osborne
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Davis Pickett
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Axell Rodriguez
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Kiryl Zhaliazka
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States.
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26
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Huang W, Liu J, Le S, Yao M, Shi Y, Yan J. In situ single-molecule investigations of the impacts of biochemical perturbations on conformational intermediates of monomeric α-synuclein. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:016114. [PMID: 38435467 PMCID: PMC10908564 DOI: 10.1063/5.0188714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein aggregation is a common trait in synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease. Being an unstructured protein, α-synuclein exists in several distinct conformational intermediates, contributing to both its function and pathogenesis. However, the regulation of these monomer conformations by biochemical factors and potential drugs has remained elusive. In this study, we devised an in situ single-molecule manipulation approach to pinpoint kinetically stable conformational intermediates of monomeric α-synuclein and explore the effects of various biochemical factors and drugs. We uncovered a partially folded conformation located in the non-amyloid-β component (NAC) region of monomeric α-synuclein, which is regulated by a preNAC region. This conformational intermediate is sensitive to biochemical perturbations and small-molecule drugs that influencing α-synuclein's aggregation tendency. Our findings reveal that this partially folded intermediate may play a role in α-synuclein aggregation, offering fresh perspectives for potential treatments aimed at the initial stage of higher-order α-synuclein aggregation. The single-molecule approach developed here can be broadly applied to the study of disease-related intrinsically disordered proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenmao Huang
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
| | - Jingzhun Liu
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | | | | | - Yi Shi
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jie Yan
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
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27
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Das D, Mattaparthi VSK. Computational investigation on the conformational dynamics of C-terminal truncated α-synuclein bound to membrane. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38321955 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2310788] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Accelerated progression rates in Parkinson's disease (PD) have been linked to C-terminal domain (CTD) truncations of monomeric α-Synuclein (α-Syn), which have been suggested to increase amyloid aggregation in vivo and in vitro. In the brain of PD patients, CTD truncated α-Syn was found to have lower cell viability and tends to increase in the formation of fibrils. The CTD of α-Syn acts as a guard for regulating the normal functioning of α-Syn. The absence of the CTD may allow the N-terminal of α-Syn to interact with the membrane thereby affecting the normal functioning of α-Syn, and all of which will affect the etiology of PD. In this study, the conformational dynamics of CTD truncated α-Syn (1-99 and 1-108) monomers and their effect on the protein-membrane interactions were demonstrated using the all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method. From the MD analyses, it was noticed that among the two truncated monomers, α-Syn (1-108) was found to be more stable, shows rigidness at the N-terminal region and contains a significant number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the non-amyloid β-component (NAC) region and membrane, and lesser number of extended strands. Further, the bending angle in the N-terminal domain was found to be lesser in the α-Syn (1-108) in comparison with the α-Syn (1-99). Our findings suggest that the truncation on the CTD of α-Syn affects its interaction with the membrane and subsequently has an impact on the aggregation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy Das
- Molecular Modelling and Simulation Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam, India
| | - Venkata Satish Kumar Mattaparthi
- Molecular Modelling and Simulation Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam, India
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28
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Wang ZP, Zhang W, Xing LZ, Zhao YD, Xu J, Zhang YX. Therapeutic potential of Coumarin-polyphenolic acid hybrids in PD: Inhibition of α-Syn aggregation and disaggregation of preformed fibrils, leading to reduced neuronal inclusion formation. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2024; 99:129618. [PMID: 38219887 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2024.129618] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
This study focuses on the discovery of new potential drugs for treating PD by targeting the aggregation of α-Syn. A series of hybrids combining Coumarin and phenolic acid were designed and synthesized. Four particularly promising compounds were identified, showing strong inhibitory effects with IC50 values ranging from low micromolar to submicromolar concentrations, as low as 0.63 μM. These compounds exhibited a higher binding affinity to α-Syn residues and effectively hindered the entire aggregation process, maintaining the proteostasis conformation of α-Syn and preventing the formation of β-sheet aggregates. This approach holds significant promise for PD prevention. Additionally, these candidate compounds demonstrated the ability to break down preformed α-Syn oligomers and fibrils, resulting in the formation of smaller aggregates and monomers. Moreover, the candidate compounds showed impressive effectiveness in inhibiting α-Syn aggregation within nerve cells, thereby reducing the likelihood of α-Syn inclusion formation resembling Lewy bodies, which highlights their potential for treating PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Ping Wang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Li-Zi Xing
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ya-Dong Zhao
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ji Xu
- Deparment of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Road 100, 450001 Zhengzhou, China; Neuroscience Research Institute, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Road 100, 450001 Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Yun-Xiao Zhang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
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29
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Miao Y, Meng H. The involvement of α-synucleinopathy in the disruption of microglial homeostasis contributes to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:31. [PMID: 38216911 PMCID: PMC10785555 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01402-y] [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: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The intracellular deposition and intercellular transmission of α-synuclein (α-syn) are shared pathological characteristics among neurodegenerative disorders collectively known as α-synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Although the precise triggers of α-synucleinopathies remain unclear, recent findings indicate that disruption of microglial homeostasis contributes to the pathogenesis of PD. Microglia play a crucial role in maintaining optimal neuronal function by ensuring a homeostatic environment, but this function is disrupted during the progression of α-syn pathology. The involvement of microglia in the accumulation, uptake, and clearance of aggregated proteins is critical for managing disease spread and progression caused by α-syn pathology. This review summarizes current knowledge on the interrelationships between microglia and α-synucleinopathies, focusing on the remarkable ability of microglia to recognize and internalize extracellular α-syn through diverse pathways. Microglia process α-syn intracellularly and intercellularly to facilitate the α-syn neuronal aggregation and cell-to-cell propagation. The conformational state of α-synuclein distinctly influences microglial inflammation, which can affect peripheral immune cells such as macrophages and lymphocytes and may regulate the pathogenesis of α-synucleinopathies. We also discuss ongoing research efforts to identify potential therapeutic approaches targeting both α-syn accumulation and inflammation in PD. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhen Miao
