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Erustes AG, Abílio VC, Bincoletto C, Piacentini M, Pereira GJS, Smaili SS. Cannabidiol induces autophagy via CB 1 receptor and reduces α-synuclein cytosolic levels. Brain Res 2025; 1850:149414. [PMID: 39710053 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.149414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 12/02/2024] [Accepted: 12/19/2024] [Indexed: 12/24/2024]
Abstract
Numerous studies have explored the role of cannabinoids in neurological conditions, chronic pain and neurodegenerative diseases. Restoring autophagy has been proposed as a potential target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In our study, we used a neuroblastoma cell line that overexpresses wild-type α-synuclein to investigate the effects of cannabidiol on autophagy modulation and reduction in the level of cytosolic α-synuclein. Our results demonstrated that cannabidiol enhances the accumulation of LC3-II- and GFP-LC3-positive vesicles, which indicates an increase in autophagic flux. In addition, cannabidiol-treated cells showed a reduction in cytosolic α-synuclein levels. These effects were inhibited when the cells were treated with a CB1 receptor-selective antagonist, which indicates that the biological effects of cannabidiol are mediated via its interaction with CB1 receptor. Additionally, we also observed that cannabinoid compounds induce autophagy and α-synuclein degradation after they interact with the CB1 receptor. In summary, our data suggest that cannabidiol induces autophagy and reduces cytosolic α-synuclein levels. These biological effects are mediated preferentially through the interaction of cannabidiol with CB1 receptors, and therefore, cannabinoid compounds that act selectively on this receptor could represent a new approach for autophagy modulation and degradation of protein aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adolfo G Erustes
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Vanessa C Abílio
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq/CAPES/FAPESP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Claudia Bincoletto
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mauro Piacentini
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Gustavo J S Pereira
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Soraya S Smaili
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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2
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Rizzotto E, Pierangelini A, Fongaro B, Leri M, Inciardi I, Trolese P, De Filippis V, Bucciantini M, Acquasaliente L, Polverino de Laureto P. DOPAC as a modulator of α-Synuclein and E46K interactions with membrane: Insights into binding dynamics. Int J Biol Macromol 2025; 294:139427. [PMID: 39756734 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.139427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2024] [Revised: 12/18/2024] [Accepted: 12/30/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2025]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (Syn) is an intrinsically disordered protein, abundant in presynaptic neurons. It is a constituent of the Lewis Body inclusions as amyloid fibrils, in Parkinson's disease patients. It populates an ensemble of conformations and floats between the free random coil and the membrane-bound α-helical species. E46K is a pathogenic mutant of Syn able to accelerate the formation of fibrils. The lysine in position 46 affects several protein structural properties including its interaction with membranes. We have shown that 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), a dopamine metabolite, hampers Syn to form fibrils, interfering with the aggregation process and alters the interaction of the protein and its aggregates with membranes. To understand the mechanism of such alteration, we studied the interplay between Syn and E46K, lipid membranes and DOPAC. The ability of DOPAC to displace the proteins bound to membrane was also tested. Our findings provided a dynamic model of interaction able to explain the different effects of DOPAC on lipid binding properties of Syn and E46K, shedding light on the conformational changes induced by the catechol, which may destabilize the protein interactions with membranes. Understanding these mechanisms could have implications for therapeutic strategies targeting Syn aggregation and membrane interactions in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Rizzotto
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Pierangelini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Benedetta Fongaro
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Manuela Leri
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences Mario Serio, University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - Ilenia Inciardi
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Philipp Trolese
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Filippis
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Monica Bucciantini
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences Mario Serio, University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - Laura Acquasaliente
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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3
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Matveyenka M, Ali A, Mitchell CL, Sholukh M, Kurouski D. Elucidation of cytotoxicity of α-Synuclein fibrils on immune cells. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2025; 1873:141061. [PMID: 39694308 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2024.141061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2024] [Revised: 11/22/2024] [Accepted: 12/14/2024] [Indexed: 12/20/2024]
Abstract
Progressive aggregation of α-synuclein (α-Syn), a small cytosolic protein involved in cell vesicle trafficking, in the midbrain, hypothalamus, and thalamus is linked to Parkinson's disease (PD). Amyloid oligomers and fibrils formed as a result of such aggregation are highly toxic to neurons. However, it remains unclear whether amyloid-induced toxicity of neurons is the primary mechanism of the progressive neurodegeneration observed upon PD. In the current study, we investigated cytotoxicity exerted by α-Syn fibrils formed in the lipid-free environment, as well as in the presence of two phospholipids, on macrophages, dendritic cells, and microglia. We found that α-Syn fibrils are far more toxic to dendritic cells and microglia compared to neurons. We also observe low toxicity levels of such amyloids to macrophages. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results suggest that toxicity of amyloids aggregates is linked to the levels of autophagy in cells. These results suggest that a strong impairment of the immune system in the brain may be the first stop of neurodegenerative processes that are taking place upon the onset of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Matveyenka
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Charles L Mitchell
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Mikhail Sholukh
- Department of Biology, Belarussian State University, Minsk, 222000, Belarus
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, United States.
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4
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Putnam GL, Maitta RW. Alpha synuclein and inflammaging. Heliyon 2025; 11:e41981. [PMID: 39897785 PMCID: PMC11786851 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41981] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 01/09/2025] [Accepted: 01/14/2025] [Indexed: 02/04/2025] Open
Abstract
The α-synuclein protein is an established molecule in Lewy body pathology, especially Parkinson's disease (PD). While the pathological role of α-synuclein (α-syn) in PD has been well described, novel evidence may suggest that α-syn interacts with inflammasomes in response to aging. As age is an inevitable physiological state and is also considered the greatest risk factor for PD, this calls for investigation into how α-syn, aging, and PD could be linked. There is a growing amount of data regarding α-syn normal function in the body that includes involvement in cellular transport such as protein complexes assembly, vesicular trafficking, neurotransmitter release, as well as immune cell maturation. Regarding abnormal α-syn, a number of autosomal dominant mutations have been identified as causes of familial PD, however, symptomatology may not become apparent until later in life due to compensatory mechanisms in the dopaminergic response. This potentially links age-related physiological changes not only as a risk factor for PD, but for the concept of "inflammaging ". This is defined as chronic inflammation that accompanies aging observed in many neurodegenerative pathologies, that include α-syn's ability to form oligomers and toxic fibrils seen in PD. This oligomeric α-syn stimulates pro-inflammatory signals, which may worsen PD symptoms and propagate chronic inflammation. Thus, this review will explore a potential link between α-syn's role in the immune system, inflammaging, and PD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert W. Maitta
- University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
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5
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Onishi N, Mazzaferro N, Kunstelj Š, Alvarado DA, Muller AM, Vázquez FX. Molecular Dynamics Study of α-Synuclein Domain Deletion Mutant Monomers. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2024.03.23.586267. [PMID: 38586052 PMCID: PMC10996548 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.23.586267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Aggregates of misfolded α-synuclein proteins (asyn) are key markers of Parkinson's disease. Asyn proteins have three domains: an N-terminal domain, a hydrophobic NAC core implicated in aggregation, and a proline-rich C-terminal domain. Proteins with truncated C-terminal domains are known to be prone to aggregation and suggest that understanding domain-domain interactions in asyn monomers could help elucidate the role of the flanking domains in modulating protein structure. To this end, we used Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GAMD) to simulate wild-type (WT), N-terminal truncated (ΔN), C-terminal truncated (ΔC), and isolated NAC domain asyn protein variants (isoNAC). Using clustering and contact analysis, we found that removal of the N-terminal domain led to increased contacts between NAC and C-terminal domains and the formation of interdomain β-sheets. Removal of either flanking domain also resulted in increased compactness of every domain. We also found that the contacts between flanking domains in the WT protein result in an electrostatic potential (ESP) that may lead to favorable interactions with anionic lipid membranes. Removal of the C-terminal domain disrupts the ESP in a way that could result in over-stabilized protein-membrane interactions. These results suggests that cooperation between the flanking domains may modulate the protein's structure in a way that helps maintain elongation and creates an ESP that may aid favorable interactions with the membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriyo Onishi
- Department of Chemistry, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | | | - Špela Kunstelj
- Department of Chemistry, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Daisy A. Alvarado
- Department of Chemistry, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Anna M. Muller
- Department of Chemistry, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Frank X. Vázquez
- Department of Chemistry, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
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6
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Incontro S, Musella ML, Sammari M, Di Scala C, Fantini J, Debanne D. Lipids shape brain function through ion channel and receptor modulations: physiological mechanisms and clinical perspectives. Physiol Rev 2025; 105:137-207. [PMID: 38990068 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00004.2024] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Lipids represent the most abundant molecular type in the brain, with a fat content of ∼60% of the dry brain weight in humans. Despite this fact, little attention has been paid to circumscribe the dynamic role of lipids in brain function and disease. Membrane lipids such as cholesterol, phosphoinositide, sphingolipids, arachidonic acid, and endocannabinoids finely regulate both synaptic receptors and ion channels that ensure critical neural functions. After a brief introduction on brain lipids and their respective properties, we review here their role in regulating synaptic function and ion channel activity, action potential propagation, neuronal development, and functional plasticity and their contribution in the development of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. We also provide possible directions for future research on lipid function in brain plasticity and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Malika Sammari
- UNIS, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
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7
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Jujjavarapu SE, Mishra A. Unravelling the Role of Tyrosine and Tyrosine Hydroxylase in Parkinson's Disease: Exploring Nanoparticle-based Gene Therapies. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2025; 24:325-339. [PMID: 39812066 DOI: 10.2174/0118715273336139241211071748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 10/27/2024] [Accepted: 11/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2025]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from the progressive loss of neurons in the brain followed by symptoms such as slowness and rigidity in movement, sleep disorders, dementia and many more. The different mechanisms due to which the neuronal degeneration occurs have been discussed, such as mutation in PD related genes, formation of Lewy bodies, oxidation of dopamine. This review discusses current surgical treatment and gene therapies with novel developments proposed for PD. Gene therapy based on novel approaches will possess more potential advantages over the conventional methods. Currently, gene therapy for such disorders is still under the process of clinical trials and approval. The pathogenesis comes from the breakdown of dopaminergic neurons within substantia nigra (SN) by the action of tyrosinase enzyme and subsequent accumulation of α-synuclein within the neurons. These dopaminergic neurons are the main source of dopamine, the decline of which is responsible for the symptoms. So, gene therapy can possibly provide more stable supplementation and regulate the expression of tyrosinase enzyme, providing better symptomatic relief and lesser side effects. Dopamine replacement therapy is a wellstudied gene therapy method for PD. Another approach involves introducing functional genes for enzymes such as tyrosine hydroxylase, cyclohydrolases, and decarboxylases with the help of engineered vectors such as AAV and LV. Further, the potential application of nanoparticles in gene therapy as an efficient gene delivery and imaging system has been discussed. Among these, lipidbased nanoparticles such as PILs offer important benefits in terms of enhanced bioavailability, permeability to the cells, and solubility. So, this review paper summarizes some of the advanced gene therapy approaches for PD and the current status of clinical research in the development of gene therapy using nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arnav Mishra
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Raipur, 492001, India
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8
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Hattori N, Sato S. Mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024; 131:1415-1428. [PMID: 39585446 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-024-02863-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2024] [Accepted: 11/05/2024] [Indexed: 11/26/2024]
Abstract
The exact cause of nigral cell death in Parkinson's disease (PD) is still unknown. However, research on MPTP-induced experimental parkinsonism has significantly advanced our understanding. In this model, it is widely accepted that mitochondrial respiratory failure is the primary mechanism of cell death. Studies have shown that a toxic metabolite of MPTP inhibits Complex I and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activities in mitochondria. Since then, many research groups have focused on mitochondrial dysfunction in PD, identifying deficiencies in Complex I or III in PD patients' brains, skeletal muscle, and platelets. There is some debate about the decline in mitochondrial function in peripheral organs. However, since α-synuclein, the main component protein of Lewy bodies, accumulates in peripheral organs, it is reasonable to consider PD a systemic disease. Additionally, mutant mitochondrial DNA with a 4,977 base pair deletion has been found in the brains of PD patients, suggesting that age-related accumulation of deleted mtDNA is accelerated in the striatum and may contribute to the pathophysiology of PD. While the cause of PD remains unknown, mitochondrial dysfunction is undoubtedly a factor in cell death in PD. In addition, the causative gene for familial PD, parkin (now PRKN), and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), both gene products are also involved in mitochondrial quality control. Moreover, we have successfully isolated and identified CHCHD2, which is involved in the mitochondrial electron transfer system. There is no doubt that mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to cell death in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobutaka Hattori
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
- Neurodegenerative Disorders Collaborative Laboratory, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1-Hirosawa, Wako-Shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan.
