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Ye J, Wan H, Chen S, Liu GP. Targeting tau in Alzheimer's disease: from mechanisms to clinical therapy. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1489-1498. [PMID: 38051891 PMCID: PMC10883484 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease affecting older adults. Primary features of Alzheimer's disease include extracellular aggregation of amyloid-β plaques and the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles, formed by tau protein, in the cells. While there are amyloid-β-targeting therapies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, these therapies are costly and exhibit potential negative side effects. Mounting evidence suggests significant involvement of tau protein in Alzheimer's disease-related neurodegeneration. As an important microtubule-associated protein, tau plays an important role in maintaining the stability of neuronal microtubules and promoting axonal growth. In fact, clinical studies have shown that abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein occurs before accumulation of amyloid-β in the brain. Various therapeutic strategies targeting tau protein have begun to emerge, and are considered possible methods to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, abnormalities in post-translational modifications of the tau protein, including aberrant phosphorylation, ubiquitination, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)ylation, acetylation, and truncation, contribute to its microtubule dissociation, misfolding, and subcellular missorting. This causes mitochondrial damage, synaptic impairments, gliosis, and neuroinflammation, eventually leading to neurodegeneration and cognitive deficits. This review summarizes the recent findings on the underlying mechanisms of tau protein in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease and discusses tau-targeted treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwang Ye
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Huali Wan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Sihua Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Gong-Ping Liu
- Co-innovation Center of Neurodegeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China and Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
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2
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Singh H, Das A, Khan MM, Pourmotabbed T. New insights into the therapeutic approaches for the treatment of tauopathies. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1020-1026. [PMID: 37862204 PMCID: PMC10749630 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385288] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, which involve progressive neurodegeneration, cognitive deficits, and aberrant tau protein accumulation. The development of tauopathies cannot currently be stopped or slowed down by treatment measures. Given the significant contribution of tau burden in primary tauopathies and the strong association between pathogenic tau accumulation and cognitive deficits, there has been a lot of interest in creating therapies that can alleviate tau pathology and render neuroprotective effects. Recently, small molecules, immunotherapies, and gene therapy have been used to reduce the pathological tau burden and prevent neurodegeneration in animal models of tauopathies. However, the major pitfall of the current therapeutic approach is the difficulty of drugs and gene-targeting modalities to cross the blood-brain barrier and their unintended side effects. In this review, the current therapeutic strategies used for tauopathies including the use of oligonucleotide-based gene therapy approaches that have shown a promising result for the treatment of tauopathies and Alzheimer's disease in preclinical animal models, have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himanshi Singh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Delhi, India
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Asmita Das
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Delhi, India
| | - Mohammad Moshahid Khan
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center for Muscle, Metabolism and Neuropathology, Division of Regenerative and Rehabilitation Sciences and Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Tayebeh Pourmotabbed
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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3
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Yu H, Liu D, Zhang Y, Tang R, Fan X, Mao S, Lv L, Chen F, Qin H, Zhang Z, van Aalten DMF, Yang B, Yuan K. Tissue-specific O-GlcNAcylation profiling identifies substrates in translational machinery in Drosophila mushroom body contributing to olfactory learning. eLife 2024; 13:e91269. [PMID: 38619103 PMCID: PMC11018347 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91269] [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: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
O-GlcNAcylation is a dynamic post-translational modification that diversifies the proteome. Its dysregulation is associated with neurological disorders that impair cognitive function, and yet identification of phenotype-relevant candidate substrates in a brain-region specific manner remains unfeasible. By combining an O-GlcNAc binding activity derived from Clostridium perfringens OGA (CpOGA) with TurboID proximity labeling in Drosophila, we developed an O-GlcNAcylation profiling tool that translates O-GlcNAc modification into biotin conjugation for tissue-specific candidate substrates enrichment. We mapped the O-GlcNAc interactome in major brain regions of Drosophila and found that components of the translational machinery, particularly ribosomal subunits, were abundantly O-GlcNAcylated in the mushroom body of Drosophila brain. Hypo-O-GlcNAcylation induced by ectopic expression of active CpOGA in the mushroom body decreased local translational activity, leading to olfactory learning deficits that could be rescued by dMyc overexpression-induced increase of protein synthesis. Our study provides a useful tool for future dissection of tissue-specific functions of O-GlcNAcylation in Drosophila, and suggests a possibility that O-GlcNAcylation impacts cognitive function via regulating regional translational activity in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibin Yu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Dandan Liu
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, HangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Yaowen Zhang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Ruijun Tang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Xunan Fan
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Song Mao
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Lu Lv
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Fang Chen
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Hongtao Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, Hunan UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Zhuohua Zhang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Daan MF van Aalten
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of AarhusAarhusDenmark
| | - Bing Yang
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, HangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Kai Yuan
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- The Biobank of Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
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4
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Pratt MR, Vocadlo DJ. Understanding and exploiting the roles of O-GlcNAc in neurodegenerative diseases. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105411. [PMID: 37918804 PMCID: PMC10687168 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
O-GlcNAc is a common modification found on nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. Determining the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme O-GlcNAcase (OGA), which removes O-GlcNAc from proteins, enabled the creation of potent and selective inhibitors of this regulatory enzyme. Such inhibitors have served as important tools in helping to uncover the cellular and organismal physiological roles of this modification. In addition, OGA inhibitors have been important for defining the augmentation of O-GlcNAc as a promising disease-modifying approach to combat several neurodegenerative diseases including both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. These studies have led to development and optimization of OGA inhibitors for clinical application. These compounds have been shown to be well tolerated in early clinical studies and are steadily advancing into the clinic. Despite these advances, the mechanisms by which O-GlcNAc protects against these various types of neurodegeneration are a topic of continuing interest since improved insight may enable the creation of more targeted strategies to modulate O-GlcNAc for therapeutic benefit. Relevant pathways on which O-GlcNAc has been found to exert beneficial effects include autophagy, necroptosis, and processing of the amyloid precursor protein. More recently, the development and application of chemical methods enabling the synthesis of homogenous proteins have clarified the biochemical effects of O-GlcNAc on protein aggregation and uncovered new roles for O-GlcNAc in heat shock response. Here, we discuss the features of O-GlcNAc in neurodegenerative diseases, the application of inhibitors to identify the roles of this modification, and the biochemical effects of O-GlcNAc on proteins and pathways associated with neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Pratt
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
| | - David J Vocadlo
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
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5
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Costa TJ, Wilson EW, Fontes MT, Pernomian L, Tostes RC, Wenceslau CF, McCarthy CG. The O-GlcNAc dichotomy: when does adaptation become pathological? Clin Sci (Lond) 2023; 137:1683-1697. [PMID: 37986614 DOI: 10.1042/cs20220309] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
O-Linked attachment of β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) on serine and threonine residues of nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial proteins is a highly dynamic and ubiquitous post-translational modification that impacts the function, activity, subcellular localization, and stability of target proteins. Physiologically, acute O-GlcNAcylation serves primarily to modulate cellular signaling and transcription regulatory pathways in response to nutrients and stress. To date, thousands of proteins have been revealed to be O-GlcNAcylated and this number continues to grow as the technology for the detection of O-GlcNAc improves. The attachment of a single O-GlcNAc is catalyzed by the enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), and their removal is catalyzed by O-GlcNAcase (OGA). O-GlcNAcylation is regulated by the metabolism of glucose via the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway, and the metabolic abnormalities associated with pathophysiological conditions are all associated with increased flux through this pathway and elevate O-GlcNAc levels. While chronic O-GlcNAcylation is well associated with cardiovascular dysfunction, only until recently, and with genetically modified animals, has O-GlcNAcylation as a contributing mechanism of cardiovascular disease emerged. This review will address and critically evaluate the current literature on the role of O-GlcNAcylation in vascular physiology, with a view that this pathway can offer novel targets for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago J Costa
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia, SC, U.S.A
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia, SC, U.S.A
- Biomedical Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, U.S.A
| | - Emily W Wilson
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia, SC, U.S.A
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia, SC, U.S.A
| | - Milene T Fontes
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia, SC, U.S.A
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia, SC, U.S.A
- Biomedical Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, U.S.A
| | - Laena Pernomian