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongrui Meng
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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30
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Aubrey LD, Ninkina N, Ulamec SM, Abramycheva NY, Vasili E, Devine OM, Wilkinson M, Mackinnon E, Limorenko G, Walko M, Muwanga S, Amadio L, Peters OM, Illarioshkin SN, Outeiro TF, Ranson NA, Brockwell DJ, Buchman VL, Radford SE. Substitution of Met-38 to Ile in γ-synuclein found in two patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis induces aggregation into amyloid. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2309700120. [PMID: 38170745 PMCID: PMC10786281 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309700120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
α-, β-, and γ-Synuclein are intrinsically disordered proteins implicated in physiological processes in the nervous system of vertebrates. α-synuclein (αSyn) is the amyloidogenic protein associated with Parkinson's disease and certain other neurodegenerative disorders. Intensive research has focused on the mechanisms that cause αSyn to form amyloid structures, identifying its NAC region as being necessary and sufficient for amyloid assembly. Recent work has shown that a 7-residue sequence (P1) is necessary for αSyn amyloid formation. Although γ-synuclein (γSyn) is 55% identical in sequence to αSyn and its pathological deposits are also observed in association with neurodegenerative conditions, γSyn is resilient to amyloid formation in vitro. Here, we report a rare single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the SNCG gene encoding γSyn, found in two patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The SNP results in the substitution of Met38 with Ile in the P1 region of the protein. These individuals also had a second, common and nonpathological, SNP in SNCG resulting in the substitution of Glu110 with Val. In vitro studies demonstrate that the Ile38 variant accelerates amyloid fibril assembly. Contrastingly, Val110 retards fibril assembly and mitigates the effect of Ile38. Substitution of residue 38 with Leu had little effect, while Val retards, and Ala increases the rate of amyloid formation. Ile38 γSyn also results in the formation of γSyn-containing inclusions in cells. The results show how a single point substitution can enhance amyloid formation of γSyn and highlight the P1 region in driving amyloid formation in another synuclein family member.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam D. Aubrey
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia Ninkina
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod308015, Russian Federation
| | - Sabine M. Ulamec
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia Y. Abramycheva
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Tissue Engineering, Brain Science Institute, Research Center of Neurology, Moscow125367, Russia
| | - Eftychia Vasili
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, LausanneCH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Oliver M. Devine
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Wilkinson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Eilish Mackinnon
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Galina Limorenko
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, LausanneCH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Martin Walko
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Muwanga
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Leonardo Amadio
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Owen M. Peters
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Sergey N. Illarioshkin
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Tissue Engineering, Brain Science Institute, Research Center of Neurology, Moscow125367, Russia
| | - Tiago F. Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen37075, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen37075, Germany
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon TyneNE2 4HH, United Kingdom
- Scientific employee with a honorary contract at Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, Göttingen37075, Germany
| | - Neil A. Ranson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Brockwell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Vladimir L. Buchman
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod308015, Russian Federation
| | - Sheena E. Radford
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
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Lövestam S, Li D, Wagstaff JL, Kotecha A, Kimanius D, McLaughlin SH, Murzin AG, Freund SMV, Goedert M, Scheres SHW. Disease-specific tau filaments assemble via polymorphic intermediates. Nature 2024; 625:119-125. [PMID: 38030728 PMCID: PMC10764278 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06788-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Intermediate species in the assembly of amyloid filaments are believed to play a central role in neurodegenerative diseases and may constitute important targets for therapeutic intervention1,2. However, structural information about intermediate species has been scarce and the molecular mechanisms by which amyloids assemble remain largely unknown. Here we use time-resolved cryogenic electron microscopy to study the in vitro assembly of recombinant truncated tau (amino acid residues 297-391) into paired helical filaments of Alzheimer's disease or into filaments of chronic traumatic encephalopathy3. We report the formation of a shared first intermediate amyloid filament, with an ordered core comprising residues 302-316. Nuclear magnetic resonance indicates that the same residues adopt rigid, β-strand-like conformations in monomeric tau. At later time points, the first intermediate amyloid disappears and we observe many different intermediate amyloid filaments, with structures that depend on the reaction conditions. At the end of both assembly reactions, most intermediate amyloids disappear and filaments with the same ordered cores as those from human brains remain. Our results provide structural insights into the processes of primary and secondary nucleation of amyloid assembly, with implications for the design of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Li
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Abhay Kotecha
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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Zhang W, Liu W, Zhao YD, Xing LZ, Xu J, Li RJ, Zhang YX. The potential of Rhein's aromatic amines for Parkinson's disease prevention and treatment: α-Synuclein aggregation inhibition and disaggregation of preformed fibers. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2024; 97:129564. [PMID: 38000482 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129564] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