| | - Shigeto Sato
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
- Center for Biomedical Research Resources, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
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9
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Song J. In the Beginning: Let Hydration Be Coded in Proteins for Manifestation and Modulation by Salts and Adenosine Triphosphate. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:12817. [PMID: 39684527 DOI: 10.3390/ijms252312817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2024] [Revised: 11/25/2024] [Accepted: 11/26/2024] [Indexed: 12/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Water exists in the beginning and hydrates all matter. Life emerged in water, requiring three essential components in compartmentalized spaces: (1) universal energy sources driving biochemical reactions and processes, (2) molecules that store, encode, and transmit information, and (3) functional players carrying out biological activities and structural organization. Phosphorus has been selected to create adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as the universal energy currency, nucleic acids for genetic information storage and transmission, and phospholipids for cellular compartmentalization. Meanwhile, proteins composed of 20 α-amino acids have evolved into extremely diverse three-dimensional forms, including folded domains, intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), and membrane-bound forms, to fulfill functional and structural roles. This review examines several unique findings: (1) insoluble proteins, including membrane proteins, can become solubilized in unsalted water, while folded cytosolic proteins can acquire membrane-inserting capacity; (2) Hofmeister salts affect protein stability by targeting hydration; (3) ATP biphasically modulates liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of IDRs; (4) ATP antagonizes crowding-induced protein destabilization; and (5) ATP and triphosphates have the highest efficiency in inducing protein folding. These findings imply the following: (1) hydration might be encoded in protein sequences, central to manifestation and modulation of protein structures, dynamics, and functionalities; (2) phosphate anions have a unique capacity in enhancing μs-ms protein dynamics, likely through ionic state exchanges in the hydration shell, underpinning ATP, polyphosphate, and nucleic acids as molecular chaperones for protein folding; and (3) ATP, by linking triphosphate with adenosine, has acquired the capacity to spacetime-specifically release energy and modulate protein hydration, thus possessing myriad energy-dependent and -independent functions. In light of the success of AlphaFolds in accurately predicting protein structures by neural networks that store information as distributed patterns across nodes, a fundamental question arises: Could cellular networks also handle information similarly but with more intricate coding, diverse topological architectures, and spacetime-specific ATP energy supply in membrane-compartmentalized aqueous environments?
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxing Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260, Singapore
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10
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Matveyenka M, Ali A, Mitchell CL, Brown HC, Kurouski D. Cholesterol Accelerates Aggregation of α-Synuclein Simultaneously Increasing the Toxicity of Amyloid Fibrils. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:4075-4081. [PMID: 39469734 PMCID: PMC11587506 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00501] [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: 08/06/2024] [Revised: 10/17/2024] [Accepted: 10/18/2024] [Indexed: 10/30/2024] Open
Abstract
A hallmark of Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, hypothalamus, and thalamus. Although the exact etiology of irreversible neuronal degeneration is unclear, a growing body of experimental evidence indicates that PD could be triggered by the abrupt aggregation of α-synuclein (α-Syn), a small membrane protein that is responsible for cell vesicle trafficking. Phospholipids uniquely alter the rate of α-Syn aggregation and, consequently, change the cytotoxicity of α-Syn oligomers and fibrils. However, the role of cholesterol in the aggregation of α-Syn remains unclear. In this study, we used Caenorhabditis elegans that overexpressed α-Syn to investigate the effect of low (15%), normal (30%), and high (60%) concentrations of cholesterol on α-Syn aggregation. We found that an increase in the concentration of cholesterol in diets substantially shortened the lifespan of C. elegans. Using biophysical methods, we also investigated the extent to which large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) with low, normal, and high concentrations of cholesterol altered the rate of α-Syn aggregation. We found that only lipid membranes with a 60% concentration of cholesterol substantially accelerated the rate of protein aggregation. Cell assays revealed that α-Syn fibrils formed in the presence of LUVs with different concentrations of cholesterol exerted very similar levels of cytotoxicity to rat dopaminergic neurons. These results suggest that changes in the concentration of cholesterol in the plasma membrane, which in turn could be caused by nutritional preferences, could accelerate the onset and progression of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Matveyenka
- Department of Biochemistry
and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Biochemistry
and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Charles L. Mitchell
- Department of Biochemistry
and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Harris C. Brown
- Department of Biochemistry
and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department of Biochemistry
and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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11
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Bhattacharya S, Xu L, Arrué L, Bartels T, Thompson D. Conformational Selection of α-Synuclein Tetramers at Biological Interfaces. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:8010-8023. [PMID: 39377660 PMCID: PMC11523075 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c01459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2024] [Revised: 09/20/2024] [Accepted: 10/01/2024] [Indexed: 10/09/2024]
Abstract
Controlling the polymorphic assemblies of α-synuclein (αS) oligomers is crucial to reroute toxic protein aggregation implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD). One potential mediator is the interaction of αS tetramers with cell membranes, which may regulate the dynamic balance between aggregation-prone disordered monomers and aggregation-resistant helical tetramers. Here, we model diverse tetramer-cell interactions and compare the structure-function relations at the supramolecular-biological interface with available experimental data. The models predict preferential interaction of compact αS tetramers with highly charged membrane surfaces, which may further stabilize this aggregation-resistant conformer. On moderately charged membranes, extended structures are preferred. In addition to surface charge, curvature influences tetramer thermodynamic stability and aggregation, with potential for selective isolation of tetramers via regio-specific interactions with strongly negatively charged micelles that screen further aggregation. Our modeling data set highlights diverse beneficial nano-bio interactions to redirect biomolecule assembly, supporting new therapeutic approaches for PD based on lipid-mediated conformational selection and inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayon Bhattacharya
- Department
of Physics, Bernal Institute, University
of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
| | - Liang Xu
- Department
of Physics, Bernal Institute, University
of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
| | - Lily Arrué
- Department
of Physics, Bernal Institute, University
of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
| | - Tim Bartels
- UK
Dementia Research Institute, University
College London, London WC1E6BT, U.K.