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia, SC, U.S.A
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia, SC, U.S.A
- Biomedical Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, U.S.A
| | - Rita C Tostes
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Camilla F Wenceslau
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia, SC, U.S.A
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia, SC, U.S.A
- Biomedical Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, U.S.A
| | - Cameron G McCarthy
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia, SC, U.S.A
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia, SC, U.S.A
- Biomedical Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, U.S.A
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Huynh DT, Tsolova KN, Watson AJ, Khal SK, Green JR, Li D, Hu J, Soderblom EJ, Chi JT, Evans CS, Boyce M. O-GlcNAcylation regulates neurofilament-light assembly and function and is perturbed by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease mutations. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6558. [PMID: 37848414 PMCID: PMC10582078 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42227-0] [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: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurofilament (NF) cytoskeleton is critical for neuronal morphology and function. In particular, the neurofilament-light (NF-L) subunit is required for NF assembly in vivo and is mutated in subtypes of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. NFs are highly dynamic, and the regulation of NF assembly state is incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate that human NF-L is modified in a nutrient-sensitive manner by O-linked-β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc), a ubiquitous form of intracellular glycosylation. We identify five NF-L O-GlcNAc sites and show that they regulate NF assembly state. NF-L engages in O-GlcNAc-mediated protein-protein interactions with itself and with the NF component α-internexin, implying that O-GlcNAc may be a general regulator of NF architecture. We further show that NF-L O-GlcNAcylation is required for normal organelle trafficking in primary neurons. Finally, several CMT-causative NF-L mutants exhibit perturbed O-GlcNAc levels and resist the effects of O-GlcNAcylation on NF assembly state, suggesting a potential link between dysregulated O-GlcNAcylation and pathological NF aggregation. Our results demonstrate that site-specific glycosylation regulates NF-L assembly and function, and aberrant NF O-GlcNAcylation may contribute to CMT and other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc T Huynh
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Kalina N Tsolova
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Abigail J Watson
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Sai Kwan Khal
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Jordan R Green
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Di Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Jimin Hu
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Erik J Soderblom
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Jen-Tsan Chi
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Chantell S Evans
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Michael Boyce
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
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7
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Cook BE, Nag S, Arakawa R, Lin EYS, Stratman N, Guckian K, Hering H, Lulla M, Choi J, Salinas C, Genung NE, Morén AF, Bolin M, Boscutti G, Plisson C, Martarello L, Halldin C, Kaliszczak MA. Development of a PET Tracer for OGA with Improved Kinetics in the Living Brain. J Nucl Med 2023; 64:1588-1593. [PMID: 37934021 PMCID: PMC10586483 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.122.265225] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
O-GlcNAcylation is thought to play a role in the development of tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease because of its ability to modulate tau's aggregation propensity. O-GlcNAcylation is regulated by 2 enzymes: O-GlcNAc transferase and O-GlcNAcase (OGA). Development of a PET tracer would therefore be an essential tool for developing therapeutic small-molecule inhibitors of OGA, enabling clinical testing of target engagement and dose selection. Methods: A collection of small-molecule compounds was screened for inhibitory activity and high-affinity binding to OGA, as well as favorable PET tracer attributes (multidrug resistance protein 1 efflux, central nervous system PET multiparameter optimization, etc.). Two lead compounds with high affinity and selectivity for OGA were selected for further profiling, including OGA binding to tissue homogenate using a radioligand competition binding assay. In vivo pharmacokinetics were established using a microdosing approach with unlabeled compounds in rats. In vivo imaging studies were performed in rodents and nonhuman primates (NHPs) with 11C-labeled compounds. Results: Two selected candidates, BIO-735 and BIO-578, displayed promising attributes in vitro. After radiolabeling with tritium, [3H]BIO-735 and [3H]BIO-578 binding in rodent brain homogenates demonstrated dissociation constants of 0.6 and 2.3 nM, respectively. Binding was inhibited, concentration-dependently, by homologous compounds and thiamet G, a well-characterized and structurally diverse OGA inhibitor. Imaging studies in rats and NHPs showed both tracers had high uptake in the brain and inhibition of binding to OGA in the presence of a nonradioactive compound. However, only BIO-578 demonstrated reversible binding kinetics within the time frame of a PET study with a 11C-labeled molecule to enable quantification using kinetic modeling. Specificity of tracer uptake was confirmed with a 10 mg/kg blocking dose of thiamet G. Conclusion: We describe the development and testing of 2 11C PET tracers targeting the protein OGA. The lead compound BIO-578 demonstrated high affinity and selectivity for OGA in rodent and human postmortem brain tissue, leading to its further testing in NHPs. NHP PET imaging studies showed that the tracer had excellent brain kinetics, with full inhibition of specific binding by thiamet G. These results suggest that the tracer [11C]BIO-578 is well suited for further characterization in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sangram Nag
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden; and
| | - Ryosuke Arakawa
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden; and
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Anton Forsberg Morén
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden; and
| | - Martin Bolin
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden; and
| | | | | | | | - Christer Halldin
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden; and
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8
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Huynh DT, Hu J, Schneider JR, Tsolova KN, Soderblom EJ, Watson AJ, Chi JT, Evans CS, Boyce M. O-GlcNAcylation regulates neurofilament-light assembly and function and is perturbed by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease mutations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.22.529563. [PMID: 36865196 PMCID: PMC9980138 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.22.529563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The neurofilament (NF) cytoskeleton is critical for neuronal morphology and function. In particular, the neurofilament-light (NF-L) subunit is required for NF assembly in vivo and is mutated in subtypes of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. NFs are highly dynamic, and the regulation of NF assembly state is incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate that human NF-L is modified in a nutrient-sensitive manner by O-linked-β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc), a ubiquitous form of intracellular glycosylation. We identify five NF-L O-GlcNAc sites and show that they regulate NF assembly state. Interestingly, NF-L engages in O-GlcNAc-mediated protein-protein interactions with itself and with the NF component α-internexin, implying that O-GlcNAc is a general regulator of NF architecture. We further show that NF-L O-GlcNAcylation is required for normal organelle trafficking in primary neurons, underlining its functional significance. Finally, several CMT-causative NF-L mutants exhibit perturbed O-GlcNAc levels and resist the effects of O-GlcNAcylation on NF assembly state, indicating a potential link between dysregulated O-GlcNAcylation and pathological NF aggregation. Our results demonstrate that site-specific glycosylation regulates NF-L assembly and function, and aberrant NF O-GlcNAcylation may contribute to CMT and other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc T. Huynh
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jimin Hu
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jordan R. Schneider
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kalina N. Tsolova
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Erik J. Soderblom
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Abigail J. Watson
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jen-Tsan Chi
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Chantell S. Evans
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Michael Boyce
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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9
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Barchi JJ, Strain CN. The effect of a methyl group on structure and function: Serine vs. threonine glycosylation and phosphorylation. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1117850. [PMID: 36845552 PMCID: PMC9950641 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1117850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A variety of glycan structures cover the surface of all cells and are involved in myriad biological processes, including but not limited to, cell adhesion and communication, protein quality control, signal transduction and metabolism, while also being intimately involved in innate and adaptive immune functions. Immune surveillance and responses to foreign carbohydrate antigens, such as capsular polysaccharides on bacteria and surface protein glycosylation of viruses, are the basis of microbial clearance, and most antimicrobial vaccines target these structures. In addition, aberrant glycans on tumors called Tumor-Associated Carbohydrate Antigens (TACAs) elicit immune responses to cancer, and TACAs have been used in the design of many antitumor vaccine constructs. A majority of mammalian TACAs are derived from what are referred to as mucin-type O-linked glycans on cell-surface proteins and are linked to the protein backbone through the hydroxyl group of either serine or threonine residues. A small group of structural studies that have compared mono- and oligosaccharides attached to each of these residues have shown that there are distinct differences in conformational preferences assumed by glycans attached to either "unmethylated" serine or ß-methylated threonine. This suggests that the linkage point of antigenic glycans will affect their presentation to the immune system as well as to various carbohydrate binding molecules (e.g., lectins). This short review, followed by our hypothesis, will examine this possibility and extend the concept to the presentation of glycans on surfaces and in assay systems where recognition of glycans by proteins and other binding partners can be defined by different attachment points that allow for a range of conformational presentations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caitlin N. Strain
- Center for Cancer Research, Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD, United States
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10
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Abstract