The aggregation of α-Syn is a pivotal mechanism in Parkinson's disease (PD). Effectively maintaining α-Syn proteostasis involves both inhibiting its aggregation and promoting disaggregation. In this study, we developed a series of aromatic amide derivatives based on Rhein. Two of these compounds, 4,5-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracene-2-carboxamide (a5) and 4,5-dihydroxy-N-(2-hydroxy-4-chlorophenyl)-9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracene-2-carboxamide (a8), exhibited good binding affinities to α-Syn residues, demonstrating promising inhibitory activity against α-Syn aggregation in vitro, with low IC50 values (1.35 and 1.08 μM, respectivly). These inhibitors acted throughout the entire aggregation process by stabilizing α-Syn's conformation and preventing the formation of β-sheet aggregates. They also effectively disassembled preformed α-Syn oligomers and fibrils. Preliminary mechanistic insights indicated that they bound to the specific domain within fibrils, inducing fibril instability, collapse, and the formation of smaller aggregates and monomeric α-Syn units. This research underscores the therapeutic potential of Rhein's aromatic amides in targeting α-Syn aggregation for PD treatment and suggests broader applications in managing and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ya-Dong Zhao
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Li-Zi Xing
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ji Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Road 100, 450001 Zhengzhou, China; Neuroscience Research Institute, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Road 100, 450001 Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Rui-Jun Li
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Yun-Xiao Zhang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
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Saramowicz K, Siwecka N, Galita G, Kucharska-Lusina A, Rozpędek-Kamińska W, Majsterek I. Alpha-Synuclein Contribution to Neuronal and Glial Damage in Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:360. [PMID: 38203531 PMCID: PMC10778752 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the widespread accumulation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) protein aggregates. αSyn aggregation disrupts critical cellular processes, including synaptic function, mitochondrial integrity, and proteostasis, which culminate in neuronal cell death. Importantly, αSyn pathology extends beyond neurons-it also encompasses spreading throughout the neuronal environment and internalization by microglia and astrocytes. Once internalized, glia can act as neuroprotective scavengers, which limit the spread of αSyn. However, they can also become reactive, thereby contributing to neuroinflammation and the progression of PD. Recent advances in αSyn research have enabled the molecular diagnosis of PD and accelerated the development of targeted therapies. Nevertheless, despite more than two decades of research, the cellular function, aggregation mechanisms, and induction of cellular damage by αSyn remain incompletely understood. Unraveling the interplay between αSyn, neurons, and glia may provide insights into disease initiation and progression, which may bring us closer to exploring new effective therapeutic strategies. Herein, we provide an overview of recent studies emphasizing the multifaceted nature of αSyn and its impact on both neuron and glial cell damage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ireneusz Majsterek
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (K.S.); (N.S.); (G.G.); (A.K.-L.); (W.R.-K.)
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34
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Mishra S. Emerging Trends in Cryo-EM-based Structural Studies of Neuropathological Amyloids. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168361. [PMID: 37949311 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathies, synucleinopathies, Aβ amyloidosis, TDP-43 proteinopathies, and prion diseases- these neurodegenerative diseases have in common the formation of amyloid filaments rich in cross-β sheets. Cryo-electron microscopy now permits the visualization of amyloid assemblies at atomic resolution, ushering a wide range of structural studies on several of these poorly understood amyloidogenic proteins. Amyloids are polymorphic with minor modulations in reaction environment affecting the overall architecture of their assembly, making amyloids an extremely challenging venture for structure-based therapeutic intervention. In 2017, the first cryo-EM structure of tau filaments from an Alzheimer's disease-affected brain established that in vitro assemblies might not necessarily reflect the native amyloid fold. Since then, brain-derived amyloid structures for several proteins across many neurodegenerative diseases have uncovered the disease-relevant amyloid folds. It has now been shown for tauopathies, synucleinopathies and TDP-43 proteinopathies, that distinct amyloid folds of the same protein might be related to different diseases. Salient features of each of these brain-derived folds are discussed in detail. It was also recently observed that seeded aggregation does not necessarily replicate the brain-derived structural fold. Owing to high throughput structure determination, some of these native amyloid folds have also been successfully replicated in vitro. In vitro replication of disease-relevant filaments will aid development of imaging ligands and defibrillating drugs. Towards this direction, recent high-resolution structures of tau filaments with positron emission tomography tracers and a defibrillating drug are also discussed. This review summarizes and celebrates the recent advancements in structural understanding of neuropathological amyloid filaments using cryo-EM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Mishra
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Biological Sciences Division, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, Karnataka, India.
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35
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Liu W, Zhang W, Xing LZ, Zhao YD, Xu J, Li RJ, Zhang YX. 4-Arylidene curcumin derivatives in vitro inhibit α-Synuclein aggregation and disaggregate the preformed fibril. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 96:117529. [PMID: 37976808 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117529] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
This study focuses on the misfolding and aggregation of α-Syn as a central mechanism linking various pathological processes in PD. Maintaining α-Syn proteostasis through suitable inhibitors emerges as an effective approach to prevent PD. A more efficient strategy for PD treatment involves disintegrating neurotoxic oligomers and fibrils into normal functional α-Syn using inhibitors. To this end, a series of 4-arylidene curcumin derivatives were synthesized with a sheet-like conjugated skeleton and higher binding energies with α-Syn residues. Among these derivatives, three candidate compounds exhibited promising α-Syn aggregation inhibitory activities in vitro, with IC50 values as low as 0.61 μM. The inhibitory action extended throughout the entire aggregation process, stabilizing α-Syn proteostasis conformation and preventing β-sheets aggregation. Furthermore, the candidate compounds demonstrated effective disintegration capabilities against preformed α-Syn oligomers and fibrils. Initial mechanistic investigations indicated that the inhibitors may bind to a specific domain within the fibril, inducing fibril instability and subsequent collapse. This process resulted in the formation of a complex system of aggregates with smaller sizes and monomers. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the potential of 4-arylidene curcumin derivatives as therapeutic agents for targeting α-Syn aggregation in PD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Li-Zi Xing