| | - Damien Thompson
- Department
of Physics, Bernal Institute, University
of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
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12
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Secco V, Tiago T, Staats R, Preet S, Chia S, Vendruscolo M, Carra S. HSPB6: A lipid-dependent molecular chaperone inhibits α-synuclein aggregation. iScience 2024; 27:110657. [PMID: 39280615 PMCID: PMC11402235 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110657] [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: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The process of protein misfolding and aggregation is associated with various cytotoxic effects. Understanding how this phenomenon is regulated by the protein homeostasis system, however, is difficult, since it takes place through a complex non-linear network of coupled microscopic steps, including primary nucleation, fibril elongation, and secondary nucleation, which depend on environmental factors. To address this problem, we studied how the aggregation of α-synuclein, a protein associated with Parkinson's disease, is modulated by molecular chaperones and lipid membranes. We focused on small heat shock proteins (sHSPs/HSPBs), which interact with proteins and lipids and are upregulated during aging, a major risk factor for protein misfolding diseases. HSPBs act on different microscopic steps to prevent α-synuclein aggregation, with HSPB6 showing a lipid-dependent chaperone activity. Our findings provide an example of how HSPBs diversified their mechanisms of action to reach an efficient regulation of protein misfolding and aggregation within the complex cellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Secco
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Tatiana Tiago
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Roxine Staats
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Swapan Preet
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sean Chia
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Serena Carra
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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13
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Jacomin AC, Dikic I. Membrane remodeling via ubiquitin-mediated pathways. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:1627-1635. [PMID: 39303699 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
The dynamic process of membrane shaping and remodeling plays a vital role in cellular functions, with proteins and cellular membranes interacting intricately to adapt to various cellular needs and environmental cues. Ubiquitination-a posttranslational modification-was shown to be essential in regulating membrane structure and shape. It influences virtually all pathways relying on cellular membranes, such as endocytosis and autophagy by directing protein degradation, sorting, and oligomerization. Ubiquitin is mostly known as a protein modifier; however, it was reported that ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins can associate directly with lipids, affecting membrane curvature and dynamics. In this review, we summarize some of the current knowledge on ubiquitin-mediated membrane remodeling in the context of endocytosis, autophagy, and ER-phagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Claire Jacomin
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry II, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Ivan Dikic
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry II, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt Am Main, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 15, 60438 Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
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14
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Paul S, Mondal S, Shenogina I, Cui Q. The molecular basis for the increased stability of the FUS-LC fibril at the anionic membrane- and air-water interfaces. Chem Sci 2024; 15:13788-13799. [PMID: 39211498 PMCID: PMC11352777 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc02295e] [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: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Self-organization of biomolecules can lead to the formation of liquid droplets, hydrogels, and irreversible aggregates that bear immense significance in biology and diseases. Despite the considerable number of studies conducted on biomolecular condensation in bulk solution, there is still a lack of understanding of how different surfaces regulate the condensation process. In this context, recent studies showed that, in contrast to zwitterionic lipid membranes, anionic membranes promoted the production of liquid droplets of FUsed in Sarcoma Low Complexity domain (FUS-LC) despite exhibiting no specific protein-lipid interactions. Moreover, the air-water interface led to a solid fibril-like aggregate of FUS-LC. The molecular mechanism of condensation/aggregation of proteins in response to surfaces of various charged states or levels of hydrophobicity remains to be better elucidated. Here, we provide initial insights into this question by investigating the stability of a small β fibril state of FUS-LC in bulk solution vs. membrane- and air-water interfaces. We perform multiple independent molecular dynamics simulations with distinct starting conformations for each system to demonstrate the statistical significance of our findings. Our study demonstrates the stability of the FUS-LC fibril in the presence of anionic membranes on the μs timescale while the fibril falls apart in bulk solution. We observe that a zwitterionic membrane does not enhance the stability of the fibril and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (DOPS) has a higher propensity to stabilize the fibril than dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG), in qualitative agreement with experiments. We further show that the fibril becomes more stable at the air-water interface. We pinpoint interfacial solvation at the membrane- and air-water interfaces as a key factor that contributes to the stabilization of the peptide assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjoy Paul
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University 590 Commonwealth Avenue Massachusetts-02215 USA
| | - Sayantan Mondal
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University 590 Commonwealth Avenue Massachusetts-02215 USA
| | - Irina Shenogina
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign USA
| | - Qiang Cui
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University 590 Commonwealth Avenue Massachusetts-02215 USA
- Departments of Physics, and Biomedical Engineering, Boston University Massachusetts-02215 USA
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15
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Schepers J, Löser T, Behl C. Lipids and α-Synuclein: adding further variables to the equation. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1455817. [PMID: 39188788 PMCID: PMC11345258 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1455817] [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: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of alpha-Synuclein (αSyn) has been connected to several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), that are collected under the umbrella term synucleinopathies. The membrane binding abilities of αSyn to negatively charged phospholipids have been well described and are connected to putative physiological functions of αSyn. Consequently, αSyn-related neurodegeneration has been increasingly connected to changes in lipid metabolism and membrane lipid composition. Indeed, αSyn aggregation has been shown to be triggered by the presence of membranes in vitro, and some genetic risk factors for PD and DLB are associated with genes coding for proteins directly involved in lipid metabolism. At the same time, αSyn aggregation itself can cause alterations of cellular lipid composition and brain samples of patients also show altered lipid compositions. Thus, it is likely that there is a reciprocal influence between cellular lipid composition and αSyn aggregation, which can be further affected by environmental or genetic factors and ageing. Little is known about lipid changes during physiological ageing and regional differences of the lipid composition of the aged brain. In this review, we aim to summarise our current understanding of lipid changes in connection to αSyn and discuss open questions that need to be answered to further our knowledge of αSyn related neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christian Behl
- The Autophagy Lab, Institute of Pathobiochemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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16
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Yang Y, Shi M, Liu X, Zhu Q, Xu Z, Liu G, Feng T, Stewart T, Zhang J. Calcium influx: An essential process by which α-Synuclein regulates morphology of erythrocytes. J Adv Res 2024; 62:187-198. [PMID: 37714326 PMCID: PMC11331169 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Morphological abnormalities of erythrocytes/red blood cells (RBCs), e.g., increased acanthocytes, in Parkinson's disease (PD) have been reported previously, although the underlying mechanisms remain to be characterized. In this study, the potential roles of α-synuclein (α-syn), a protein critically involved in PD and highly abundant in RBCs, were studied in PD patients as well as in a PD mouse model. METHODS Transgenic [PAC-Tg (SNCAA53T), A53T] mice overexpressing A53T mutant α-syn and SNCA knockout mice were employed to characterize the effect of α-syn on RBC morphology. In addition to A53T and SNCA knockout mice, the morphology of RBCs of PD patients was also examined using scanning electron microscopy. The potential roles of α-syn were further investigated in cultured RBCs and mice. RESULTS Morphological abnormalities of RBCs and increased accumulation of aggregated α-syn on the RBC membrane were observed in PD patients. A similar phenomenon was also observed in A53T mice. Furthermore, while mice lacking α-syn expression showed a lower proportion of acanthocytes, treating RBCs derived from SNCA knockout mice with aggregated α-syn resulted in a higher percentage of acanthocytes. In a follow-up proteomic investigation, several major classes of proteins were identified as α-syn-associated proteins on the RBC membrane, seven of which were calcium-binding proteins. Applying aggregated α-syn to the RBC membrane directly induced extracellular calcium influx along with morphological changes; both observations were adequately reversed by blocking calcium influx. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that α-syn plays a critical role in PD-associated morphological abnormalities of RBCs, at least partially via a process mediated by extracellular calcium influx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yang
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang University First Affiliated Hospital and School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310002, China; Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Min Shi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
| | - Xiaodan Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Qiaoyun Zhu
- Central Laboratory, Zhejiang University First Affiliated Hospital and School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310002, China
| | - Zhi Xu
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang University First Affiliated Hospital and School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310002, China
| | - Genliang Liu
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Tao Feng
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China.
| | - Tessandra Stewart
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang University First Affiliated Hospital and School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310002, China; National Human Brain Bank for Health and Disease, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China.
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17
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Prudinnik DS, Kussanova A, Vorobjev IA, Tikhonov A, Ataullakhanov FI, Barteneva NS. Deformability of Heterogeneous Red Blood Cells in Aging and Related Pathologies. Aging Dis 2024; 16:1242-1264. [PMID: 39012672 PMCID: PMC12096920 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging is interrelated with changes in red blood cell parameters and functionality. In this article, we focus on red blood cells (RBCs) and provide a review of the known changes associated with the characterization of RBC deformability in aging and related pathologies. The biophysical parameters complement the commonly used biochemical parameters and may contribute to a better understanding of the aging process. The power of the deformability measurement approach is well established in clinical settings. Measuring RBCs' deformability has the advantage of relative simplicity, and it reflects the complex effects developing in erythrocytes during aging. However, aging and related pathological conditions also promote heterogeneity of RBC features and have a certain impact on the variance in erythrocyte cell properties. The possible applications of deformability as an early biophysical biomarker of pathological states are discussed, and modulating PIEZO1 as a therapeutic target is suggested. The changes in RBCs' shape can serve as a proxy for deformability evaluation, leveraging single-cell analysis with imaging flow cytometry and artificial intelligence algorithms. The characterization of biophysical parameters of RBCs is in progress in humans and will provide a better understanding of the complex dynamics of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry S. Prudinnik
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.
| | - Aigul Kussanova
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.
| | - Ivan A. Vorobjev
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.
| | - Alexander Tikhonov
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.
| | - Fazly I. Ataullakhanov
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Natasha S. Barteneva
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.
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18
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Wei J, Meisl G, Dear A, Oosterhuis M, Melki R, Emanuelsson C, Linse S, Knowles TPJ. Kinetic models reveal the interplay of protein production and aggregation. Chem Sci 2024; 15:8430-8442. [PMID: 38846392 PMCID: PMC11151821 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc00088a] [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: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a key process in the development of many neurodegenerative disorders, including dementias such as Alzheimer's disease. Significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms of aggregate formation in pure buffer systems, much of which was enabled by the development of integrated rate laws that allowed for mechanistic analysis of aggregation kinetics. However, in order to translate these findings into disease-relevant conclusions and to make predictions about the effect of potential alterations to the aggregation reactions by the addition of putative inhibitors, the current models need to be extended to account for the altered situation encountered in living systems. In particular, in vivo, the total protein concentrations typically do not remain constant and aggregation-prone monomers are constantly being produced but also degraded by cells. Here, we build a theoretical model that explicitly takes into account monomer production, derive integrated rate laws and discuss the resulting scaling laws and limiting behaviours. We demonstrate that our models are suited for the aggregation-prone Huntington's disease-associated peptide HttQ45 utilizing a system for continuous in situ monomer production and the aggregation of the tumour suppressor protein P53. The aggregation-prone HttQ45 monomer was produced through enzymatic cleavage of a larger construct in which a fused protein domain served as an internal inhibitor. For P53, only the unfolded monomers form aggregates, making the unfolding a rate-limiting step which constitutes a source of aggregation-prone monomers. The new model opens up possibilities for a quantitative description of aggregation in living systems, allowing for example the modelling of inhibitors of aggregation in a dynamic environment of continuous protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiapeng Wei
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Georg Meisl
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Alexander Dear
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University SE22100 Lund Sweden
| | - Matthijs Oosterhuis
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University Sweden
| | - Ronald Melki
- Institut Francois Jacob (MIRCen), CEA and Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, CNRS 18 Route du Panorama, Fontenay-Aux-Roses cedex 92265 France
| | - Cecilia Emanuelsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University Sweden
| | - Sara Linse
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge J J Thomson Avenue CB3 0HE UK
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19
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Matveyenka M, Zhaliazka K, Kurouski D. Macrophages and Natural Killers Degrade α-Synuclein Aggregates. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:2565-2576. [PMID: 38635186 PMCID: PMC11080468 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.4c00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid oligomers and fibrils are protein aggregates that exert a high cell toxicity. Efficient degradation of these protein aggregates can minimize the spread and progression of neurodegeneration. In this study, we investigate the properties of natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages in the degradation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates grown in a lipid-free environment and in the presence of phosphatidylserine and cholesterol (PS/Cho), which are lipids that are directly associated with the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease. We found that both types of α-Syn aggregates were endocytosed by neurons, which caused strong damage to cell endosomes. Our results also indicated that PS/Cho vesicles drastically increased the toxicity of α-Syn fibrils formed in their presence compared to the toxicity of α-Syn aggregates grown in a lipid-free environment. Both NK cells and macrophages were able to degrade α-Syn and α-Syn/Cho monomers, oligomers, and fibrils. Quantitative analysis of protein degradation showed that macrophages demonstrated substantially more efficient internalization and degradation of amyloid aggregates in comparison to NK cells. We also found that amyloid aggregates induced the proliferation of macrophages and NK cells and significantly changed the expression of their cytokines and chemokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Matveyenka
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kiryl Zhaliazka
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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20
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Chen S, Barritt JD, Cascella R, Bigi A, Cecchi C, Banchelli M, Gallo A, Jarvis JA, Chiti F, Dobson CM, Fusco G, De Simone A. Structure-Toxicity Relationship in Intermediate Fibrils from α-Synuclein Condensates. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:10537-10549. [PMID: 38567991 PMCID: PMC11027145 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c14703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
The aberrant aggregation of α-synuclein (αS) into amyloid fibrils is associated with a range of highly debilitating neurodegenerative conditions, including Parkinson's disease. Although the structural properties of mature amyloids of αS are currently understood, the nature of transient protofilaments and fibrils that appear during αS aggregation remains elusive. Using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR), cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and biophysical methods, we here characterized intermediate amyloid fibrils of αS forming during the aggregation from liquid-like spherical condensates to mature amyloids adopting the structure of pathologically observed aggregates. These transient amyloid intermediates, which induce significant levels of cytotoxicity when incubated with neuronal cells, were found to be stabilized by a small core in an antiparallel β-sheet conformation, with a disordered N-terminal region of the protein remaining available to mediate membrane binding. In contrast, mature amyloids that subsequently appear during the aggregation showed different structural and biological properties, including low levels of cytotoxicity, a rearranged structured core embedding also the N-terminal region, and a reduced propensity to interact with the membrane. The characterization of these two fibrillar forms of αS, and the use of antibodies and designed mutants, enabled us to clarify the role of critical structural elements endowing intermediate amyloid species with the ability to interact with membranes and induce cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serene
W. Chen
- Department
of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Joseph D. Barritt
- Department
of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bigi
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Cristina Cecchi
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Martina Banchelli
- Institute
of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara” National Research
Council of Italy, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence 50019, Italy
| | - Angelo Gallo
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Turin, Turin 10124, Italy
| | - James A. Jarvis
- Department
of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Randall
Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics and Centre for Biomolecular
Spectroscopy, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, U.K.