O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a ubiquitous post-translational modification in mammals, decorating thousands of intracellular proteins. O-GlcNAc cycling is an essential regulator of myriad aspects of cell physiology and is dysregulated in numerous human diseases. Notably, O-GlcNAcylation is abundant in the brain and numerous studies have linked aberrant O-GlcNAc signaling to various neurological conditions. However, the complexity of the nervous system and the dynamic nature of protein O-GlcNAcylation have presented challenges for studying of neuronal O-GlcNAcylation. In this context, chemical approaches have been a particularly valuable complement to conventional cellular, biochemical, and genetic methods to understand O-GlcNAc signaling and to develop future therapeutics. Here we review selected recent examples of how chemical tools have empowered efforts to understand and rationally manipulate O-GlcNAcylation in mammalian neurobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc Tan Huynh
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Michael Boyce
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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11
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Hart G, Huang CW, Rust N, Wu HF. Altered O-GlcNAcylation and mitochondrial dysfunction, a molecular link between brain glucose dysregulation and sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:779-783. [DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.354515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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12
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Tseng CS, Chao YW, Liu YH, Huang YS, Chao HW. Dysregulated proteostasis network in neuronal diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1075215. [PMID: 36910151 PMCID: PMC9998692 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1075215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-term maintenance of synaptic connections is important for brain function, which depends on varying proteostatic regulations to govern the functional integrity of neuronal proteomes. Proteostasis supports an interconnection of pathways that regulates the fate of proteins from synthesis to degradation. Defects in proteostatic signaling are associated with age-related functional decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies have advanced our knowledge of how cells have evolved distinct mechanisms to safely control protein homeostasis during synthesis, folding and degradation, and in different subcellular organelles and compartments. Neurodegeneration occurs when these protein quality controls are compromised by accumulated pathogenic proteins or aging to an irreversible state. Consequently, several therapeutic strategies, such as targeting the unfolded protein response and autophagy pathways, have been developed to reduce the burden of misfolded proteins and proved useful in animal models. Here, we present a brief overview of the molecular mechanisms involved in maintaining proteostatic networks, along with some examples linking dysregulated proteostasis to neuronal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-San Tseng
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wen Chao
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsiang Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Shuian Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsu-Wen Chao
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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13
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Fahie KMM, Papanicolaou KN, Zachara NE. Integration of O-GlcNAc into Stress Response Pathways. Cells 2022; 11:3509. [PMID: 36359905 PMCID: PMC9654274 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The modification of nuclear, mitochondrial, and cytosolic proteins by O-linked βN-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) has emerged as a dynamic and essential post-translational modification of mammalian proteins. O-GlcNAc is cycled on and off over 5000 proteins in response to diverse stimuli impacting protein function and, in turn, epigenetics and transcription, translation and proteostasis, metabolism, cell structure, and signal transduction. Environmental and physiological injury lead to complex changes in O-GlcNAcylation that impact cell and tissue survival in models of heat shock, osmotic stress, oxidative stress, and hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, as well as ischemic reperfusion injury. Numerous mechanisms that appear to underpin O-GlcNAc-mediated survival include changes in chaperone levels, impacts on the unfolded protein response and integrated stress response, improvements in mitochondrial function, and reduced protein aggregation. Here, we discuss the points at which O-GlcNAc is integrated into the cellular stress response, focusing on the roles it plays in the cardiovascular system and in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamau M. M. Fahie
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kyriakos N. Papanicolaou
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Natasha E. Zachara
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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14
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Dupas T, Betus C, Blangy-Letheule A, Pelé T, Persello A, Denis M, Lauzier B. An overview of tools to decipher O-GlcNAcylation from historical approaches to new insights. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2022; 151:106289. [PMID: 36031106 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2022.106289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification which affects approximately 5000 human proteins. Its involvement has been shown in many if not all biological processes. Variations in O-GlcNAcylation levels can be associated with the development of diseases. Deciphering the role of O-GlcNAcylation is an important issue to (i) understand its involvement in pathophysiological development and (ii) develop new therapeutic strategies to modulate O-GlcNAc levels. Over the past 30 years, despite the development of several approaches, knowledge of its role and regulation have remained limited. This review proposes an overview of the currently available tools to study O-GlcNAcylation and identify O-GlcNAcylated proteins. Briefly, we discuss pharmacological modulators, methods to study O-GlcNAcylation levels and approaches for O-GlcNAcylomic profiling. This review aims to contribute to a better understanding of the methods used to study O-GlcNAcylation and to promote efforts in the development of new strategies to explore this promising modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dupas
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, F-44000 Nantes, France.
| | - Charlotte Betus
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, F-44000 Nantes, France; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
| | | | - Thomas Pelé
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Antoine Persello
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Manon Denis
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, F-44000 Nantes, France; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Benjamin Lauzier
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, F-44000 Nantes, France
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15
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Wang N, Yu M, Fu Y, Ma Z. Blocking ATM Attenuates SKOV3 Cell Proliferation and Migration by Disturbing OGT/OGA Expression via hsa-miR-542-5p. Front Oncol 2022; 12:839508. [PMID: 35795059 PMCID: PMC9251376 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.839508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blocking ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), a crucial player in DNA repair responses, has been proposed as a promising strategy in anti-cancer therapy. Most previous studies have focused on DNA damage response-related pathways after administration of ATM inhibitors. However, ATM inhibition could potentially influence a wide range of changes in gene expression, which remain poorly defined. Here, we report that administration of the ATM inhibitor KU60019 led to impaired migration and enhanced apoptosis in the ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3, accompanied by abnormally elevated O-GlcNAc transferase and O-GlcNAcase expression levels. In addition, KU60019 treatment significantly suppressed expression of hsa-miR-542-5p in SKOV3 cells. Up-regulation of hsa-miR-542-5p expression inhibited increases in OGT and OGA level, and reversed the effects of ATM inhibition on apoptosis and migration in SKOV3 cells. Finally, we found aberrant expression of OGT and OGA to be associated with ovarian cancer patient survival. Taken together, our results suggest that ATM inhibition may promote SKOV3 cell apoptosis via suppressing hsa-miR-542-5p and elevating OGT and OGA expression, providing new insights into the application of ATM inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Wang
- Central Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Department of Gynaecology II, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Miaomiao Yu
- Central Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yan Fu
- Department of Gynaecology I, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Zhanchuan Ma, ; Yan Fu,
| | - Zhanchuan Ma
- Central Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Zhanchuan Ma, ; Yan Fu,
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16
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Morsby JJ, Smith BD. Advances in Optical Sensors of N-Acetyl-β-d-hexosaminidase ( N-Acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase). Bioconjug Chem 2022; 33:544-554. [PMID: 35302753 PMCID: PMC9870670 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
N-Acetyl-β-d-hexosaminidases (EC 3.2.1.52) are exo-acting glycosyl hydrolases that remove N-acetyl-β-d-glucosamine (Glc-NAc) or N-acetyl-β-d-galactosamine (Gal-NAc) from the nonreducing ends of various biomolecules including oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, and glycolipids. The same enzymes are sometimes called N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidases, and this review article employs the shorthand descriptor HEX(NAG) to indicate that the terms HEX or NAG are used interchangeably in the literature. The wide distribution of HEX(NAG) throughout the biosphere and its intracellular location in lysosomes combine to make it an important enzyme in food science, agriculture, cell biology, medical diagnostics, and chemotherapy. For more than 50 years, researchers have employed chromogenic derivatives of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminide in basic assays for biomedical research and clinical chemistry. Recent conceptual and synthetic innovations in molecular fluorescence sensors, along with concurrent technical improvements in instrumentation, have produced a growing number of new fluorescent imaging and diagnostics methods. A systematic summary of the recent advances in optical sensors for HEX(NAG) is provided under the following headings: assessing kidney health, detection and treatment of infectious disease, fluorescence imaging of cancer, treatment of lysosomal disorders, and reactive probes for chemical biology. The article concludes with some comments on likely future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bradley D. Smith
- Corresponding Author: Bradley D. Smith - Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
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17