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ya-Dong Zhao
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ji Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Road 100, 450001 Zhengzhou, China; Neuroscience Research Institute, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Road 100, 450001 Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Rui-Jun Li
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Yun-Xiao Zhang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
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36
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Miller SA, Jeanne Dit Fouque K, Hard ER, Balana AT, Kaplan D, Voinov VG, Ridgeway ME, Park MA, Anderson GA, Pratt MR, Fernandez-Lima F. Top/Middle-Down Characterization of α-Synuclein Glycoforms. Anal Chem 2023; 95:18039-18045. [PMID: 38047498 PMCID: PMC10836061 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein is an intrinsically disordered protein that plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. Proteomics studies of human brain samples have associated the modification of the O-linked N-acetyl-glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to several synucleinopathies; in particular, the position of the O-GlcNAc can regulate protein aggregation and subsequent cell toxicity. There is a need for site specific O-GlcNAc α-synuclein screening tools to direct better therapeutic strategies. In the present work, for the first time, the potential of fast, high-resolution trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS) preseparation in tandem with mass spectrometry assisted by an electromagnetostatic (EMS) cell, capable of electron capture dissociation (ECD), and ultraviolet photodissociation (213 nm UVPD) is illustrated for the characterization of α-synuclein positional glycoforms: T72, T75, T81, and S87 modified with a single O-GlcNAc. Top-down 213 nm UVPD and ECD MS/MS experiments of the intact proteoforms showed specific product ions for each α-synuclein glycoforms associated with the O-GlcNAc position with a sequence coverage of ∼68 and ∼82%, respectively. TIMS-MS profiles of α-synuclein and the four glycoforms exhibited large structural heterogeneity and signature patterns across the 8+-15+ charge state distribution; however, while the α-synuclein positional glycoforms showed signature mobility profiles, they were only partially separated in the mobility domain. Moreover, a middle-down approach based on the Val40-Phe94 (55 residues) chymotrypsin proteolytic product using tandem TIMS-q-ECD-TOF MS/MS permitted the separation of the parent positional isomeric glycoforms. The ECD fragmentation of the ion mobility and m/z separated isomeric Val40-Phe94 proteolytic peptides with single O-GlcNAc in the T72, T75, T81, and S87 positions provided the O-GlcNAc confirmation and positional assignment with a sequence coverage of ∼80%. This method enables the high-throughput screening of positional glycoforms and further enhances the structural mass spectrometry toolbox with fast, high-resolution mobility separations and 213 nm UVPD and ECD fragmentation capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Miller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Kevin Jeanne Dit Fouque
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Eldon R Hard
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, United States
| | - Aaron T Balana
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, United States
| | - Desmond Kaplan
- KapScience LLC, Tewksbury, Massachusetts 01876, United States
| | | | - Mark E Ridgeway
- Bruker Daltonics Inc., Billerica, Massachusetts 01821, United States
| | - Melvin A Park
- Bruker Daltonics Inc., Billerica, Massachusetts 01821, United States
| | | | - Matthew R Pratt
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, United States
| | - Francisco Fernandez-Lima
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
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Park JS, Ahmad R, Choe K, Kang MH, Park TJ, Kim MO. Immunization Effects of a Novel α-Synuclein-Based Peptide Epitope Vaccine in Parkinson's Disease-Associated Pathology. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1820. [PMID: 38140224 PMCID: PMC10748214 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11121820] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system, specifically the motor system. It is mainly caused by the loss of dopamine due to the accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) protein in the striatum and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Previous studies have reported that immunization may be a potential preventive strategy for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Therefore, the aim of the study was to design an α-syn specific epitope vaccine and investigate its effect in PD-related pathophysiology using an α-syn-induced mouse model. We used an in silico model to identify and design a non-toxic α-syn-based peptide epitope vaccine and, to overcome poor immunogenicity, the vaccine was coupled with immunogenic carrier proteins, i.e., ovalbumin (OVA) and keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). Our results showed that vaccinated PD mouse models, especially with vaccines with carrier proteins, improved in motor functions compared with the non-vaccinated PD model. Additionally, the vaccinated groups showed increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in the spleen and plasma as well as decreased interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in the plasma. Furthermore, vaccinated groups, especially OVA and KLH groups, showed decrease in α-syn levels and increased dopamine-related markers, i.e., tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), vesicle monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), and dopamine transporter (DAT), and autophagy activities in the striatum and SNpc. Lastly, our data showed decreased neuroinflammation by reducing the activation of microglia and astrocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the immunized groups, especially with OVA and KLH carrier proteins. Overall, these results suggest that vaccination, especially with immunogenic carrier proteins, is effective in reducing the accumulation of α-syn aggregates in the brain and ameliorate PD-related pathophysiology. Hence, further development of this approach might have a potential role in preventing the development of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Sung Park
- Division of Life Sciences and Applied Life Science (BK 21 Four), College of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea; (J.S.P.); (R.A.); (M.H.K.)
| | - Riaz Ahmad
- Division of Life Sciences and Applied Life Science (BK 21 Four), College of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea; (J.S.P.); (R.A.); (M.H.K.)
| | - Kyonghwan Choe
- Division of Life Sciences and Applied Life Science (BK 21 Four), College of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea; (J.S.P.); (R.A.); (M.H.K.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Min Hwa Kang
- Division of Life Sciences and Applied Life Science (BK 21 Four), College of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea; (J.S.P.); (R.A.); (M.H.K.)
| | - Tae Ju Park
- Haemato-Oncology/Systems Medicine Group, Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences (MVLS), University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 0ZD, UK;
| | - Myeong Ok Kim
- Division of Life Sciences and Applied Life Science (BK 21 Four), College of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea; (J.S.P.); (R.A.); (M.H.K.)