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
| | | | - Giuliana Fusco
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department
of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples, Naples 80131, Italy
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21
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Zaichick S, Caraveo G. Harnessing IGF-1 and IL-2 as biomarkers for calcineurin activity to tailor optimal FK506 dosage in α-synucleinopathies. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1292555. [PMID: 38094080 PMCID: PMC10716490 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1292555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Rise in Calcium (Ca2+) and hyperactive Ca2+-dependent phosphatase calcineurin represent two key determinants of a-synuclein (a-syn) pathobiology implicated in Parkinson's Disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Calcineurin activity can be inhibited with FK506, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved compound. Our previous work demonstrated a protective effect of low doses of FK506 against a-syn pathology in various models of a-syn related pathobiology. Methods: Control and a-syn-expressing mice (12-18 months old) were injected with vehicle or two single doses of FK506 administered 4 days apart. Cerebral cortex and serum from these mice were collected and assayed using a meso scale discovery quickplex SQ 120 for cytokines and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IGF-1. Results: In this study we present evidence that reducing calcineurin activity with FK506 in a-syn transgenic mice increased insulin growth factor (IGF-1), while simultaneously decreasing IL-2 levels in both cerebral cortex and serum. Discussion: The highly conserved Ca2+/calcineurin signaling pathway is known to be affected in a-syn-dependent human disease. FK506, an already approved drug for other uses, exhibits high brain penetrance and a proven safety profile. IL-2 and IGF-1 are produced throughout life and can be measured using standard clinical methods. Our findings provide two potential biomarkers that could guide a clinical trial of FK506 in PD patients, without posing significant logistical or regulatory challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriela Caraveo
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
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22
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McClain SM, Milchberg MH, Rienstra CM, Murphy CJ. Biologically Representative Lipid-Coated Gold Nanoparticles and Phospholipid Vesicles for the Study of Alpha-Synuclein/Membrane Interactions. ACS NANO 2023; 17:20387-20401. [PMID: 37782491 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein is an intrinsically disordered protein whose formation of beta-sheet-rich protein aggregates in the brain is implicated in the development of Parkinson's disease. Due to its believed role in synaptic vesicle trafficking and neurotransmission, many studies have employed simple, synthetic model systems to investigate alpha-synuclein/membrane interactions in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the protein's native and pathogenic functions. Interestingly, these studies seem to suggest that alpha-synuclein interacts differently with rigid vesicle mimics in comparison to malleable vesicle mimics. However, the use of different mimic sizes and surface chemistries across existing studies makes it challenging to directly compare the effects of membrane mechanical properties on protein behavior observed thus far. In this work, we developed a synaptic vesicle mimic library comprising a range of both malleable and rigid synaptic vesicle mimics possessing the same size and biologically representative lipid surface chemistry. Limited proteolysis mass spectrometry experiments revealed distinct fragmentation patterns between rigid and malleable synaptic vesicle mimics. The N-terminal and C-terminal regions of alpha-synuclein were found to become less solvent-accessible upon binding to all synaptic vesicle mimics. Nevertheless, minor variations in digestion pattern were observed in the central region of the protein dependent upon mimic size, rigidity, and lipid composition. Higher binding affinities were observed for alpha-synuclein binding to rigid synaptic vesicle mimics compared to malleable synaptic vesicle mimics. Additionally, the binding affinity of alpha-synuclein toward small lipid vesicles and small lipid-coated gold nanoparticles without cholesterol was found to be lower than that of their respective malleable and rigid counterparts. Interestingly, the binding curves for the rigid synaptic vesicle mimics demonstrated a nontraditional peak and dip shape believed to arise from differences in alpha-synuclein orientation on the particle surface at different protein-to-particle incubation ratios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia M McClain
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Moses H Milchberg
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Chad M Rienstra
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Catherine J Murphy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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23
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Tyoe O, Aryal C, Diao J. Docosahexaenoic acid promotes vesicle clustering mediated by alpha-Synuclein via electrostatic interaction. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2023; 46:96. [PMID: 37823961 PMCID: PMC10611297 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-023-00353-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is an intrinsically disordered protein whose aggregation is associated with Parkinson's disease, dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases known as synucleinopathies. However, the functional role of α-Syn is still unclear, although it has been shown to be involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter release via the interaction with synaptic vesicles (SVs), vesicle clustering, and SNARE complex assembly. Fatty acids have significant occupancy in synaptic vesicles; and recent studies suggest the interaction of fatty acids with α-Syn affect the formation of (pathological) aggregates, but it is less clear how fatty acids affects the functional role of α-Syn including α-Syn-membrane interactions, in particular with (SV-like) vesicles. Here, we report the concentration dependent effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in synaptic-like vesicle clustering via α-Syn interaction. Through molecular dynamics simulation, we revealed that DHA promoted vesicle clustering is due to the electrostatic interaction between DHA in the membrane and the N-terminal region of α-Syn. Moreover, this increased electrostatic interaction arises from a change in the macroscopic properties of the protein-membrane interface induced by (preferential solvation of) DHA. Our results provide insight as to how DHA regulates vesicle clustering mediated by α-Syn and may further be useful to understand its physiological as well as pathological role. Description: In physiological environments, α-Synuclein (α-Syn) localizes at nerve termini and synaptic vesicles and interacts with anionic phospholipid membranes to promote vesicle clustering. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increases binding affinity between α-Syn and lipid membranes by increasing electrostatic interaction energy through modulating the local and global membrane environment and conformational properties of α-Syn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen Tyoe
- Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Chinta Aryal
- Department of Cancer and Cell Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Jiajie Diao
- Department of Cancer and Cell Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA.
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24
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Spataro S, Maco B, Escrig S, Jensen L, Polerecky L, Knott G, Meibom A, Schneider BL. Stable isotope labeling and ultra-high-resolution NanoSIMS imaging reveal alpha-synuclein-induced changes in neuronal metabolism in vivo. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:157. [PMID: 37770947 PMCID: PMC10540389 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01608-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In Parkinson's disease, pathogenic factors such as the intraneuronal accumulation of the protein α-synuclein affect key metabolic processes. New approaches are required to understand how metabolic dysregulations cause degeneration of vulnerable subtypes of neurons in the brain. Here, we apply correlative electron microscopy and NanoSIMS isotopic imaging to map and quantify 13C enrichments in dopaminergic neurons at the subcellular level after pulse-chase administration of 13C-labeled glucose. To model a condition leading to neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease, human α-synuclein was unilaterally overexpressed in the substantia nigra of one brain hemisphere in rats. When comparing neurons overexpressing α-synuclein to those located in the control hemisphere, the carbon anabolism and turnover rates revealed metabolic anomalies in specific neuronal compartments and organelles. Overexpression of α-synuclein enhanced the overall carbon turnover in nigral neurons, despite a lower relative incorporation of carbon inside the nucleus. Furthermore, mitochondria and Golgi apparatus showed metabolic defects consistent with the effects of α-synuclein on inter-organellar communication. By revealing changes in the kinetics of carbon anabolism and turnover at the subcellular level, this approach can be used to explore how neurodegeneration unfolds in specific subpopulations of neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Spataro
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Escrig
- Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Louise Jensen
- Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lubos Polerecky
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Graham Knott
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Bioelectron Microscopy Core Facility, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anders Meibom
- Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Center for Advanced Surface Analysis, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- EPFL ENAC IIE LGB, Station 2, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Bernard L Schneider
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Bertarelli Platform for Gene Therapy, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland.
- EPFL SV PTECH PTBTG, Ch. Des Mines 9, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland.
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25
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Dou T, Matveyenka M, Kurouski D. Elucidation of Secondary Structure and Toxicity of α-Synuclein Oligomers and Fibrils Grown in the Presence of Phosphatidylcholine and Phosphatidylserine. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3183-3191. [PMID: 37603792 PMCID: PMC10862479 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Abrupt aggregation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) in the midbrain hypothalamus and thalamus is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), the fastest growing neurodegenerative pathology, projected to strike 12 million people by 2040 worldwide. In this study, we examine the effect of two phospholipids that are present in neuronal membranes, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylserine (PS), on the rate of α-Syn aggregation. We found that PS accelerated α-Syn aggregation, whereas PC strongly inhibited α-Syn aggregation. We also utilized the nano-infrared imaging technique, also known as atomic force microscopy infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy, to investigate whether PC and PS only change the rates or also modify the secondary structure of α-Syn aggregates. We found that both phospholipids uniquely altered the secondary structure of α-Syn aggregates present at the lag and growth phase, as well as the late stage of protein aggregation. In addition, compared to the α-Syn aggregates formed in the lipid-free environment, α-Syn:PC and α-Syn:PS aggregates demonstrated higher cellular toxicity to N27 rat neurons. Interestingly, both α-Syn:PC and α-Syn:PS aggregates showed similar levels of oxidative stress, but α-Syn:PC aggregates exhibited a greater degree of mitochondrial dysfunction compared to α-Syn:PS aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Dou
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Mikhail Matveyenka
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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26
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Fantini J. Lipid rafts and human diseases: why we need to target gangliosides. FEBS Open Bio 2023; 13:1636-1650. [PMID: 37052878 PMCID: PMC10476576 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Gangliosides are functional components of membrane lipid rafts that control critical functions in cell communication. Many pathologies involve raft gangliosides, which therefore represent an approach of choice for developing innovative therapeutic strategies. Beginning with a discussion of what a disease is (and is not), this review lists the major human pathologies that involve gangliosides, which includes cancer, diabetes, and infectious and neurodegenerative diseases. In most cases, the problem is due to a protein whose binding to gangliosides either creates a pathological condition or impairs a physiological function. Then, I draw up an inventory of the different molecular mechanisms of protein-ganglioside interactions. I propose to classify the ganglioside-binding domains of proteins into four categories, which I name GBD-1, GBD-2, GBD-3, and GBD-4. This structural and functional classification could help to rationalize the design of innovative molecules capable of disrupting the binding of selected proteins to gangliosides without generating undesirable effects. The biochemical specificities of gangliosides expressed in the human brain must also be taken into account to improve the reliability of animal models (or any animal-free alternative) of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
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27
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Chawla S, Ahmadpour D, Schneider KL, Kumar N, Fischbach A, Molin M, Nystrom T. Calcineurin stimulation by Cnb1p overproduction mitigates protein aggregation and α-synuclein toxicity in a yeast model of synucleinopathy. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:220. [PMID: 37620860 PMCID: PMC10464345 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01242-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The calcium-responsive phosphatase, calcineurin, senses changes in Ca2+ concentrations in a calmodulin-dependent manner. Here we report that under non-stress conditions, inactivation of calcineurin signaling or deleting the calcineurin-dependent transcription factor CRZ1 triggered the formation of chaperone Hsp100p (Hsp104p)-associated protein aggregates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Furthermore, calcineurin inactivation aggravated α-Synuclein-related cytotoxicity. Conversely, elevated production of the calcineurin activator, Cnb1p, suppressed protein aggregation and cytotoxicity associated with the familial Parkinson's disease-related mutant α-Synuclein A53T in a partly CRZ1-dependent manner. Activation of calcineurin boosted normal localization of both wild type and mutant α-synuclein to the plasma membrane, an intervention previously shown to mitigate α-synuclein toxicity in Parkinson's disease models. The findings demonstrate that calcineurin signaling, and Ca2+ influx to the vacuole, limit protein quality control in non-stressed cells and may have implications for elucidating to which extent aberrant calcineurin signaling contributes to the progression of Parkinson's disease(s) and other synucleinopathies. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srishti Chawla
- Institute for Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Centre for Ageing and Health - AgeCap, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 405 30, Sweden.
- Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Doryaneh Ahmadpour
- Center for Bionics and Pain Research, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, 431 30, Sweden
| | - Kara L Schneider
- Institute for Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Centre for Ageing and Health - AgeCap, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 405 30, Sweden
| | - Navinder Kumar
- Institute for Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Centre for Ageing and Health - AgeCap, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 405 30, Sweden
| | - Arthur Fischbach
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, 50931, Germany
| | - Mikael Molin
- Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Thomas Nystrom
- Institute for Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Centre for Ageing and Health - AgeCap, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 405 30, Sweden.
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28
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Di Bartolo AL, Caparotta M, Masone D. Intrinsic Disorder in α-Synuclein Regulates the Exocytotic Fusion Pore Transition. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37192400 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Today, it is widely accepted that intrinsic disorder is strongly related to the cell cycle, during mitosis, differentiation, and apoptosis. Of particular interest are hybrid proteins possessing both structured and unstructured domains that are critical in human health and disease, such as α-synuclein. In this work, we describe how α-synuclein interacts with the nascent fusion pore as it evolves toward expansion. We unveil the key role played by its intrinsically disordered region as a thermodynamic regulator of the nucleation-expansion energy barrier. By analyzing a truncated variant of α-synuclein that lacks the disordered region, we find that the landscape of protein interactions with PIP2 and POPS lipids is highly altered, ultimately increasing the energy cost for the fusion pore to transit from nucleation to expansion. We conclude that the intrinsically disordered region in full-length α-synuclein recognizes and allocates pivotal protein:lipid interactions during membrane remodeling in the first stages of the fusion pore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ary Lautaro Di Bartolo
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCuyo), 5500 Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Caparotta
- Quantum Theory Project, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Diego Masone
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza (IHEM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCuyo), 5500 Mendoza, Argentina
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCuyo), 5500 Mendoza, Argentina
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29
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Galkin M, Topcheva O, Priss A, Borisova T, Shvadchak VV. Dopamine-Induced Oligomers of α-Synuclein Inhibit Amyloid Fibril Growth and Show No Toxicity. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37162160 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00815] [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: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is characterized by the selective death of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain and accumulation of amyloid fibrils composed of α-synuclein (αSyn). Current treatment involves approaches that compensate the death of dopaminergic neurons by increasing the dopamine levels in remaining cells. However, dopamine can interact with αSyn and produce oligomeric species which were reported to be toxic in many models. We studied formation of dopamine-induced αSyn oligomers and their effect on the αSyn aggregation. Using the Thioflavin T kinetic assay, we have shown that small oligomers efficiently inhibit αSyn fibrillization by binding to fibril ends and blocking the elongation. Moreover, all the fractions of oligomer species proved to be nontoxic in the differentiated SH-SY5Y cell model and showed negligible neurotoxicity on isolated rat synaptosomes. The observed inhibition is an important insight in understanding of dopamine-enhancing therapy on Parkinson's disease progression and explains the absence of pathology enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksym Galkin
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo náměstí 542/2, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Oleksandra Topcheva
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo náměstí 542/2, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Anastasiia Priss
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo náměstí 542/2, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Tatiana Borisova
- Department of Neurochemistry, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 9 Leontovycha Street, Kyiv 01054, Ukraine
| | - Volodymyr V Shvadchak
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo náměstí 542/2, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, 57 Shevchenko Str., Ivano-Frankivsk 76018, Ukraine
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30
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Panigrahi R, Krishnan R, Singh JS, Padinhateeri R, Kumar A. SUMO1 hinders α-Synuclein fibrillation by inducing structural compaction. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4632. [PMID: 36974517 PMCID: PMC10108436 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier 1 (SUMO1) is an essential protein for many cellular functions, including regulation, signaling, etc., achieved by a process known as SUMOylation, which involves covalent attachment of SUMO1 to target proteins. SUMO1 also regulates the function of several proteins via non-covalent interactions involving the hydrophobic patch in the target protein identified as SUMO Binding or Interacting Motif (SBM/SIM). Here, we demonstrate a crucial functional potential of SUMO1 mediated by its non-covalent interactions with α-Synuclein, a protein responsible for many neurodegenerative diseases called α-Synucleinopathies. SUMO1 hinders the fibrillation of α-Synuclein, an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) that undergoes a transition to β-structures during the fibrillation process. Using a plethora of biophysical techniques, we show that SUMO1 transiently binds to the N-terminus region of α-Synuclein non-covalently and causes structural compaction, which hinders the self-association process and thereby delays the fibrillation process. On the one hand, this study demonstrates an essential functional role of SUMO1 protein concerning neurodegeneration; it also illustrates the commonly stated mechanism that IDPs carry out multiple functions by structural adaptation to suit specific target proteins, on the other. Residue-level details about the SUMO1-α-Synuclein interaction obtained here also serve as a reliable approach for investigating the detailed mechanisms of IDP functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajlaxmi Panigrahi
- Department of Biosciences and BioengineeringIndian Institute of Technology (IIT) BombayMumbaiMaharashtraIndia
| | - Rakesh Krishnan
- Department of Biosciences and BioengineeringIndian Institute of Technology (IIT) BombayMumbaiMaharashtraIndia
| | - Jai Shankar Singh
- Department of Biosciences and BioengineeringIndian Institute of Technology (IIT) BombayMumbaiMaharashtraIndia
| | - Ranjith Padinhateeri
- Department of Biosciences and BioengineeringIndian Institute of Technology (IIT) BombayMumbaiMaharashtraIndia
| | - Ashutosh Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and BioengineeringIndian Institute of Technology (IIT) BombayMumbaiMaharashtraIndia
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31
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Shum A, Zaichick S, McElroy G, D’Alessandro K, Alasady M, Novakovic M, Peng W, Grebenik E, Chung D, Flanagan M, Smith R, Morales A, Stumpf L, McGrath K, Krainc D, Mendillo M, Prakriya M, Chandel N, Caraveo G. Octopamine metabolically reprograms astrocytes to confer neuroprotection against α-synuclein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2217396120. [PMID: 37068235 PMCID: PMC10151466 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2217396120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Octopamine is a well-established invertebrate neurotransmitter involved in fight or flight responses. In mammals, its function was replaced by epinephrine. Nevertheless, it is present at trace amounts and can modulate the release of monoamine neurotransmitters by a yet unidentified mechanism. Here, through a multidisciplinary approach utilizing in vitro and in vivo models of α-synucleinopathy, we uncovered an unprecedented role for octopamine in driving the conversion from toxic to neuroprotective astrocytes in the cerebral cortex by fostering aerobic glycolysis. Physiological levels of neuron-derived octopamine act on astrocytes via a trace amine-associated receptor 1-Orai1-Ca2+-calcineurin-mediated signaling pathway to stimulate lactate secretion. Lactate uptake in neurons via the monocarboxylase transporter 2-calcineurin-dependent pathway increases ATP and prevents neurodegeneration. Pathological increases of octopamine caused by α-synuclein halt lactate production in astrocytes and short-circuits the metabolic communication to neurons. Our work provides a unique function of octopamine as a modulator of astrocyte metabolism and subsequent neuroprotection with implications to α-synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Shum
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Sofia Zaichick
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Gregory S. McElroy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Karis D’Alessandro
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Milad J. Alasady
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Michaela Novakovic
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, ChicagoIL60611
| | - Wesley Peng
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Ekaterina A. Grebenik
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Daayun Chung
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Margaret E. Flanagan
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, ChicagoIL60611
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University Fienberg School of Medicine, ChicagoIL60611
| | - Roger Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Alejandro Morales
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Laetitia Stumpf
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Kaitlyn McGrath
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Dimitri Krainc
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Marc L. Mendillo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Murali Prakriya
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, ChicagoIL60611
| | - Navdeep S. Chandel
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Gabriela Caraveo
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL60611
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32
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Zhu H, Zhang J, Dai X, Mesias VSD, Chi H, Wang C, Yeung CS, Chen Q, Liu W, Huang J. Tunable lipid-coated nanoporous silver sheet for characterization of protein-membrane interactions by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Anal Bioanal Chem 2023:10.1007/s00216-023-04701-y. [PMID: 37083760 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-04701-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Membrane environments affect protein structures and functions through protein-membrane interactions in a wide range of important biological processes. To better study the effects from the lipid's hydrophilic and hydrophobic interaction with protein on different membrane regions, we developed the lipid-coated nanoporous silver sheets to provide tunable supported lipid monolayer/bilayer environments for in situ surface-enhanced Raman vibrational spectroscopy (SERS) characterizations. Under the controllable surface pressure, lipid monolayer/bilayer was coated along the microscopic curved surface of nanoporous silver sheets to serve as a cell membrane mimic as well as a barrier to avoid protein denaturation while empowering the high SERS enhancements from the underlying metallic bases allowing detection sensitivity at low physiological concentrations. Moreover, we fine-tuned the lipid packing density and controlled the orientation of the deposited lipid bilayers and monolayers to directly monitor the protein structures upon interactions with various membrane parts/positions. Our results indicate that lysozyme adopted the α-helical structure in both hydrophilic and hydrophobic interaction with lipid membrane. Interestingly, alpha-synuclein folded into the α-helical structure on the negatively charged lipid heads, whereas the hydrophobic lipid tails induced the β-sheet structural conversion of alpha-synuclein originated from its unstructured monomers. These direct observations on protein hydrophilic and hydrophobic interaction with lipid membrane might provide profound insights into the formation of the β-sheet-containing alpha-synuclein oligomers for further membrane disruptions and amyloid genesis associated with Parkinson's disease. Hence, with the controllability and tunability of lipid environments, our platform holds great promise for more general applications in investigating the influences from membranes and the correlative structures of proteins under both hydrophilic and hydrophobic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongni Zhu
- HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing First RD, Hi-Tech Park, Nanshan, , Shenzhen, 518057, China
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jianing Zhang
- HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing First RD, Hi-Tech Park, Nanshan, , Shenzhen, 518057, China
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xin Dai
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vince St Dollente Mesias
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Huanyu Chi
- HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing First RD, Hi-Tech Park, Nanshan, , Shenzhen, 518057, China
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Congcheng Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Shun Yeung
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qing Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Jinqing Huang
- HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing First RD, Hi-Tech Park, Nanshan, , Shenzhen, 518057, China.