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Permanne B, Sand A, Ousson S, Nény M, Hantson J, Schubert R, Wiessner C, Quattropani A, Beher D. O-GlcNAcase Inhibitor ASN90 is a Multimodal Drug Candidate for Tau and α-Synuclein Proteinopathies. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1296-1314. [PMID: 35357812 PMCID: PMC9026285 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative proteinopathies are characterized by the intracellular formation of insoluble and toxic protein aggregates in the brain that are closely linked to disease progression. In Alzheimer's disease and in rare tauopathies, aggregation of the microtubule-associated tau protein leads to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). In Parkinson's disease (PD) and other α-synucleinopathies, intracellular Lewy bodies containing aggregates of α-synuclein constitute the pathological hallmark. Inhibition of the glycoside hydrolase O-GlcNAcase (OGA) prevents the removal of O-linked N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) moieties from intracellular proteins and has emerged as an attractive therapeutic approach to prevent the formation of tau pathology. Like tau, α-synuclein is known to be modified with O-GlcNAc moieties and in vitro these have been shown to prevent its aggregation and toxicity. Here, we report the preclinical discovery and development of a novel small molecule OGA inhibitor, ASN90. Consistent with the substantial exposure of the drug and demonstrating target engagement in the brain, the clinical OGA inhibitor ASN90 promoted the O-GlcNAcylation of tau and α-synuclein in brains of transgenic mice after daily oral dosing. Across human tauopathy mouse models, oral administration of ASN90 prevented the development of tau pathology (NFT formation), functional deficits in motor behavior and breathing, and increased survival. In addition, ASN90 slowed the progression of motor impairment and reduced astrogliosis in a frequently utilized α-synuclein-dependent preclinical rodent model of PD. These findings provide a strong rationale for the development of OGA inhibitors as disease-modifying agents in both tauopathies and α-synucleinopathies. Since tau and α-synuclein pathologies frequently co-exist in neurodegenerative diseases, OGA inhibitors represent unique, multimodal drug candidates for further clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Permanne
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Astrid Sand
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Solenne Ousson
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maud Nény
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Hantson
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ryan Schubert
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Wiessner
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anna Quattropani
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dirk Beher
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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18
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Zhang Y, Wu KM, Yang L, Dong Q, Yu JT. Tauopathies: new perspectives and challenges. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:28. [PMID: 35392986 PMCID: PMC8991707 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00533-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by neuronal and/or glial tau-positive inclusions. MAIN BODY Clinically, tauopathies can present with a range of phenotypes that include cognitive/behavioral-disorders, movement disorders, language disorders and non-specific amnestic symptoms in advanced age. Pathologically, tauopathies can be classified based on the predominant tau isoforms that are present in the inclusion bodies (i.e., 3R, 4R or equal 3R:4R ratio). Imaging, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood-based tau biomarkers have the potential to be used as a routine diagnostic strategy and in the evaluation of patients with tauopathies. As tauopathies are strongly linked neuropathologically and genetically to tau protein abnormalities, there is a growing interest in pursuing of tau-directed therapeutics for the disorders. Here we synthesize emerging lessons on tauopathies from clinical, pathological, genetic, and experimental studies toward a unified concept of these disorders that may accelerate the therapeutics. CONCLUSIONS Since tauopathies are still untreatable diseases, efforts have been made to depict clinical and pathological characteristics, identify biomarkers, elucidate underlying pathogenesis to achieve early diagnosis and develop disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 12th Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai, 200040 China
| | - Kai-Min Wu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 12th Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai, 200040 China
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 12th Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai, 200040 China
| | - Qiang Dong
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 12th Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai, 200040 China
| | - Jin-Tai Yu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 12th Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai, 200040 China
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19
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Austad SN, Ballinger S, Buford TW, Carter CS, Smith DL, Darley-Usmar V, Zhang J. Targeting whole body metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics in the drug development for Alzheimer's disease. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:511-531. [PMID: 35256932 PMCID: PMC8897048 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is by far the most prominent risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and both aging and AD are associated with apparent metabolic alterations. As developing effective therapeutic interventions to treat AD is clearly in urgent need, the impact of modulating whole-body and intracellular metabolism in preclinical models and in human patients, on disease pathogenesis, have been explored. There is also an increasing awareness of differential risk and potential targeting strategies related to biological sex, microbiome, and circadian regulation. As a major part of intracellular metabolism, mitochondrial bioenergetics, mitochondrial quality-control mechanisms, and mitochondria-linked inflammatory responses have been considered for AD therapeutic interventions. This review summarizes and highlights these efforts.
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Key Words
- ACE2, angiotensin I converting enzyme (peptidyl-dipeptidase A) 2
- AD, Alzheimer's disease
- ADP, adenosine diphosphate
- ADRD, AD-related dementias
- Aβ, amyloid β
- CSF, cerebrospinal fluid
- Circadian regulation
- DAMPs
- DAMPs, damage-associated molecular patterns
- Diabetes
- ER, estrogen receptor
- ETC, electron transport chain
- FCCP, trifluoromethoxy carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazone
- FPR-1, formyl peptide receptor 1
- GIP, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide
- GLP-1, glucagon-like peptide-1
- HBP, hexoamine biosynthesis pathway
- HTRA, high temperature requirement A
- Hexokinase biosynthesis pathway
- I3A, indole-3-carboxaldehyde
- IRF-3, interferon regulatory factor 3
- LC3, microtubule associated protein light chain 3
- LPS, lipopolysaccharide
- LRR, leucine-rich repeat
- MAVS, mitochondrial anti-viral signaling
- MCI, mild cognitive impairment
- MRI, magnetic resonance imaging
- MRS, magnetic resonance spectroscopy
- Mdivi-1, mitochondrial division inhibitor 1
- Microbiome
- Mitochondrial DNA
- Mitochondrial electron transport chain
- Mitochondrial quality control
- NLRP3, leucine-rich repeat (LRR)-containing protein (NLR)-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3
- NOD, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain
- NeuN, neuronal nuclear protein
- PET, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography
- PKA, protein kinase A
- POLβ, the base-excision repair enzyme DNA polymerase β
- ROS, reactive oxygen species
- Reactive species
- SAMP8, senescence-accelerated mice
- SCFAs, short-chain fatty acids
- SIRT3, NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-3
- STING, stimulator of interferon genes
- STZ, streptozotocin
- SkQ1, plastoquinonyldecyltriphenylphosphonium
- T2D, type 2 diabetes
- TCA, Tricarboxylic acid
- TLR9, toll-like receptor 9
- TMAO, trimethylamine N-oxide
- TP, tricyclic pyrone
- TRF, time-restricted feeding
- cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate
- cGAS, cyclic GMP/AMP synthase
- hAPP, human amyloid precursor protein
- hPREP, human presequence protease
- i.p., intraperitoneal
- mTOR, mechanistic target of rapamycin
- mtDNA, mitochondrial DNA
- αkG, alpha-ketoglutarate
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven N. Austad
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Scott Ballinger
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Thomas W. Buford
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Christy S. Carter
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Daniel L. Smith
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Victor Darley-Usmar
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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20
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Ni R. Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Tauopathy Animal Models. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:791679. [PMID: 35145392 PMCID: PMC8821905 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.791679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein tau plays an important role in tauopathic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and primary tauopathies such as progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration. Tauopathy animal models, such as transgenic, knock-in mouse and rat models, recapitulating tauopathy have facilitated the understanding of disease mechanisms. Aberrant accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau contributes to synaptic deficits, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration, leading to cognitive impairment in animal models. Recent advances in molecular imaging using positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have provided valuable insights into the time course of disease pathophysiology in tauopathy animal models. High-field MRI has been applied for in vivo imaging in animal models of tauopathy, including diffusion tensor imaging for white matter integrity, arterial spin labeling for cerebral blood flow, resting-state functional MRI for functional connectivity, volumetric MRI for neurodegeneration, and MR spectroscopy. In addition, MR contrast agents for non-invasive imaging of tau have been developed recently. Many preclinical MRI indicators offer excellent translational value and provide a blueprint for clinical MRI in the brains of patients with tauopathies. In this review, we summarized the recent advances in using MRI to visualize the pathophysiology of tauopathy in small animals. We discussed the outstanding challenges in brain imaging using MRI in small animals and propose a future outlook for visualizing tau-related alterations in the brains of animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Ruiqing Ni,
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21
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González-Cuesta M, Sidhu P, Ashmus RA, Males A, Proceviat C, Madden Z, Rogalski JC, Busmann JA, Foster LJ, García Fernández JM, Davies GJ, Ortiz Mellet C, Vocadlo DJ. Bicyclic Picomolar OGA Inhibitors Enable Chemoproteomic Mapping of Its Endogenous Post-translational Modifications. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:832-844. [PMID: 34985906 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c10504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Owing to its roles in human health and disease, the modification of nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial proteins with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine residues (O-GlcNAc) has emerged as a topic of great interest. Despite the presence of O-GlcNAc on hundreds of proteins within cells, only two enzymes regulate this modification. One of these enzymes is O-GlcNAcase (OGA), a dimeric glycoside hydrolase that has a deep active site cleft in which diverse substrates are accommodated. Chemical tools to control OGA are emerging as essential resources for helping to decode the biochemical and cellular functions of the O-GlcNAc pathway. Here we describe rationally designed bicyclic thiazolidine inhibitors that exhibit superb selectivity and picomolar inhibition of human OGA. Structures of these inhibitors in complex with human OGA reveal the basis for their exceptional potency and show that they extend out of the enzyme active site cleft. Leveraging this structure, we create a high affinity chemoproteomic probe that enables simple one-step purification of endogenous OGA from brain and targeted proteomic mapping of its post-translational modifications. These data uncover a range of new modifications, including some that are less-known, such as O-ubiquitination and N-formylation. We expect that these inhibitors and chemoproteomics probes will prove useful as fundamental tools to decipher the mechanisms by which OGA is regulated and directed to its diverse cellular substrates. Moreover, the inhibitors and structures described here lay out a blueprint that will enable the creation of chemical probes and tools to interrogate OGA and other carbohydrate active enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel González-Cuesta