- Alz-Dementia Korea Co., Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
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38
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Ali A, Zhaliazka K, Dou T, Holman AP, Kurouski D. The toxicities of A30P and A53T α-synuclein fibrils can be uniquely altered by the length and saturation of fatty acids in phosphatidylserine. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105383. [PMID: 37890776 PMCID: PMC10679493 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105383] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain, hypothalamus, and thalamus is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Neuronal death is linked to the abrupt aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn), a small protein that regulates vesicle trafficking in synaptic clefts. Studies of families with a history of PD revealed several mutations in α-syn including A30P and A53T that are linked to the early onset of this pathology. Numerous pieces of evidence indicate that lipids can alter the rate of protein aggregation, as well as modify the secondary structure and toxicity of amyloid oligomers and fibrils. However, the role of lipids in the stability of α-syn mutants remains unclear. In this study, we investigate the effect of phosphatidylserine (PS), an anionic lipid that plays an important role in the recognition of apoptotic cells by macrophages, in the stability of WT, A30P, and A53T α-syn. We found PS with different lengths and saturation of fatty acids accelerated the rate of WT and A30P aggregation. At the same time, the opposite effect was observed for most PS on A53T. We also found that PS with different lengths and saturation of fatty acids change the secondary structure and toxicities of WT, A30P, and A53T fibrils. These results indicate that lipids can play an important role in the onset and spread of familial PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Kiryl Zhaliazka
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Tianyi Dou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Aidan P Holman
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA; Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
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39
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Rani K, Pal A, Gurnani B, Agarwala P, Sasmal DK, Jain N. An Innate Host Defense Protein β 2-Microglobulin Keeps a Check on α-Synuclein amyloid Assembly: Implications in Parkinson's Disease. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168285. [PMID: 37741548 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid formation due to protein misfolding has gained significant attention due to its association with neurodegenerative diseases. α-Synuclein (α-syn) is one such protein that undergoes a profound conformational switch to form higher order cross-β-sheet structures, resulting in amyloid formation, which is linked to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). The present status of research on α-syn aggregation and PD reveals that the disease progression may be linked with many other diseases, such as kidney-related disorders. Unraveling the link between PD and non-neurological diseases may help in early detection and a better understanding of PD progression. Herein, we investigated the modulation of α-syn in the presence of β2-microglobulin (β2m), a structural protein associated with dialysis-related amyloidosis. We took a multi-disciplinary approach to establish that β2m mitigates amyloid formation by α-syn. Our fluorescence, microscopy and toxicity data demonstrated that sub-stoichiometric ratio of β2m drives α-syn into off-pathway non-toxic aggregates incompetent of transforming into amyloids. Using AlphaFold2 and all-atom MD simulation, we showed that the β-strand segments (β1 and β2) of α-synuclein, which frequently engage in interactions within amyloid fibrils, interact with the last β-strand at the C-terminal of β2m. The outcome of this study will unravel the yet unknown potential linkage of PD with kidney-related disorders. Insights from the cross-talk between two amyloidogenic proteins will lead to early diagnosis and new therapeutic approaches for treating Parkinson's disease. Finally, disruption of the nucleation process of α-syn amyloids by targeting the β1-β2 region will constitute a potential therapeutic approach for inhibiting amyloid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khushboo Rani
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Nagaur Road, Karwar 342030, Rajasthan, India. https://twitter.com/khushboo251995
| | - Arumay Pal
- School of Bioengineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Bhopal, India. https://twitter.com/Arumay_Pal
| | - Bharat Gurnani
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Nagaur Road, Karwar 342030, Rajasthan, India. https://twitter.com/bgurnani05
| | - Pratibha Agarwala
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Nagaur Road, Karwar 342030, Rajasthan, India
| | - Dibyendu K Sasmal
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Nagaur Road, Karwar 342030, Rajasthan, India
| | - Neha Jain
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Nagaur Road, Karwar 342030, Rajasthan, India; Centre for Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development (CETSD), Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Nagaur Road, Karwar 342030, Rajasthan, India.
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Lurette O, Martín-Jiménez R, Khan M, Sheta R, Jean S, Schofield M, Teixeira M, Rodriguez-Aller R, Perron I, Oueslati A, Hebert-Chatelain E. Aggregation of alpha-synuclein disrupts mitochondrial metabolism and induce mitophagy via cardiolipin externalization. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:729. [PMID: 37949858 PMCID: PMC10638290 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06251-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates in the substantia nigra pars compacta is central in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease, leading to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and the manifestation of motor symptoms. Although several PD models mimic the pathological accumulation of α-synuclein after overexpression, they do not allow for controlling and monitoring its aggregation. We recently generated a new optogenetic tool by which we can spatiotemporally control the aggregation of α-synuclein using a light-induced protein aggregation system. Using this innovative tool, we aimed to characterize the impact of α-synuclein clustering on mitochondria, whose activity is crucial to maintain neuronal survival. We observed that aggregates of α-synuclein transiently and dynamically interact with mitochondria, leading to mitochondrial depolarization, lower ATP production, mitochondrial fragmentation and degradation via cardiolipin externalization-dependent mitophagy. Aggregation of α-synuclein also leads to lower mitochondrial content in human dopaminergic neurons and in mouse midbrain. Interestingly, overexpression of α-synuclein alone did not induce mitochondrial degradation. This work is among the first to clearly discriminate between the impact of α-synuclein overexpression and aggregation on mitochondria. This study thus represents a new framework to characterize the role of mitochondria in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Lurette
- Canada Research Chair in Mitochondrial Signaling and Physiopathology, Moncton, NB, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada
| | - Rebeca Martín-Jiménez
- Canada Research Chair in Mitochondrial Signaling and Physiopathology, Moncton, NB, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada
| | - Mehtab Khan
- Canada Research Chair in Mitochondrial Signaling and Physiopathology, Moncton, NB, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada
| | - Razan Sheta
- CHU de Québec Research Center, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Stéphanie Jean
- Canada Research Chair in Mitochondrial Signaling and Physiopathology, Moncton, NB, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada
| | - Mia Schofield
- Canada Research Chair in Mitochondrial Signaling and Physiopathology, Moncton, NB, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada
| | - Maxime Teixeira
- CHU de Québec Research Center, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Raquel Rodriguez-Aller
- CHU de Québec Research Center, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle Perron
- Canada Research Chair in Mitochondrial Signaling and Physiopathology, Moncton, NB, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada
| | - Abid Oueslati
- CHU de Québec Research Center, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Etienne Hebert-Chatelain
- Canada Research Chair in Mitochondrial Signaling and Physiopathology, Moncton, NB, Canada.
- Department of Biology, University of Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada.