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
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33
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Rosado-Ramos R, Poças GM, Marques D, Foito A, M Sevillano D, Lopes-da-Silva M, Gonçalves LG, Menezes R, Ottens M, Stewart D, Ibáñez de Opakua A, Zweckstetter M, Seabra MC, Mendes CS, Outeiro TF, Domingos PM, Santos CN. Genipin prevents alpha-synuclein aggregation and toxicity by affecting endocytosis, metabolism and lipid storage. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1918. [PMID: 37024503 PMCID: PMC10079842 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37561-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people worldwide for which there are only symptomatic therapies. Small molecules able to target key pathological processes in PD have emerged as interesting options for modifying disease progression. We have previously shown that a (poly)phenol-enriched fraction (PEF) of Corema album L. leaf extract modulates central events in PD pathogenesis, namely α-synuclein (αSyn) toxicity, aggregation and clearance. PEF was now subjected to a bio-guided fractionation with the aim of identifying the critical bioactive compound. We identified genipin, an iridoid, which relieves αSyn toxicity and aggregation. Furthermore, genipin promotes metabolic alterations and modulates lipid storage and endocytosis. Importantly, genipin was able to prevent the motor deficits caused by the overexpression of αSyn in a Drosophila melanogaster model of PD. These findings widens the possibility for the exploitation of genipin for PD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Rosado-Ramos
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB NOVA), Oeiras, Portugal
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo M Poças
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB NOVA), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Daniela Marques
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Foito
- Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, DD2 5DA, Dundee, Scotland
| | - David M Sevillano
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Mafalda Lopes-da-Silva
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luís G Gonçalves
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB NOVA), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Regina Menezes
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- CBIOS - Universidade Lusófona's Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Marcel Ottens
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Derek Stewart
- Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, DD2 5DA, Dundee, Scotland
| | | | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Department of NMR-based Structural Biology, Am Fassberg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Miguel C Seabra
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - César S Mendes
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE2 4HH, UK
- Scientific employee with an honorary contract at German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Pedro M Domingos
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB NOVA), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Cláudia N Santos
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal.
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB NOVA), Oeiras, Portugal.
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Zhaliazka K, Kurouski D. Nanoscale imaging of individual amyloid aggregates extracted from brains of Alzheimer and Parkinson patients reveals presence of lipids in α-synuclein but not in amyloid β 1-42 fibrils. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4598. [PMID: 36823759 PMCID: PMC10019452 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Abrupt aggregation of misfolded proteins is the underlying molecular cause of Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD). Both AD and PD are severe pathologies that affect millions of people around the world. A small 42 amino acid long peptide, known as amyloid β (Aβ), aggregates in the frontal cortex of AD patients forming oligomers and fibrils, highly toxic protein aggregates that cause progressive neuron death. Similar aggregates of α-synuclein (α-Syn), a small protein that facilitates neurotransmitter release, are observed in the midbrain, hypothalamus, and thalamus of people with PD. In this study, we utilized the innovative nano-Infrared imaging technique to investigate the structural organization of individual Aβ and α-syn fibrils postmortem extracted from brains of AD and PD patients, respectively. We observed two morphologically different Aβ and α-Syn fibril polymorphs in each patient's brain. One had twisted topology, whereas another exhibited flat tape-like morphology. We found that both polymorphs shared the same parallel β-sheet-dominated secondary structure. These findings suggested that both fibril polymorphs were built from structurally similar if not identical filaments that coiled forming twisted fibrils or associated side-by-side in the case of straight Aβ and α-Syn fibrils. Nano-Infrared analysis of individual protein aggregates also revealed the presence of lipids in the structure of both twisted and tape-like α-Syn fibrils that were not observed in any of the Aβ fibril polymorphs. These findings demonstrate that lipid membranes can play a critically important role in the onset and progression of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiryl Zhaliazka
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
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35
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Zohoorian-Abootorabi T, Meratan AA, Jafarkhani S, Muronetz V, Haertlé T, Saboury AA. Modulation of cytotoxic amyloid fibrillation and mitochondrial damage of α-synuclein by catechols mediated conformational changes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5275. [PMID: 37002248 PMCID: PMC10066314 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32075-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The interplay between α-synuclein (α-syn) and catechols plays a central role in Parkinson's disease. This may be related to the modulating effects of catechols on the various aspects of α-syn fibrillization. Some of these effects may be attributed to the membrane-binding properties of the protein. In this work, we compare the effect of some catechols, including dopamine, epinephrine, DOPAL, and levodopa in micromolar concentrations, on the in vitro cytotoxicity of α-syn fibrils on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. The study was followed by comparing the interactions of resulting structures with rat brain mitochondria used as an in vitro biological model. The obtained results demonstrate that catechols-induced structures have lost their cytotoxicity mimicking apoptotic cell death mediated by α-syn aggregates in different proportions. Moreover, α-syn fibrils-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, evaluated by a range of biochemical assays, was modulated by catechols-modified α-syn oligomers in different manners, as levodopa and DOPAL demonstrated the maximal and minimal effects, respectively. The plausible mechanism causing the inhibition of α-syn cytotoxic fibrillization and mitochondrial dysfunction by catechols is discussed. Taken together, we propose that catechols can prevent the cytotoxic assembly of α-syn and its destructive effects on mitochondria at various stages, suggesting that decreased levels of catechols in dopaminergic neurons might accelerate the α-syn cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction implicating Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Akbar Meratan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan, 45137-66731, Iran.
| | - Saeed Jafarkhani
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, 57131-14399, Iran
| | - Vladimir Muronetz
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Thomas Haertlé
- National Institute of Agronomic and Environmental Research, 44316, Nantes, France
| | - Ali Akbar Saboury
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, 14176-14335, Iran.
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36
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Qi Z, Wan M, Zhang J, Li Z. Influence of Cholesterol on the Membrane Binding and Conformation of α-Synuclein. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:1956-1964. [PMID: 36812386 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c08077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The α-Synuclein (α-Syn) plays an important role in the pathology of Parkinson's disease (PD), and its oligomers and fibrils are toxic to the nervous system. As organisms age, the cholesterol content in biological membranes increases, which is a potential cause of PD. Cholesterol may affect the membrane binding of α-Syn and its abnormal aggregation, but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we present our molecular dynamics simulation studies on the interaction between α-Syn and lipid membranes, with or without cholesterol. It is demonstrated that cholesterol provides additional hydrogen bond interaction with α-Syn; however, the coulomb interaction and hydrophobic interaction between α-Syn and lipid membranes could be weakened by cholesterol. In addition, cholesterol leads to the shrinking of lipid packing defects and the decrease of lipid fluidity, thereby shortening the membrane binding region of α-Syn. Under these multifaceted effects of cholesterol, membrane-bound α-Syn shows signs of forming a β-sheet structure, which may further induce the formation of abnormal α-Syn fibrils. These results provide important information for the understanding of membrane binding of α-Syn, and they are expected to promote the bridging between cholesterol and the pathological aggregation of α-Syn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqiang Qi
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Menglin Wan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Zhen Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
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37
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Interfacial properties of α-synuclein's Parkinsonian variants. Biophys Chem 2023; 297:107006. [PMID: 37019052 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.107006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Human alpha-synuclein (αS) is associated with the occurrence of Parkinson's disease. In the past decade, six autosomally dominant mutations have been identified in αS (SNCA) gene that translate into A30P, E46K, H50Q, G51D, A53E, and A53T mutations in the protein. These mutations alter the electrostatics and hydrophobicity of a cardinal region of the protein. A comprehensive comparison of interfacial properties of these Parkinsonian αS variants is crucial to understand their membrane dynamics. Here, we investigated the interfacial activity of these αS variants at air-aqueous interface. All the αS variants were found to possess comparable surface activity of ∼20-22 mN/m. Compression/expansion isotherms reveal a very distinct behaviour of the A30P variant compared to others. The Blodgett-deposited films were analysed using CD and LD spectroscopy as well as the atomic force microscopy. All the variants adopted predominantly α-helical conformation in these films. Atomic force microscopy of the Langmuir-Blodgett films revealed self-assembly at the interface. The lipid-penetration activity was also investigated using zwitterionic and negatively charged lipid monolayers.