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Peter Sidhu
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Roger A Ashmus
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Alexandra Males
- Department of Chemistry. University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Cameron Proceviat
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Zarina Madden
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Jason C Rogalski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jil A Busmann
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Leonard J Foster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - José M García Fernández
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas (IIQ), CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Gideon J Davies
- Department of Chemistry. University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Carmen Ortiz Mellet
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - David J Vocadlo
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
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22
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Cao L, Kong Y, Ji B, Ren Y, Guan Y, Ni R. Positron Emission Tomography in Animal Models of Tauopathies. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:761913. [PMID: 35082657 PMCID: PMC8784812 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.761913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease and primary tauopathy diseases. The abnormal accumulation of tau contributes to the development of neurotoxicity, inflammation, neurodegeneration, and cognitive deficits in tauopathy diseases. Tau synergically interacts with amyloid-beta in Alzheimer's disease leading to detrimental consequence. Thus, tau has been an important target for therapeutics development for Alzheimer's disease and primary tauopathy diseases. Tauopathy animal models recapitulating the tauopathy such as transgenic, knock-in mouse and rat models have been developed and greatly facilitated the understanding of disease mechanisms. The advance in PET and imaging tracers have enabled non-invasive detection of the accumulation and spread of tau, the associated microglia activation, metabolic, and neurotransmitter receptor alterations in disease animal models. In vivo microPET studies on mouse or rat models of tauopathy have provided significant insights into the phenotypes and time course of pathophysiology of these models and allowed the monitoring of treatment targeting at tau. In this study, we discuss the utilities of PET and recently developed tracers for evaluating the pathophysiology in tauopathy animal models. We point out the outstanding challenges and propose future outlook in visualizing tau-related pathophysiological changes in brain of tauopathy disease animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Cao
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Changes Technology Corporation Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Yanyan Kong
- PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Ji
- Department of Radiopharmacy and Molecular Imaging, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yutong Ren
- Guangdong Robotics Association, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yihui Guan
- PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Golde TE. Disease-Modifying Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease: More Questions than Answers. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:209-227. [PMID: 35229269 PMCID: PMC8885119 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01201-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Scientific advances over the last four decades have steadily infused the Alzheimer's disease (AD) field with great optimism that therapies targeting Aβ, amyloid, tau, and innate immune activation states in the brain would provide disease modification. Unfortunately, this optimistic scenario has not yet played out. Though a recent approval of the anti-Aβ aggregate binding antibody, Aduhelm (aducanumab), as a "disease-modifying therapy for AD" is viewed by some as a breakthrough, many remain unconvinced by the data underlying this approval. Collectively, we have not succeeded in changing AD from a largely untreatable, inevitable, and incurable disease to a treatable, preventable, and curable one. Here, I will review the major foci of the AD "disease-modifying" therapeutic pipeline and some of the "open questions" that remain in terms of these therapeutic approaches. I will conclude the review by discussing how we, as a field, might adjust our approach, learning from our past failures to ensure future success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd E Golde
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Limorenko G, Lashuel HA. Revisiting the grammar of Tau aggregation and pathology formation: how new insights from brain pathology are shaping how we study and target Tauopathies. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 51:513-565. [PMID: 34889934 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00127b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Converging evidence continues to point towards Tau aggregation and pathology formation as central events in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and other Tauopathies. Despite significant advances in understanding the morphological and structural properties of Tau fibrils, many fundamental questions remain about what causes Tau to aggregate in the first place. The exact roles of cofactors, Tau post-translational modifications, and Tau interactome in regulating Tau aggregation, pathology formation, and toxicity remain unknown. Recent studies have put the spotlight on the wide gap between the complexity of Tau structures, aggregation, and pathology formation in the brain and the simplicity of experimental approaches used for modeling these processes in research laboratories. Embracing and deconstructing this complexity is an essential first step to understanding the role of Tau in health and disease. To help deconstruct this complexity and understand its implication for the development of effective Tau targeting diagnostics and therapies, we firstly review how our understanding of Tau aggregation and pathology formation has evolved over the past few decades. Secondly, we present an analysis of new findings and insights from recent studies illustrating the biochemical, structural, and functional heterogeneity of Tau aggregates. Thirdly, we discuss the importance of adopting new experimental approaches that embrace the complexity of Tau aggregation and pathology as an important first step towards developing mechanism- and structure-based therapies that account for the pathological and clinical heterogeneity of Alzheimer's disease and Tauopathies. We believe that this is essential to develop effective diagnostics and therapies to treat these devastating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Limorenko
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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25
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Spaner DE. O-GlcNAcylation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Other Blood Cancers. Front Immunol 2021; 12:772304. [PMID: 34868034 PMCID: PMC8639227 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.772304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, aberrant O-GlcNAcylation has emerged as a new hallmark of cancer. O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification that results when the amino-sugar β-D-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) is made in the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) and covalently attached to serine and threonine residues in intracellular proteins by the glycosyltransferase O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). O-GlcNAc moieties reflect the metabolic state of a cell and are removed by O-GlcNAcase (OGA). O-GlcNAcylation affects signaling pathways and protein expression by cross-talk with kinases and proteasomes and changes gene expression by altering protein interactions, localization, and complex formation. The HBP and O-GlcNAcylation are also recognized to mediate survival of cells in harsh conditions. Consequently, O-GlcNAcylation can affect many of the cellular processes that are relevant for cancer and is generally thought to promote tumor growth, disease progression, and immune escape. However, recent studies suggest a more nuanced view with O-GlcNAcylation acting as a tumor promoter or suppressor depending on the stage of disease or the genetic abnormalities, proliferative status, and state of the p53 axis in the cancer cell. Clinically relevant HBP and OGA inhibitors are already available and OGT inhibitors are in development to modulate O-GlcNAcylation as a potentially novel cancer treatment. Here recent studies that implicate O-GlcNAcylation in oncogenic properties of blood cancers are reviewed, focusing on chronic lymphocytic leukemia and effects on signal transduction and stress resistance in the cancer microenvironment. Therapeutic strategies for targeting the HBP and O-GlcNAcylation are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Spaner
- Biology Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Oncology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Center, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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26
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Imbimbo BP, Ippati S, Watling M, Balducci C. A critical appraisal of tau-targeting therapies for primary and secondary tauopathies. Alzheimers Dement 2021; 18:1008-1037. [PMID: 34533272 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Primary tauopathies are neurological disorders in which tau protein deposition is the predominant pathological feature. Alzheimer's disease is a secondary tauopathy with tau forming hyperphosphorylated insoluble aggregates. Tau pathology can propagate from region to region in the brain, while alterations in tau processing may impair tau physiological functions. METHODS We reviewed literature on tau biology and anti-tau drugs using PubMed, meeting abstracts, and ClnicalTrials.gov. RESULTS The past 15 years have seen >30 drugs interfering with tau aggregation, processing, and accumulation reaching the clinic. Initial results with tau aggregation inhibitors and anti-tau monoclonal antibodies have not shown clinical efficacy. DISCUSSION The reasons for these clinical failures are unclear but could be linked to the clearing of physiological forms of tau by non-specific drugs. Research is now concentrating efforts on developing reliable translational animal models and selective compounds targeting specific tau epitopes, neurotoxic tau aggregates, and post-translational tau modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno P Imbimbo
- Department of Research & Development, Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefania Ippati
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Mark Watling
- CNS & Pain Department, TranScrip Ltd, Reading, UK
| | - Claudia Balducci