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Allen SG, Meade RM, White Stenner LL, Mason JM. Peptide-based approaches to directly target alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:80. [PMID: 37940962 PMCID: PMC10633918 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00675-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptides and their mimetics are increasingly recognised as drug-like molecules, particularly for intracellular protein-protein interactions too large for inhibition by small molecules, and inaccessible to larger biologics. In the past two decades, evidence associating the misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein strongly implicates this protein in disease onset and progression of Parkinson's disease and related synucleinopathies. The subsequent formation of toxic, intracellular, Lewy body deposits, in which alpha-synuclein is a major component, is a key diagnostic hallmark of the disease. To reach their therapeutic site of action, peptides must both cross the blood-brain barrier and enter dopaminergic neurons to prevent the formation of these intracellular inclusions. In this review, we describe and summarise the current efforts made in the development of peptides and their mimetics to directly engage with alpha-synuclein with the intention of modulating aggregation, and importantly, toxicity. This is a rapidly expanding field with great socioeconomic impact; these molecules harbour significant promise as therapeutics, or as early biomarkers during prodromal disease stages, or both. As these are age-dependent conditions, an increasing global life expectancy means disease prevalence is rising. No current treatments exist to either prevent or slow disease progression. It is therefore crucial that drugs are developed for these conditions before health care and social care capacities become overrun.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott G Allen
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Richard M Meade
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Lucy L White Stenner
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Jody M Mason
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
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Bigi A, Cascella R, Cecchi C. α-Synuclein oligomers and fibrils: partners in crime in synucleinopathies. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:2332-2342. [PMID: 37282450 PMCID: PMC10360081 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.371345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The misfolding and aggregation of α-synuclein is the general hallmark of a group of devastating neurodegenerative pathologies referred to as synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. In such conditions, a range of different misfolded aggregates, including oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils, are present both in neurons and glial cells. Growing experimental evidence supports the proposition that soluble oligomeric assemblies, formed during the early phases of the aggregation process, are the major culprits of neuronal toxicity; at the same time, fibrillar conformers appear to be the most efficient at propagating among interconnected neurons, thus contributing to the spreading of α-synuclein pathology. Moreover, α-synuclein fibrils have been recently reported to release soluble and highly toxic oligomeric species, responsible for an immediate dysfunction in the recipient neurons. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge about the plethora of mechanisms of cellular dysfunction caused by α-synuclein oligomers and fibrils, both contributing to neurodegeneration in synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Bigi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Cristina Cecchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Chlebowicz J, Russ W, Chen D, Vega A, Vernino S, White CL, Rizo J, Joachimiak LA, Diamond MI. Saturation mutagenesis of α-synuclein reveals monomer fold that modulates aggregation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh3457. [PMID: 37889966 PMCID: PMC10610913 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh3457] [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: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (aSyn) aggregation underlies neurodegenerative synucleinopathies. aSyn seeds are proposed to replicate and propagate neuronal pathology like prions. Seeding of aSyn can be recapitulated in cellular systems of aSyn aggregation; however, the mechanism of aSyn seeding and its regulation are not well understood. We developed an mEos-based aSyn seeding assay and performed saturation mutagenesis to identify with single-residue resolution positive and negative regulators of aSyn aggregation. We not only found the core regions that govern aSyn aggregation but also identified mutants outside of the core that enhance aggregation. We identified local structure within the N terminus of aSyn that hinders the fibrillization propensity of its aggregation-prone core. Based on the screen, we designed a minimal aSyn fragment that shows a ~4-fold enhancement in seeding activity and enabled discrimination of synucleinopathies. Our study expands the basic knowledge of aSyn aggregation and advances the design of cellular systems of aSyn aggregation to diagnose synucleinopathies based on protein conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julita Chlebowicz
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - William Russ
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Evozyne Inc., Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dailu Chen
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Anthony Vega
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Steven Vernino
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Charles L. White
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Josep Rizo
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lukasz A. Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Marc I. Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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McClain SM, Milchberg MH, Rienstra CM, Murphy CJ. Biologically Representative Lipid-Coated Gold Nanoparticles and Phospholipid Vesicles for the Study of Alpha-Synuclein/Membrane Interactions. ACS NANO 2023; 17:20387-20401. [PMID: 37782491 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein is an intrinsically disordered protein whose formation of beta-sheet-rich protein aggregates in the brain is implicated in the development of Parkinson's disease. Due to its believed role in synaptic vesicle trafficking and neurotransmission, many studies have employed simple, synthetic model systems to investigate alpha-synuclein/membrane interactions in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the protein's native and pathogenic functions. Interestingly, these studies seem to suggest that alpha-synuclein interacts differently with rigid vesicle mimics in comparison to malleable vesicle mimics. However, the use of different mimic sizes and surface chemistries across existing studies makes it challenging to directly compare the effects of membrane mechanical properties on protein behavior observed thus far. In this work, we developed a synaptic vesicle mimic library comprising a range of both malleable and rigid synaptic vesicle mimics possessing the same size and biologically representative lipid surface chemistry. Limited proteolysis mass spectrometry experiments revealed distinct fragmentation patterns between rigid and malleable synaptic vesicle mimics. The N-terminal and C-terminal regions of alpha-synuclein were found to become less solvent-accessible upon binding to all synaptic vesicle mimics. Nevertheless, minor variations in digestion pattern were observed in the central region of the protein dependent upon mimic size, rigidity, and lipid composition. Higher binding affinities were observed for alpha-synuclein binding to rigid synaptic vesicle mimics compared to malleable synaptic vesicle mimics. Additionally, the binding affinity of alpha-synuclein toward small lipid vesicles and small lipid-coated gold nanoparticles without cholesterol was found to be lower than that of their respective malleable and rigid counterparts. Interestingly, the binding curves for the rigid synaptic vesicle mimics demonstrated a nontraditional peak and dip shape believed to arise from differences in alpha-synuclein orientation on the particle surface at different protein-to-particle incubation ratios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia M McClain
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Moses H Milchberg
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Chad M Rienstra