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38
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Bloch DN, Sandre M, Ben Zichri S, Masato A, Kolusheva S, Bubacco L, Jelinek R. Scavenging neurotoxic aldehydes using lysine carbon dots. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2023; 5:1356-1367. [PMID: 36866263 PMCID: PMC9972859 DOI: 10.1039/d2na00804a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Reactive aldehydes generated in cells and tissues are associated with adverse physiological effects. Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL), the biogenic aldehyde enzymatically produced from dopamine, is cytotoxic, generates reactive oxygen species, and triggers aggregation of proteins such as α-synuclein implicated in Parkinson's disease. Here, we demonstrate that carbon dots (C-dots) prepared from lysine as the carbonaceous precursor bind DOPAL molecules through interactions between the aldehyde units and amine residues on the C-dot surface. A set of biophysical and in vitro experiments attests to attenuation of the adverse biological activity of DOPAL. In particular, we show that the lysine-C-dots inhibit DOPAL-induced α-synuclein oligomerization and cytotoxicity. This work underlines the potential of lysine-C-dots as an effective therapeutic vehicle for aldehyde scavenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Nir Bloch
- Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev Israel
| | - Michele Sandre
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova Italy
- Centro Studi per la Neurodegenerazione (CESNE), University of Padova Italy
| | - Shani Ben Zichri
- Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev Israel
| | - Anna Masato
- Centro Studi per la Neurodegenerazione (CESNE), University of Padova Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Padova Italy
| | - Sofiya Kolusheva
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology (IKI), Ben Gurion University of the Negev Israel
| | - Luigi Bubacco
- Centro Studi per la Neurodegenerazione (CESNE), University of Padova Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Padova Italy
| | - Raz Jelinek
- Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology (IKI), Ben Gurion University of the Negev Israel
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Maekawa T, Kashkar H, Coll NS. Dying in self-defence: a comparative overview of immunogenic cell death signalling in animals and plants. Cell Death Differ 2023; 30:258-268. [PMID: 36195671 PMCID: PMC9950082 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-022-01060-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Host organisms utilise a range of genetically encoded cell death programmes in response to pathogen challenge. Host cell death can restrict pathogen proliferation by depleting their replicative niche and at the same time dying cells can alert neighbouring cells to prepare environmental conditions favouring future pathogen attacks. As expected, many pathogenic microbes have strategies to subvert host cell death to promote their virulence. The structural and lifestyle differences between animals and plants have been anticipated to shape very different host defence mechanisms. However, an emerging body of evidence indicates that several components of the host-pathogen interaction machinery are shared between the two major branches of eukaryotic life. Many proteins involved in cell death execution or cell death-associated immunity in plants and animals exert direct effects on endomembrane and loss of membrane integrity has been proposed to explain the potential immunogenicity of dying cells. In this review we aim to provide a comparative view on how cell death processes are linked to anti-microbial defence mechanisms in plants and animals and how pathogens interfere with these cell death programmes. In comparison to the several well-defined cell death programmes in animals, immunogenic cell death in plant defence is broadly defined as the hypersensitive response. Our comparative overview may help discerning whether specific types of immunogenic cell death exist in plants, and correspondingly, it may provide new hints for previously undiscovered cell death mechanism in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaki Maekawa
- Department of Biology, Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany.
- CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences at the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Hamid Kashkar
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Institute for Molecular Immunology, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Núria S Coll
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08001, Barcelona, Spain.
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40
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Adulla A, Patel U, Ashok A, Katiyar P, Kaulakis M, Kritikos AE, Pillai S, Lee H, Lindner E, Rhee DJ, Singh N. α-Synuclein modulates fibronectin expression in the trabecular meshwork independent of TGFβ2. Exp Eye Res 2023; 226:109351. [PMID: 36539052 PMCID: PMC10384565 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD), a neuromotor disorder with prominent visual symptoms. The underlying cause of motor dysfunction has been studied extensively, and is attributed to the death of dopaminergic neurons mediated in part by intracellular aggregation of α-Syn. The cause of visual symptoms, however, is less clear. Neuroretinal degeneration due to the presence of aggregated α-Syn has been reported, but the evidence is controversial. Other symptoms including those arising from primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) are believed to be the side-effects of medications prescribed for PD. Here, we explored the alternative hypothesis that dysfunction of α-Syn in the anterior eye alters the interaction between the actin cytoskeleton of trabecular meshwork (TM) cells with the extracellular matrix (ECM), impairing their ability to respond to physiological changes in intraocular pressure (IOP). A similar dysfunction in neurons is responsible for impaired neuritogenesis, a characteristic feature of PD. Using cadaveric human and bovine TM tissue and primary human TM cells as models, we report two main observations: 1) α-Syn is expressed in human and bovine TM cells, and significant amounts of monomeric and oligomeric α-Syn are present in the AH, and 2) primary human TM cells and human and bovine TM tissue endocytose extracellular recombinant monomeric and oligomeric α-Syn via the prion protein (PrPC), and upregulate fibronectin (FN) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibrogenic proteins implicated in POAG. Transforming growth factor β2 (TGFβ2), a fibrogenic cytokine implicated in ∼50% cases of POAG, is also increased, and so is RhoA-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK-1). However, silencing of α-Syn in primary human TM cells reduces FN, α-SMA, and ROCK-1 in the absence or presence of over-expressed active TGFβ2, suggesting modulation of FN and ROCK-1 independent of, or upstream of TGFβ2. These observations suggest that extracellular α-Syn modulates ECM proteins in the TM independently or via PrPC by activating the RhoA-ROCK pathway. These observations reveal a novel function of α-Syn in the anterior eye, and offer new therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Adulla
- Departments of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Urvi Patel
- Departments of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Ajay Ashok
- Departments of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Priya Katiyar
- Departments of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Mare Kaulakis
- Departments of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Alexander E Kritikos
- Departments of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Sachin Pillai
- Departments of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - HyunPin Lee
- Departments of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Ewald Lindner
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 4, 8036, Graz, Austria
| | - Douglas J Rhee
- Departments of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Neena Singh
- Departments of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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41
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Gonzalez-Garcia M, Fusco G, De Simone A. Metal interactions of α-synuclein probed by NMR amide-proton exchange. Front Chem 2023; 11:1167766. [PMID: 37201129 PMCID: PMC10187754 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1167766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The aberrant aggregation of α-synuclein (αS), a disordered protein primarily expressed in neuronal cells, is strongly associated with the underlying mechanisms of Parkinson's disease. It is now established that αS has a weak affinity for metal ions and that these interactions alter its conformational properties by generally promoting self-assembly into amyloids. Here, we characterised the nature of the conformational changes associated with metal binding by αS using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to measure the exchange of the backbone amide protons at a residue specific resolution. We complemented these experiments with 15N relaxation and chemical shift perturbations to obtain a comprehensive map of the interaction between αS and divalent (Ca2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+) and monovalent (Cu+) metal ions. The data identified specific effects that the individual cations exert on the conformational properties of αS. In particular, binding to calcium and zinc generated a reduction of the protection factors in the C-terminal region of the protein, whereas both Cu(II) and Cu(I) did not alter the amide proton exchange along the αS sequence. Changes in the R2/R1 ratios from 15N relaxation experiments were, however, detected as a result of the interaction between αS and Cu+ or Zn2+, indicating that binding to these metals induces conformational perturbations in distinctive regions of the protein. Collectively our data suggest that multiple mechanisms of enhanced αS aggregation are associated with the binding of the analysed metals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giuliana Fusco
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Alfonso De Simone, ; Giuliana Fusco,
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alfonso De Simone, ; Giuliana Fusco,
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42
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Wu K, Sun W, Li D, Diao J, Xiu P. Inhibition of Amyloid Nucleation by Steric Hindrance. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:10045-10054. [PMID: 36417323 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c06330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite recent experiments and simulations suggesting that small-molecule inhibitors and some post-translational modifications (e.g., glycosylation and ubiquitination) can suppress the pathogenic aggregation of proteins due to steric hindrance, the effect of steric hindrance on amyloid formation has not been systematically studied. Based on Monte Carlo simulations using a coarse-grained model for amyloidogenic proteins and a hard sphere acting as steric hindrance, we investigated how steric hindrance on proteins could affect amyloid formation, particularly two steps of primary nucleation, namely, oligomerization and conformational conversion into a β-sheet-enriched nucleus. We found that steric spheres played an inhibitory role in oligomerization with the effect proportional to the sphere radius RS, which we attributed to the decline in the nonspecific attractions between proteins. During the second step, small steric spheres facilitated the conformational conversion of proteins while large ones suppressed the conversion. The overall steric effect on amyloid nucleation was inhibitory regardless of RS. As RS increased, oligomeric assemblies changed from amorphous into sheet-like, structurally ordered species, reminiscent of the structure of amyloid fibrils. The oligomers with large RS were off-pathway with their ordered structures induced by the competition between steric hindrance and nonspecific attractions of soluble proteins. Interestingly, the equimolar mixture of proteins with and without steric hindrance amplified the sterically inhibitory effect by increasing the energy barrier of protein's conformational conversion. The physical mechanisms and biological implications of the above results are discussed. Our findings improve the current understanding of how nature regulates protein aggregation and amyloid formation by steric hindrance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wu
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China.,School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325001, China.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, United States of America
| | - Wuxuepeng Sun
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Dechang Li
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiajie Diao
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, United States of America
| | - Peng Xiu
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
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43
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Li H, Yang H, Zhou M, Wei T, Zhou Y. Synergistic Effects of IMX-104 Components in Membrane Absorption: A Computational Study. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:40892-40899. [PMID: 36406561 PMCID: PMC9670098 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c03886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
New insensitive munitions such as IMX-104 formulations are being developed to improve the safety suffering from accidental stimulations. Experimental data indicated the synergistic toxicity of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) in IMX-104, which increased the concern about its environmental and health threats. Indeed, little is known about the synergistic mechanism. Here, we investigated the membrane absorption of DNAN and RDX as the first step toward uncovering synergistic toxicity. The permeability coefficient, transmembrane time, and liposome-water partition coefficient were calculated by the umbrella sampling technique. The results show that component RDX in the IMX-104 formulation promotes the membrane absorption of another more toxic component DNAN, suggesting that the synergistic toxicity effect of IMX-104 may emerge from their membrane adsorption stage. In detail, the integrating free-energy curves show that DNAN, RDX, or their mixture in membranes would promote subsequent molecules passing through membranes. For the mixture of DNAN and RDX, RDX was absorbed by the membrane before DNAN. Postabsorbed DNAN tends to stay around RDX, which is due to the strong van der Waals (VDW) interaction between them. RDX stabilized under phospholipid headgroups limits the overflow of DNAN from the membrane, which results in 11% more absorption of DNAN by the membrane than in the case of the pure DNAN system.
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44
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Crosstalk between neurological, cardiovascular, and lifestyle disorders: insulin and lipoproteins in the lead role. Pharmacol Rep 2022; 74:790-817. [PMID: 36149598 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-022-00417-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Insulin resistance and impaired lipoprotein metabolism contribute to a plethora of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. These alterations have been extensively linked with poor lifestyle choices, such as consumption of a high-fat diet, smoking, stress, and a redundant lifestyle. Moreover, these are also known to increase the co-morbidity of diseases like Type 2 diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis. Under normal physiological conditions, insulin and lipoproteins exert a neuroprotective role in the central nervous system. However, the tripping of balance between the periphery and center may alter the normal functioning of the brain and lead to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, depression, and multiple sclerosis. These neurological disorders are further characterized by certain behavioral and molecular changes that show consistent overlap with alteration in insulin and lipoprotein signaling pathways. Therefore, targeting these two mechanisms not only reveals a way to manage the co-morbidities associated with the circle of the metabolic, central nervous system, and cardiovascular disorders but also exclusively work as a disease-modifying therapy for neurological disorders. In this review, we summarize the role of insulin resistance and lipoproteins in the progression of various neurological conditions and discuss the therapeutic options currently in the clinical pipeline targeting these two mechanisms; in addition, challenges faced in designing these therapeutic approaches have also been touched upon briefly.