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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Przewodowska D, Marzec W, Madetko N. Novel Therapies for Parkinsonian Syndromes-Recent Progress and Future Perspectives. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:720220. [PMID: 34512258 PMCID: PMC8427499 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.720220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Atypical parkinsonian syndromes are rare, fatal neurodegenerative diseases associated with abnormal protein accumulation in the brain. Examples of these syndromes include progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, and corticobasal degeneration. A common clinical feature in parkinsonism is a limited improvement with levodopa. So far, there are no disease-modifying treatments to address these conditions, and therapy is only limited to the alleviation of symptoms. Diagnosis is devastating for patients, as prognosis is extremely poor, and the disease tends to progress rapidly. Currently, potential causes and neuropathological mechanisms involved in these diseases are being widely investigated. Objectives: The goal of this review is to summarize recent advances and gather emerging disease-modifying therapies that could slow the progression of atypical parkinsonian syndromes. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched regarding novel perspectives for atypical parkinsonism treatment. The following medical subject headings were used: "atypical parkinsonian syndromes-therapy," "treatment of atypical parkinsonian syndromes," "atypical parkinsonian syndromes-clinical trial," "therapy of tauopathy," "alpha-synucleinopathy treatment," "PSP therapy/treatment," "CBD therapy/treatment," "MSA therapy/treatment," and "atypical parkinsonian syndromes-disease modifying." All search results were manually reviewed prior to inclusion in this review. Results: Neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, microglia activation, proteasomal impairment, and oxidative stress play a role in the neurodegenerative process. Ongoing studies and clinical trials target these components in order to suppress toxic protein accumulation. Various approaches such as stem cell therapy, anti-aggregation/anti-phosphorylation agent administration, or usage of active and passive immunization appear to have promising results. Conclusion: Presently, disease-modifying strategies for atypical parkinsonian syndromes are being actively explored, with encouraging preliminary results. This leads to an assumption that developing accurate, safe, and progression-halting treatment is not far off. Nevertheless, the further investigation remains necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Przewodowska
- Students' Scientific Association of the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Weronika Marzec
- Students' Scientific Association of the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Madetko
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Gao G, Li C, Fan W, Zhang M, Li X, Chen W, Li W, Liang R, Li Z, Zhu X. Brilliant glycans and glycosylation: Seq and ye shall find. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 189:279-291. [PMID: 34389387 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.08.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Proteoglycosylation is the addition of monosaccharides or glycans to the protein peptide chain. This is a common post-translational modification of proteins with a variety of biological functions. At present, more than half of all biopharmaceuticals in clinic are modified by glycosylation. Most glycoproteins are potential drug targets and biomarkers for disease diagnosis. Therefore, in-depth study of glycan structure of glycoproteins will ultimately improve the sensitivity and specificity of glycoproteins for clinical disease detection. With the deepening of research, the function and application value of glycans and glycosylation has gradually emerged. This review systematically introduces the latest research progress of glycans and glycosylation. It encompasses six cancers, four viruses, and their latest discoveries in Alzheimer's disease, allergic diseases, congenital diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, inflammation, and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanwen Gao
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Free University of Berlin, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Wenguo Fan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingtao Zhang
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Xinming Li
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Wenqing Chen
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Weiquan Li
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Runzhang Liang
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Zesong Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Tumor, Department of Urology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology for Urogenital Tumors, Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Shenzhen, China.
| | - Xiao Zhu
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Tumor, Department of Urology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology for Urogenital Tumors, Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Shenzhen, China.
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Mechanistic roles for altered O-GlcNAcylation in neurodegenerative disorders. Biochem J 2021; 478:2733-2758. [PMID: 34297044 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's remain highly prevalent and incurable disorders. A major challenge in fully understanding and combating the progression of these diseases is the complexity of the network of processes that lead to progressive neuronal dysfunction and death. An ideal therapeutic avenue is conceivably one that could address many if not all of these multiple misregulated mechanisms. Over the years, chemical intervention for the up-regulation of the endogenous posttranslational modification (PTM) O-GlcNAc has been proposed as a potential strategy to slow down the progression of neurodegeneration. Through the development and application of tools that allow dissection of the mechanistic roles of this PTM, there is now a growing body of evidence that O-GlcNAc influences a variety of important neurodegeneration-pertinent mechanisms, with an overall protective effect. As a PTM that is appended onto numerous proteins that participate in protein quality control and homeostasis, metabolism, bioenergetics, neuronal communication, inflammation, and programmed death, O-GlcNAc has demonstrated beneficence in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, and its up-regulation is now being pursued in multiple clinical studies.
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Bartolomé-Nebreda JM, Trabanco AA, Velter AI, Buijnsters P. O-GlcNAcase inhibitors as potential therapeutics for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies: analysis of the patent literature. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2021; 31:1117-1154. [PMID: 34176417 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2021.1947242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: O-GlcNAcylation is a highly abundant post-translational modification of multiple proteins, including the microtubule-binding protein tau, governed by just two enzymes' concerted action O-GlcNAc transferase OGT and the hydrolase OGA. It is an approach to reduce abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies based on the ability of O-GlcNAcylation competing with tau phosphorylation, thus minimizing aggregation. The preclinical validation confirmed OGA inhibitors' efficacy in different transgenic tau mice models. Only three other OGA inhibitors have advanced into clinical trials thus far.Areas covered: 2008-2020 patent literature on OGA inhibitors.Expert opinion: Neurodegenerative disorders and AD specifically represent an enormous challenge since no effective treatments are available. Promising preclinical data has prompted considerable interest in searching for OGA inhibitors as a potential treatment for neurodegenerative disorders. Efforts from different companies have yielded a diverse set of chemotypes. OGA is a highly ubiquitous enzyme with many client proteins, generated data confirms a promising benign profile for OGA inhibition in healthy volunteers. Additionally, OGA PET tracers' existence will be critical for proper dose selection for future PoC Phase II studies, which will proof the true potential of OGA inhibition for the treatment of AD and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Bartolomé-Nebreda
- A Division of Janssen-Cilag SA, Discovery Chemistry Department, Discovery, Product Development & Supply, Janssen Research and Development, Toledo, Spain
| | - Andrés A Trabanco
- A Division of Janssen-Cilag SA, Discovery Chemistry Department, Discovery, Product Development & Supply, Janssen Research and Development, Toledo, Spain
| | - Adriana Ingrid Velter
- A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Discovery Chemistry Department, Discovery, Product Development & Supply, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Peter Buijnsters
- A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Discovery Chemistry Department, Discovery, Product Development & Supply, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
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Wu YJ, Meanwell NA. Geminal Diheteroatomic Motifs: Some Applications of Acetals, Ketals, and Their Sulfur and Nitrogen Homologues in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design. J Med Chem 2021; 64:9786-9874. [PMID: 34213340 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Acetals and ketals and their nitrogen and sulfur homologues are often considered to be unconventional and potentially problematic scaffolding elements or pharmacophores for the design of orally bioavailable drugs. This opinion is largely a function of the perception that such motifs might be chemically unstable under the acidic conditions of the stomach and upper gastrointestinal tract. However, even simple acetals and ketals, including acyclic molecules, can be sufficiently robust under acidic conditions to be fashioned into orally bioavailable drugs, and these structural elements are embedded in many effective therapeutic agents. The chemical stability of molecules incorporating geminal diheteroatomic motifs can be modulated by physicochemical design principles that include the judicious deployment of proximal electron-withdrawing substituents and conformational restriction. In this Perspective, we exemplify geminal diheteroatomic motifs that have been utilized in the discovery of orally bioavailable drugs or drug candidates against the backdrop of understanding their potential for chemical lability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Jin Wu
- Small Molecule Drug Discovery, Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Early Development, 100 Binney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Nicholas A Meanwell
- Department of Discovery and Chemistry and Molecular Technologies, Bristol-Myers Squibb PRI, PO Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-4000, United States
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Nanomolar inhibition of human OGA by 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucono-1,5-lactone semicarbazone derivatives. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 223:113649. [PMID: 34186233 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
O-GlcNAcylation is a dynamic post-translational modification mediated by O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAc hydrolase (OGA), that adds or removes a single β-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) moiety to or from serine/threonine residues of nucleocytosolic and mitochondrial proteins, respectively. The perturbed homeostasis of O-GlcNAc cycling results in several pathological conditions. Human OGA is a promising therapeutic target in diseases where aberrantly low levels of O-GlcNAc are experienced, such as tauopathy in Alzheimer's disease. A new class of potent OGA inhibitors, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucono-1,5-lactone (thio)semicarbazones, have been identified. Eight inhibitors were designed and synthesized in five steps starting from d-glucosamine and with 15-55% overall yields. A heterologous OGA expression protocol with strain selection and isolation has been optimized that resulted in stable, active and full length human OGA (hOGA) isomorph. Thermal denaturation kinetics of hOGA revealed environmental factors affecting hOGA stability. From kinetics experiments, the synthesized compounds proved to be efficient competitive inhibitors of hOGA with Ki-s in the range of ∼30-250 nM and moderate selectivity with respect to lysosomal β-hexosaminidases. In silico studies consisting of Prime protein-ligand refinements, QM/MM optimizations and QM/MM-PBSA binding free energy calculations revealed the factors governing the observed potencies, and led to design of the most potent analogue 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucono-1,5-lactone 4-(2-naphthyl)-semicarbazone 6g (Ki = 36 nM). The protocol employed has applications in future structure based inhibitor design targeting OGA.