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Catherine J Murphy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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Taha HB, Chawla E, Bitan G. IM-MS and ECD-MS/MS Provide Insight into Modulation of Amyloid Proteins Self-Assembly by Peptides and Small Molecules. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2023; 34:2066-2086. [PMID: 37607351 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.3c00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative proteinopathies are characterized by formation and deposition of misfolded, aggregated proteins in the nervous system leading to neuronal dysfunction and death. It is widely believed that metastable oligomers of the offending proteins, preceding the fibrillar aggregates found in the tissue, are the proximal neurotoxins. There are currently almost no disease-modifying therapies for these diseases despite an active pipeline of preclinical development and clinical trials for over two decades, largely because studying the metastable oligomers and their interaction with potential therapeutics is notoriously difficult. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful analytical tool for structural investigation of proteins, including protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions. Specific MS tools have been useful in determining the composition and conformation of abnormal protein oligomers involved in proteinopathies and the way they interact with drug candidates. Here, we analyze critically the utilization of ion-mobility spectroscopy-MS (IM-MS) and electron-capture dissociation (ECD) MS/MS for analyzing the oligomerization and conformation of multiple amyloidogenic proteins. We also discuss IM-MS investigation of their interaction with two classes of compounds developed by our group over the last two decades: C-terminal fragments derived from the 42-residue form of amyloid β-protein (Aβ42) and molecular tweezers. Finally, we review the utilization of ECD-MS/MS for elucidating the binding sites of the ligands on multiple proteins. These approaches are readily applicable to future studies addressing similar questions and hold promise for facilitating the development of successful disease-modifying drugs against neurodegenerative proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hash Brown Taha
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Esha Chawla
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Gal Bitan
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Brain Research Institute, University of California Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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Ojeda A, Cofré V, Melo F, Caballero L, Fuentealba D, Cornejo A. α-Synuclein Drives Tau's Cytotoxic Aggregates Formation through Hydrophobic Interactions. Chempluschem 2023; 88:e202300257. [PMID: 37708459 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300257] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Tau and α-synuclein are proteins involved in pathologies known as tauopathies and synucleinopathies, respectively. Moreover, evidence shows that there is a crosstalk between them as is seen in the brains of individuals with sporadic neurodegenerative disorders. Based on that, we present data showing that the hydrophobic α-peptide 71 VTGVTAVAQKTV82 induces the aggregation of the full-length tau fragment in the absence of heparin assessed by ThT. Moreover, AFM images reveal the presence of straight filaments and amorphous aggregates of full-length tau in the presence of the α-peptide. Additionally, ITC experiments showed the interaction of the α-peptide with tau full-length (441 amino acids),4R (amino acids from 244 to 369), and both hexapeptides 275 VQIINK280 and 306 VQIVYK311 through hydrophobic interactions. The Raman spectroscopy spectra showed conformational changes in the Amide region in the aggregates formed with full-length tau and α-syn peptide. Furthermore, the incubation of extracellular aggregates with N2a cells showed morphological differences in the cellular body and the nucleus suggesting cell death. Moreover,, the incubation of different types of aggregates in cell culture provokes the release of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Altogether, we found that α-synuclein peptide can drive the aggregation of full-length tau-provoking morphological and structural changes evoking cytotoxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ojeda
- Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Universidad Andrés Bello, Echaurren 183, 8370071 Laboratorio Catem V., Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Cofré
- Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Universidad Andrés Bello, Echaurren 183, 8370071 Laboratorio Catem V., Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Melo
- Departamento de Física, Universidad de Santiago, Avenida Ecuador 3493, 9170124, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Soft Matter Research, SMAT-C Usach, Avenida Bernardo O'Higgins, 3363 Estación Central, Santiago, Chile
| | - Leonardo Caballero
- Departamento de Física, Universidad de Santiago, Avenida Ecuador 3493, 9170124, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Soft Matter Research, SMAT-C Usach, Avenida Bernardo O'Higgins, 3363 Estación Central, Santiago, Chile
| | - Denis Fuentealba
- Laboratorio de Química Supramolecular y Fotobiología, Departamento de Química Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Macul, 7820436, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alberto Cornejo
- Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Universidad Andrés Bello, Echaurren 183, 8370071 Laboratorio Catem V., Santiago, Chile
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Uceda AB, Ramis R, Pauwels K, Adrover M, Mariño L, Frau J, Vilanova B. Understanding the effect of the membrane-mimetic micelles on the interplay between α-synuclein and Cu(II)/Cu(I) cations. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 247:112344. [PMID: 37542850 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112344] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (αS) is a presynaptic protein whose aggregates are considered as a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Although its physiological function is still under debate, it is widely accepted that its functions are always mediated by its interaction with membranes. The association of αS with phospholipid membranes occurs concomitant to its folding from its monomeric, unfolded state towards an antiparallel amphipathic α-helix. Besides this, copper ions can also bind αS and modify its aggregation propensity. The effect of Cu(II) and Cu(I) on the lipid-αS affinity and on the structure of the membrane-bound αS have not yet been studied. This knowledge is relevant to understand the molecular pathogenesis of PD. Therefore, we have here studied the affinities between Cu(II) and Cu(I) and the micelle-bound αS, as well as the effect of these cations on the structure of micelle-bound αS. Cu(II) or Cu(I) did not affect the α-helical structure of the micelle-bound αS. However, while Cu(I) binds at the same sites of αS in the presence or in the absence of micelles, the micelle-bound αS displays different Cu(II) binding sites than unbound αS. In any case, sodium docecyl sulphate -micelles reduce the stability of the αS complexes with both Cu(II) and Cu(I). Finally, we have observed that the micelle-bound αS is still able to prevent the Cu(II)-catalysed oxidation of neuronal metabolites (e.g. ascorbic acid) and the formation of reactive oxygen species, thus this binding does not impair its biological function as part of the antioxidant machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Belén Uceda
- Departament de Química, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Institut de Recerca en Ciències de la Salut (IdIsBa), University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Spain
| | - Rafael Ramis
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain; Departamento de Física, Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Kris Pauwels
- Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Miquel Adrover
- Departament de Química, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Institut de Recerca en Ciències de la Salut (IdIsBa), University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Spain
| | - Laura Mariño
- Departament de Química, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Institut de Recerca en Ciències de la Salut (IdIsBa), University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Spain
| | - Juan Frau
- Departament de Química, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Institut de Recerca en Ciències de la Salut (IdIsBa), University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Spain
| | - Bartolomé Vilanova
- Departament de Química, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Institut de Recerca en Ciències de la Salut (IdIsBa), University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Spain.