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45
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Teixeira JMC, Liu ZH, Namini A, Li J, Vernon RM, Krzeminski M, Shamandy AA, Zhang O, Haghighatlari M, Yu L, Head-Gordon T, Forman-Kay JD. IDPConformerGenerator: A Flexible Software Suite for Sampling the Conformational Space of Disordered Protein States. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:5985-6003. [PMID: 36030416 PMCID: PMC9465686 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c03726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The power of structural information for informing biological mechanisms is clear for stable folded macromolecules, but similar structure-function insight is more difficult to obtain for highly dynamic systems such as intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) which must be described as structural ensembles. Here, we present IDPConformerGenerator, a flexible, modular open-source software platform for generating large and diverse ensembles of disordered protein states that builds conformers that obey geometric, steric, and other physical restraints on the input sequence. IDPConformerGenerator samples backbone phi (φ), psi (ψ), and omega (ω) torsion angles of relevant sequence fragments from loops and secondary structure elements extracted from folded protein structures in the RCSB Protein Data Bank and builds side chains from robust Monte Carlo algorithms using expanded rotamer libraries. IDPConformerGenerator has many user-defined options enabling variable fractional sampling of secondary structures, supports Bayesian models for assessing the agreement of IDP ensembles for consistency with experimental data, and introduces a machine learning approach to transform between internal and Cartesian coordinates with reduced error. IDPConformerGenerator will facilitate the characterization of disordered proteins to ultimately provide structural insights into these states that have key biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- João M. C. Teixeira
- Molecular
Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Zi Hao Liu
- Molecular
Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ashley Namini
- Molecular
Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Jie Li
- Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical
and Biomolecular Engineering, and Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Robert M. Vernon
- Molecular
Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Mickaël Krzeminski
- Molecular
Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Alaa A. Shamandy
- Molecular
Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department
of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2E4, Canada
| | - Oufan Zhang
- Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical
and Biomolecular Engineering, and Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Mojtaba Haghighatlari
- Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical
and Biomolecular Engineering, and Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Lei Yu
- Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical
and Biomolecular Engineering, and Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Teresa Head-Gordon
- Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical
and Biomolecular Engineering, and Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Julie D. Forman-Kay
- Molecular
Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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46
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Sen T, Thummer RP. CRISPR and iPSCs: Recent Developments and Future Perspectives in Neurodegenerative Disease Modelling, Research, and Therapeutics. Neurotox Res 2022; 40:1597-1623. [PMID: 36044181 PMCID: PMC9428373 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-022-00564-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are prominent causes of pain, suffering, and death worldwide. Traditional approaches modelling neurodegenerative diseases are deficient, and therefore, improved strategies that effectively recapitulate the pathophysiological conditions of neurodegenerative diseases are the need of the hour. The generation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has transformed our ability to model neurodegenerative diseases in vitro and provide an unlimited source of cells (including desired neuronal cell types) for cell replacement therapy. Recently, CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing has also been gaining popularity because of the flexibility they provide to generate and ablate disease phenotypes. In addition, the recent advancements in CRISPR/Cas9 technology enables researchers to seamlessly target and introduce precise modifications in the genomic DNA of different human cell lines, including iPSCs. CRISPR-iPSC-based disease modelling, therefore, allows scientists to recapitulate the pathological aspects of most neurodegenerative processes and investigate the role of pathological gene variants in healthy non-patient cell lines. This review outlines how iPSCs, CRISPR/Cas9, and CRISPR-iPSC-based approaches accelerate research on neurodegenerative diseases and take us closer to a cure for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and so forth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tirthankar Sen
- Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati - 781039, Assam, India
| | - Rajkumar P Thummer
- Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati - 781039, Assam, India.
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47
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Parsons RB, Kocinaj A, Ruiz Pulido G, Prendergast SA, Parsons AE, Facey PD, Hirth F. Alpha-synucleinopathy reduces NMNAT3 protein levels and neurite formation that can be rescued by targeting the NAD+ pathway. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:2918-2933. [PMID: 35397003 PMCID: PMC9433734 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is characterized by the deposition of α-synuclein, which leads to synaptic dysfunction, the loss of neuronal connections and ultimately progressive neurodegeneration. Despite extensive research into Parkinson's disease pathogenesis, the mechanisms underlying α-synuclein-mediated synaptopathy have remained elusive. Several lines of evidence suggest that altered nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) metabolism might be causally related to synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease. NAD+ metabolism is central to the maintenance of synaptic structure and function. Its synthesis is mediated by nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferases (NMNATs), but their role in Parkinson's disease is not known. Here we report significantly decreased levels of NMNAT3 protein in the caudate nucleus of patients who have died with Parkinson's disease, which inversely correlated with the amount of monomeric α-synuclein. The detected alterations were specific and significant as the expression levels of NMNAT1, NMNAT2 and sterile alpha and TIR motif containing 1 (SARM1) were not significantly different in Parkinson's disease patients compared to controls. To test the functional significance of these findings, we ectopically expressed wild-type α-synuclein in retinoic acid-differentiated dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells that resulted in decreased levels of NMNAT3 protein plus a neurite pathology, which could be rescued by FK866, an inhibitor of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase that acts as a key enzyme in the regulation of NAD+ synthesis. Our results establish, for the first time, NMNAT3 alterations in Parkinson's disease and demonstrate in human cells that this phenotype together with neurite pathology is causally related to α-synucleinopathy. These findings identify alterations in the NAD+ biosynthetic pathway as a pathogenic mechanism underlying α-synuclein-mediated synaptopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard B Parsons
- King’s College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Altin Kocinaj
- King’s College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Gustavo Ruiz Pulido
- King’s College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Sarah A Prendergast
- King’s College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Anna E Parsons
- King’s College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Paul D Facey
- Swansea University, Singleton Park Campus, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Frank Hirth
- King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neurosciences Institute, Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RX, UK
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48
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Dasari AKR, Dillard L, Yi S, Viverette E, Hojjatian A, Sengupta U, Kayed R, Taylor KA, Borgnia MJ, Lim KH. Untwisted α-Synuclein Filaments Formed in the Presence of Lipid Vesicles. Biochemistry 2022; 61:1766-1773. [PMID: 36001818 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Accumulation of filamentous aggregates of α-synuclein is a pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). The interaction between α-synuclein and phospholipids has been shown to play a critical role in the aggregation of α-synuclein. Most structural studies have, however, been focused on α-synuclein filaments formed in the absence of lipids. Here, we report the structural investigation of α-synuclein filaments assembled under the quiescent condition in the presence of anionic lipid vesicles using electron microscopy (EM), including cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Our transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses reveal that α-synuclein forms curly protofilaments at an early stage of aggregation. The flexible protofilaments were then converted to long filaments after a longer incubation of 30 days. More detailed structural analyses using cryo-EM reveal that the long filaments adopt untwisted structures with different diameters, which have not been observed in previous α-synuclein fibrils formed in vitro. The untwisted filaments are rather similar to straight filaments with no observable twist that are extracted from patients with dementia with Lewy bodies. Our structural studies highlight the conformational diversity of α-synuclein filaments, requiring additional structural investigation of not only more ex vivo α-synuclein filaments but also in vitro α-synuclein filaments formed in the presence of diverse cofactors to better understand the molecular basis of diverse molecular conformations of α-synuclein filaments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anvesh K R Dasari
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
| | - Lucas Dillard
- Department of Health and Human Services, Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Sujung Yi
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
| | - Elizabeth Viverette
- Department of Health and Human Services, Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Alimohammad Hojjatian
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4380, United States
| | - Urmi Sengupta
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Kenneth A Taylor
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4380, United States
| | - Mario Juan Borgnia
- Department of Health and Human Services, Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Kwang Hun Lim
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
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49
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Zhang C, Pei Y, Zhang Z, Xu L, Liu X, Jiang L, Pielak GJ, Zhou X, Liu M, Li C. C-terminal truncation modulates α-Synuclein's cytotoxicity and aggregation by promoting the interactions with membrane and chaperone. Commun Biol 2022; 5:798. [PMID: 35945337 PMCID: PMC9363494 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03768-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-syn) is the main protein component of Lewy bodies, the major pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). C-terminally truncated α-syn is found in the brain of PD patients, reduces cell viability and tends to form fibrils. Nevertheless, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the role of C-terminal truncation on the cytotoxicity and aggregation of α-syn. Here, we use nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to show that the truncation alters α-syn conformation, resulting in an attractive interaction of the N-terminus with membranes and molecular chaperone, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). The truncated protein is more toxic to mitochondria than full-length protein and diminishes the effect of PDI on α-syn fibrillation. Our findings reveal a modulatory role for the C-terminus in the cytotoxicity and aggregation of α-syn by interfering with the N-terminus binding to membranes and chaperone, and provide a molecular basis for the pathological role of C-terminal truncation in PD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Science, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Yunshan Pei
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Science, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Zeting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China.
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430071, Wuhan, China.
| | - Lingling Xu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Gary J Pielak
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Xin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Maili Liu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Science, 100049, Beijing, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Conggang Li
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China.
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Science, 100049, Beijing, China.
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430071, Wuhan, China.
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50
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Chatterjee S, Maltseva D, Kan Y, Hosseini E, Gonella G, Bonn M, Parekh SH. Lipid-driven condensation and interfacial ordering of FUS. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm7528. [PMID: 35930639 PMCID: PMC9355348 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm7528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Protein condensation into liquid-like structures is critical for cellular compartmentalization, RNA processing, and stress response. Research on protein condensation has primarily focused on membraneless organelles in the absence of lipids. However, the cellular cytoplasm is full of lipid interfaces, yet comparatively little is known about how lipids affect protein condensation. Here, we show that nonspecific interactions between lipids and the disordered fused in sarcoma low-complexity (FUS LC) domain strongly affect protein condensation. In the presence of anionic lipids, FUS LC formed lipid-protein clusters at concentrations more than 30-fold lower than required for pure FUS LC. Lipid-triggered FUS LC clusters showed less dynamic protein organization than canonical, lipid-free FUS LC condensates. Lastly, we found that phosphatidylserine membranes promoted FUS LC condensates having β sheet structures, while phosphatidylglycerol membranes initiated unstructured condensates. Our results show that lipids strongly influence FUS LC condensation, suggesting that protein-lipid interactions modulate condensate formation in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayantan Chatterjee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 107 W. Dean Keeton Rd., Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, Mainz, DE 55128, Germany
| | - Daria Maltseva
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, Mainz, DE 55128, Germany
| | - Yelena Kan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 107 W. Dean Keeton Rd., Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, Mainz, DE 55128, Germany
- LUT School of Engineering Science, LUT University, Yliopistonkatu 34, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland
| | - Elnaz Hosseini
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, Mainz, DE 55128, Germany
| | - Grazia Gonella
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, Mainz, DE 55128, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mischa Bonn
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, Mainz, DE 55128, Germany
| | - Sapun H. Parekh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 107 W. Dean Keeton Rd., Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, Mainz, DE 55128, Germany
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