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Anglada‐Huguet M, Rodrigues S, Hochgräfe K, Mandelkow E, Mandelkow E. Inhibition of Tau aggregation with BSc3094 reduces Tau and decreases cognitive deficits in rTg4510 mice. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2021; 7:e12170. [PMID: 34095439 PMCID: PMC8168941 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the major hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD)is the aberrant modification and aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau . The extent of Tau pathology correlates with cognitive decline, strongly implicating Tau in the pathogenesis of the disease. Because the inhibition of Tau aggregation may be a promising therapeutic target, we tested the efficacy of BSc3094, an inhibitor of Tau aggregation, in reducing Tau pathology and ameliorating the disease symptoms in transgenic mice. METHODS Mice expressing human Tau with the P301L mutation (line rTg4510) were infused with BSc3094 into the lateral ventricle using Alzet osmotic pumps connected to a cannula that was placed on the skull of the mice, thus bypassing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) . The drug treatment lasted for 2 months, and the effect of BSc3094 on cognition and on reversing hallmarks of Tau pathology was assessed. RESULTS BSc3094 significantly reduced the levels of Tau phosphorylation and sarkosyl-insoluble Tau. In addition, the drug improved cognition in different behavioral tasks and reduced anxiety-like behavior in the transgenic mice used in the study. CONCLUSIONS Our in vivo investigations demonstrated that BSc3094 is capable of partially reducing the pathological hallmarks typically observed in Tau transgenic mice, highlighting BSc3094 as a promising compound for a future therapeutic approach for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Anglada‐Huguet
- German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesDZNEBonnGermany
- Center for Advanced European Studies and ResearchCAESARBonnGermany
| | - Sara Rodrigues
- German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesDZNEBonnGermany
- Center for Advanced European Studies and ResearchCAESARBonnGermany
| | - Katja Hochgräfe
- German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesDZNEBonnGermany
- Center for Advanced European Studies and ResearchCAESARBonnGermany
| | - Eckhard Mandelkow
- German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesDZNEBonnGermany
- Center for Advanced European Studies and ResearchCAESARBonnGermany
| | - Eva‐Maria Mandelkow
- German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesDZNEBonnGermany
- Center for Advanced European Studies and ResearchCAESARBonnGermany
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Pan D, Gu JH, Zhang J, Hu Y, Liu F, Iqbal K, Cekic N, Vocadlo DJ, Dai CL, Gong CX. Thiamme2-G, a Novel O-GlcNAcase Inhibitor, Reduces Tau Hyperphosphorylation and Rescues Cognitive Impairment in Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 81:273-286. [PMID: 33814439 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abnormal hyperphosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau plays a pivotal role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously found that O-GlcNAcylation inversely correlates to hyperphosphorylation of tau in AD brain, and downregulation of brain O-GlcNAcylation promotes tau hyperphosphorylation and AD-like neurodegeneration in mice. OBJECTIVE Herein we investigated the effect of increasing O-GlcNAcylation by using intermittent dosing with low doses of a potent novel O-GlcNAcase (OGA) inhibitor on AD-like brain changes and cognitive function in a mouse model of sporadic AD (sAD) induced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of streptozotocin (STZ). METHODS STZ was injected into the lateral ventricle of C57BL/6J mice. From the second day, Thiamme2-G (TM2G) or saline, as a vehicle control, was orally administered to the ICV-STZ mice three times per week for five weeks. A separate group of ICV-saline mice treated with saline was used as a baseline control. Behavioral tests, including open field and novel object recognition, were conducted three weeks after the first dose of the TM2G or saline. Protein O-GlcNAcylation, tau hyperphosphorylation, synaptic proteins, and neuroinflammation in the mouse brain were assessed by western blotting. RESULTS ICV-STZ caused decreased protein O-GlcNAcylation. Enhancement of O-GlcNAcylation to moderate levels by using low-dose OGA inhibitor in ICV-STZ mice prevented STZ-induced body weight loss, rescued cognitive impairments, and restored AD-like pathologies, including hyperphosphorylation of tau and abnormalities in synaptic proteins and neuroinflammation. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that moderately increasing protein O-GlcNAcylation by using low doses of OGA inhibitor may be a suitable therapeutic strategy for sAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danmin Pan
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Jin-Hua Gu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Yae Hu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Khalid Iqbal
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Nevena Cekic
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David J Vocadlo
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Chun-Ling Dai
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Cheng-Xin Gong
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
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Giunta M, Solje E, Gardoni F, Borroni B, Benussi A. Experimental Disease-Modifying Agents for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. J Exp Pharmacol 2021; 13:359-376. [PMID: 33790662 PMCID: PMC8005747 DOI: 10.2147/jep.s262352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia is a clinically, genetically and pathologically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder, enclosing a wide range of different pathological entities, associated with the accumulation of proteins such as tau and TPD-43. Characterized by a high hereditability, mutations in three main genes, MAPT, GRN and C9orf72, can drive the neurodegenerative process. The connection between different genes and proteinopathies through specific mechanisms has shed light on the pathophysiology of the disease, leading to the identification of potential pharmacological targets. New experimental strategies are emerging, in both preclinical and clinical settings, which focus on small molecules rather than gene therapy. In this review, we provide an insight into the aberrant mechanisms leading to FTLD-related proteinopathies and discuss recent therapies with the potential to ameliorate neurodegeneration and disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Giunta
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eino Solje
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Fabrizio Gardoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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36
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Mueller T, Ouyang X, Johnson MS, Qian WJ, Chatham JC, Darley-Usmar V, Zhang J. New Insights Into the Biology of Protein O-GlcNAcylation: Approaches and Observations. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2021; 1:620382. [PMID: 35822169 PMCID: PMC9261361 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2020.620382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
O-GlcNAcylation is a protein posttranslational modification that results in the addition of O-GlcNAc to Ser/Thr residues. Since its discovery in the 1980s, it has been shown to play an important role in a broad range of cellular functions by modifying nuclear, cytosolic, and mitochondrial proteins. The addition of O-GlcNAc is catalyzed by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), and its removal is catalyzed by O-GlcNAcase (OGA). Levels of protein O-GlcNAcylation change in response to nutrient availability and metabolic, oxidative, and proteotoxic stress. OGT and OGA levels, activity, and target engagement are also regulated. Together, this results in adaptive and, on occasions, detrimental responses that affect cellular function and survival, which impact a broad range of pathologies and aging. Over the past several decades, approaches and tools to aid the investigation of the regulation and consequences of protein O-GlcNAcylation have been developed and enhanced. This review is divided into two sections: 1) We will first focus on current standard and advanced technical approaches for assessing enzymatic activities of OGT and OGT, assessing the global and specific protein O-GlcNAcylation and 2) we will summarize in vivo findings of functional consequences of changing protein O-GlcNAcylation, using genetic and pharmacological approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Mueller
- Department of Pathology and Center for Free Radical Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Xiaosen Ouyang
- Department of Pathology and Center for Free Radical Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Michelle S. Johnson
- Department of Pathology and Center for Free Radical Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Wei-Jun Qian
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, United States
| | - John C. Chatham
- Department of Pathology and Center for Free Radical Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Victor Darley-Usmar
- Department of Pathology and Center for Free Radical Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Center for Free Radical Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- *Correspondence: Jianhua Zhang,
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Monitoring and modulating O-GlcNAcylation: assays and inhibitors of O-GlcNAc processing enzymes. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 68:157-165. [PMID: 33535148 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is protein modification that is emerging as a regulator of diverse aspects of cellular physiology. Aberrant O-GlcNAcylation has been linked to several diseases, spurring the creation of methods to detect and perturb the activity of the two enzymes that govern this modification - O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA). Here we summarize assays used for these two enzymes. We also detail the latest structure-guided development of inhibitors of these two enzymes and touch on selected reports that underscore the utility of inhibitors as tools for uncovering the diverse roles of O-GlcNAc in cell function. Finally, we summarize recent reports on the potential therapeutic benefits of antagonizing these enzymes and comment on outstanding challenges within the field.