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Wang G, Zhu L, Wu X, Qian Z. Influence of Protonation on the Norepinephrine Inhibiting α-Synuclein 71-82 Oligomerization. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:7848-7857. [PMID: 37683121 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c03270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) is closely linked to the massive presence of Lewy vesicles and Lewy axons in the cytoplasm of neurons, mainly consisting of α-synuclein (αS). Norepinephrine (NE), whose secretion can be increased by exercise, has been demonstrated to prevent the fibrillation of αS and to break down the mature αS fibrils. In this work, we focus on the influence of protonation on the inhibitory ability of NE by using amyloid core fragment αS71-82 as a template. All-atom replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations (accumulating to 33.6 μs) in explicit water were performed to explore the inhibitory effect of protonated and nonprotonated NE on αS oligomerization. Our results show that NE/NE+ can lead to a significant decrease in β-sheet content with increasing temperature, while isolated αS maintains relatively higher β-sheet conformations until 363 K, implying that both NE and NE+ can lower the critical temperature required for αS fibril decomposition. NE and NE+ also lead to the formation of less compact αS oligomers by preventing the backbone hydrogen bonds and the side-chain packing. The protonation would affect the binding affinity, interaction modes, and binding intensity of NE with αS. Interesting, NE and NE+ have a distinct binding free energy in the electrostatic and solvation terms, which mostly counter each other and produce a weak binding intensity with αS. Our work contributes to a better understanding of the inhibitory mechanism of NE and NE+ on αS oligomerization relevant to PD pathogenesis, which may provide clues for the design of antiamyloid medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, and School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Lili Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, and School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China
- Shang Xing School, 6 Shangli Road, Shenzhen 518100, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, and School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Zhenyu Qian
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, and School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China
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Ali A, Zhaliazka K, Dou T, Holman AP, Kurouski D. Role of Saturation and Length of Fatty Acids of Phosphatidylserine in the Aggregation of Transthyretin. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3499-3506. [PMID: 37676231 PMCID: PMC10862486 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The progressive accumulation of transthyretin (TTR), a small protein that transports thyroxine, in various organs and tissues is observed upon transthyretin amyloidosis, a severe pathology that affects the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems. Once expressed in the liver and choroid plexus, TTR is secreted into the bloodstream and cerebrospinal fluid. In addition to thyroxine, TTR interacts with a large number of molecules, including retinol-binding protein and lipids. In this study, we examined the extent to which phosphatidylserine (PS), a phospholipid that is responsible for the recognition of apoptotic cells by macrophages, could alter the stability of TTR. Using thioflavin T assay, we investigated the rates of TTR aggregation in the presence of PS with different lengths and saturation of fatty acids (FAs). We found that all analyzed lipids decelerated the rate of TTR aggregation. We also used a set of biophysical methods to investigate the extent to which the presence of PS altered the morphology and secondary structure of TTR aggregates. Our results showed that the length and saturation of fatty acids in PS uniquely altered the morphology and secondary structure of TTR fibrils. As a result, TTR fibrils that were formed in the presence of PS with different lengths and saturation of FAs exerted significantly lower cell toxicity compared with the TTR aggregates grown in the lipid-free environment. These findings help to reveal the role of PS in transthyretin amyloidosis and determine the role of the length and saturation of FAs in PS on the morphology and secondary structure of TTR fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kiryl Zhaliazka
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Tianyi Dou
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Aidan P. Holman
- Department
of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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50
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Dou T, Matveyenka M, Kurouski D. Elucidation of Secondary Structure and Toxicity of α-Synuclein Oligomers and Fibrils Grown in the Presence of Phosphatidylcholine and Phosphatidylserine. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3183-3191. [PMID: 37603792 PMCID: PMC10862479 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Abrupt aggregation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) in the midbrain hypothalamus and thalamus is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), the fastest growing neurodegenerative pathology, projected to strike 12 million people by 2040 worldwide. In this study, we examine the effect of two phospholipids that are present in neuronal membranes, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylserine (PS), on the rate of α-Syn aggregation. We found that PS accelerated α-Syn aggregation, whereas PC strongly inhibited α-Syn aggregation. We also utilized the nano-infrared imaging technique, also known as atomic force microscopy infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy, to investigate whether PC and PS only change the rates or also modify the secondary structure of α-Syn aggregates. We found that both phospholipids uniquely altered the secondary structure of α-Syn aggregates present at the lag and growth phase, as well as the late stage of protein aggregation. In addition, compared to the α-Syn aggregates formed in the lipid-free environment, α-Syn:PC and α-Syn:PS aggregates demonstrated higher cellular toxicity to N27 rat neurons. Interestingly, both α-Syn:PC and α-Syn:PS aggregates showed similar levels of oxidative stress, but α-Syn:PC aggregates exhibited a greater degree of mitochondrial dysfunction compared to α-Syn:PS aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Dou
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Mikhail Matveyenka
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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