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Wulff-Fuentes E, Berendt RR, Massman L, Danner L, Malard F, Vora J, Kahsay R, Olivier-Van Stichelen S. The human O-GlcNAcome database and meta-analysis. Sci Data 2021; 8:25. [PMID: 33479245 PMCID: PMC7820439 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-021-00810-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past 35 years, ~1700 articles have characterized protein O-GlcNAcylation. Found in almost all living organisms, this post-translational modification of serine and threonine residues is highly conserved and key to biological processes. With half of the primary research articles using human models, the O-GlcNAcome recently reached a milestone of 5000 human proteins identified. Herein, we provide an extensive inventory of human O-GlcNAcylated proteins, their O-GlcNAc sites, identification methods, and corresponding references ( www.oglcnac.mcw.edu ). In the absence of a comprehensive online resource for O-GlcNAcylated proteins, this list serves as the only database of O-GlcNAcylated proteins. Based on the thorough analysis of the amino acid sequence surrounding 7002 O-GlcNAc sites, we progress toward a more robust semi-consensus sequence for O-GlcNAcylation. Moreover, we offer a comprehensive meta-analysis of human O-GlcNAcylated proteins for protein domains, cellular and tissue distribution, and pathways in health and diseases, reinforcing that O-GlcNAcylation is a master regulator of cell signaling, equal to the widely studied phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rex R Berendt
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
| | - Logan Massman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
| | - Laura Danner
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
| | - Florian Malard
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
| | - Jeet Vora
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Robel Kahsay
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
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Haukedal H, Freude KK. Implications of Glycosylation in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2021; 14:625348. [PMID: 33519371 PMCID: PMC7838500 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.625348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, affecting millions of people worldwide, and no cure is currently available. The major pathological hallmarks of AD are considered to be amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, generated by respectively APP processing and Tau phosphorylation. Recent evidence imply that glycosylation of these proteins, and a number of other AD-related molecules is altered in AD, suggesting a potential implication of this process in disease pathology. In this review we summarize the understanding of glycans in AD pathogenesis, and discuss how glycobiology can contribute to early diagnosis and treatment of AD, serving as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Furthermore, we look into the potential link between the emerging topic neuroinflammation and glycosylation, combining two interesting, and until recent years, understudied topics in the scope of AD. Lastly, we discuss how new model platforms such as induced pluripotent stem cells can be exploited and contribute to a better understanding of a rather unexplored area in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristine K. Freude
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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40
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Ma J, Wu C, Hart GW. Analytical and Biochemical Perspectives of Protein O-GlcNAcylation. Chem Rev 2021; 121:1513-1581. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Ma
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington D.C. 20057, United States
| | - Ci Wu
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington D.C. 20057, United States
| | - Gerald W. Hart
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
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Hamala V, Červenková Šťastná L, Kurfiřt M, Cuřínová P, Balouch M, Hrstka R, Voňka P, Karban J. The effect of deoxyfluorination and O-acylation on the cytotoxicity of N-acetyl-D-gluco- and D-galactosamine hemiacetals. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:4497-4506. [PMID: 33949602 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob00497b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Fully acetylated deoxyfluorinated hexosamine analogues and non-fluorinated 3,4,6-tri-O-acylated N-acetyl-hexosamine hemiacetals have previously been shown to display moderate anti-proliferative activity. We prepared a set of deoxyfluorinated GlcNAc and GalNAc hemiacetals that comprised both features: O-acylation at the non-anomeric positions with an acetyl, propionyl and butanoyl group, and deoxyfluorination at selected positions. Determination of the in vitro cytotoxicity towards the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer and HEK-293 cell lines showed that deoxyfluorination enhanced cytotoxicity in most analogues. Increasing the ester alkyl chain length had a variable effect on the cytotoxicity of fluoro analogues, which contrasted with non-fluorinated hemiacetals where butanoyl derivatives had always higher cytotoxicity than acetates. Reaction with 2-phenylethanethiol indicated that the recently described S-glyco-modification is an unlikely cause of cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vojtěch Hamala
- Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, v. v. i., Rozvojová 135, 16502 Praha 6, Czech Republic. and University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 16628 Praha 6, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Červenková Šťastná
- Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, v. v. i., Rozvojová 135, 16502 Praha 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Kurfiřt
- Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, v. v. i., Rozvojová 135, 16502 Praha 6, Czech Republic. and University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 16628 Praha 6, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Cuřínová
- Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, v. v. i., Rozvojová 135, 16502 Praha 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Balouch
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technická 3, 166 28 Prague 6, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Hrstka
- Research Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, žlutý kopec 7, Brno, 65653, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Voňka
- Research Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, žlutý kopec 7, Brno, 65653, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Karban
- Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, v. v. i., Rozvojová 135, 16502 Praha 6, Czech Republic.
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Soeda Y, Takashima A. New Insights Into Drug Discovery Targeting Tau Protein. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:590896. [PMID: 33343298 PMCID: PMC7744460 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.590896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein tau is characterized by the fact that it is an intrinsically disordered protein due to its lack of a stable conformation and high flexibility. Intracellular inclusions of fibrillar forms of tau with a β-sheet structure accumulate in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. Accordingly, detachment of tau from microtubules and transition of tau from a disordered state to an abnormally aggregated state are essential events preceding the onset of tau-related diseases. Many reports have shown that this transition is caused by post-translational modifications, including hyperphosphorylation and acetylation. The misfolded tau is self-assembled and forms a tau oligomer before the appearance of tau inclusions. Animal and pathological studies using human samples have demonstrated that tau oligomer formation contributes to neuronal loss. During the progression of tauopathies, tau seeds are released from cells and incorporated into other cells, leading to the propagation of pathological tau aggregation. Accumulating evidence suggests several potential approaches for blocking tau-mediated toxicity: (1) direct inhibition of pathological tau aggregation and (2) inhibition of tau post-translational modifications that occur prior to pathological tau aggregation, (3) inhibition of tau propagation and (4) stabilization of microtubules. In addition to traditional low-molecular-weight compounds, newer drug discovery approaches such as the development of medium-molecular-weight drugs (peptide- or oligonucleotide-based drugs) and high-molecular-weight drugs (antibody-based drugs) provide alternative pathways to preventing the formation of abnormal tau. Of particular interest are recent studies suggesting that tau droplet formation by liquid-liquid phase separation may be the initial step in aberrant tau aggregation, as well results that implicate roles for tau in dendritic and nuclear functions. Here, we review the mechanisms through which drugs can target tau and consider recent clinical trials for the treatment of tauopathies. In addition, we discuss the utility of these newer strategies and propose future directions for research on tau-targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiyuki Soeda
- Laboratory for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiko Takashima
- Laboratory for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan
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