1
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Elovsson G, Klingstedt T, Brown M, Nilsson KPR, Brorsson AC. A Novel Drosophila Model of Alzheimer's Disease to Study Aβ Proteotoxicity in the Digestive Tract. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2105. [PMID: 38396782 PMCID: PMC10888607 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042105] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) proteotoxicity is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is caused by protein aggregation, resulting in neuronal damage in the brain. In the search for novel treatments, Drosophila melanogaster has been extensively used to screen for anti-Aβ proteotoxic agents in studies where toxic Aβ peptides are expressed in the fly brain. Since drug molecules often are administered orally there is a risk that they fail to reach the brain, due to their inability to cross the brain barrier. To circumvent this problem, we have designed a novel Drosophila model that expresses the Aβ peptides in the digestive tract. In addition, a built-in apoptotic sensor provides a fluorescent signal from the green fluorescent protein as a response to caspase activity. We found that expressing different variants of Aβ1-42 resulted in proteotoxic phenotypes such as reduced longevity, aggregate deposition, and the presence of apoptotic cells. Taken together, this gut-based Aβ-expressing fly model can be used to study the mechanisms behind Aβ proteotoxicity and to identify different substances that can modify Aβ proteotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ann-Christin Brorsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden; (G.E.); (T.K.); (M.B.); (K.P.R.N.)
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2
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Construction and Validation of a New Naïve Sequestrin Library for Directed Evolution of Binders against Aggregation-Prone Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24010836. [PMID: 36614273 PMCID: PMC9821733 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Affibody molecules are small affinity proteins that have excellent properties for many different applications, ranging from biotechnology to diagnostics and therapy. The relatively flat binding surface is typically resulting in high affinity and specificity when developing binding reagents for globular target proteins. For smaller unstructured peptides, the paratope of affibody molecules makes it more challenging to achieve a sufficiently large binding surface for high-affinity interactions. Here, we describe the development of a new type of protein scaffold based on a dimeric form of affibodies with a secondary structure content and mode of binding that is distinct from conventional affibody molecules. The interaction is characterized by encapsulation of the target peptide in a tunnel-like cavity upon binding. The new scaffold was used for construction of a high-complexity phage-displayed library and selections from the library against the amyloid beta peptide resulted in identification of high-affinity binders that effectively inhibited amyloid aggregation.
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3
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Zaidi N, Ajmal MR, Zaidi SA, Khan RH. Mechanistic In Vitro Dissection of the Inhibition of Amyloid Fibrillation by n-Acetylneuraminic Acid: Plausible Implication in Therapeutics for Neurodegenerative Disorders. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:69-80. [PMID: 34878262 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A variety of neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease are due to fibrillation in amyloidogenic proteins. The development of therapeutics for these disorders is a topic of extensive research as effective treatments are still unavailable. The present study establishes that n-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5ac) inhibits the amyloid fibrillation of hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) and α-synuclein (SYN), as observed using various biophysical techniques and cellular assays. Neu5ac inhibits the amyloid formation in both proteins, as suggested from the reduction in the ThT fluorescence and remnant structures in transmission electron microscopy micrographs observed in its presence. In HEWL fibrillation, Neu5ac decreases the hydrophobicity and resists the transition of the α-helix to a β-sheet, as observed by an ANS binding assay, circular dichroism (CD) spectra, and Fourier transform infrared measurements, respectively. Neu5ac stabilizes the states that facilitate the amyloid formation in HEWL and SYN, as demonstrated by an enhanced intrinsic fluorescence in its presence, which is further confirmed by an increase in Tm obtained from differential scanning calorimetry thermograms and an increase in the near-UV CD signal for HEWL with Neu5ac. However, the increase in stability is not a manifestation of Neu5ac binding to amyloid facilitating (partially folded or native) states of both proteins, as verified by isothermal titration calorimetry and fluorescence binding measurements. Besides, Neu5ac also attenuates the cytotoxicity of amyloid fibrils, as evaluated by a cell toxicity assay. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the Neu5ac action against amyloid fibrillation and may establish it as a plausible inhibitor molecule against neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nida Zaidi
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Mohammad Rehan Ajmal
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Syed Adeel Zaidi
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Rizwan Hasan Khan
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
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4
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Kunkeaw T, Suttisansanee U, Trachootham D, Karinchai J, Chantong B, Potikanond S, Inthachat W, Pitchakarn P, Temviriyanukul P. Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. reduces BACE-1 activities and amyloid peptides accumulation in Drosophila models of Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23796. [PMID: 34893659 PMCID: PMC8664832 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03142-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), one type of dementia, is a complex disease affecting people globally with limited drug treatment. Thus, natural products are currently of interest as promising candidates because of their cost-effectiveness and multi-target abilities. Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw., an edible fern, inhibited acetylcholinesterase in vitro, inferring that it might be a promising candidate for AD treatment by supporting cholinergic neurons. However, evidence demonstrating anti-AD properties of this edible plant via inhibiting of neurotoxic peptides production, amyloid beta (Aβ), both in vitro and in vivo is lacking. Thus, the anti-AD properties of D. esculentum extract both in vitro and in Drosophila models of Aβ-mediated toxicity were elucidated. Findings showed that an ethanolic extract exhibited high phenolics and flavonoids, contributing to antioxidant and inhibitory activities against AD-related enzymes. Notably, the extract acted as a BACE-1 blocker and reduced amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42) peptides in Drosophila models, resulting in improved locomotor behaviors. Information gained from this study suggested that D. esculentum showed potential for AD amelioration and prevention. Further investigations in vertebrates or humans are required to determine the effective doses of D. esculentum against AD, particularly via amyloidogenic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanit Kunkeaw
- Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Uthaiwan Suttisansanee
- Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Dunyaporn Trachootham
- Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Jirarat Karinchai
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Meung, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Boonrat Chantong
- Department of Preclinical Science and Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Saranyapin Potikanond
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Meung, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Woorawee Inthachat
- Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Pornsiri Pitchakarn
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Meung, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Piya Temviriyanukul
- Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
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5
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Elovsson G, Bergkvist L, Brorsson AC. Exploring Aβ Proteotoxicity and Therapeutic Candidates Using Drosophila melanogaster. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910448. [PMID: 34638786 PMCID: PMC8508956 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease is a widespread and devastating neurological disorder associated with proteotoxic events caused by the misfolding and aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide. To find therapeutic strategies to combat this disease, Drosophila melanogaster has proved to be an excellent model organism that is able to uncover anti-proteotoxic candidates due to its outstanding genetic toolbox and resemblance to human disease genes. In this review, we highlight the use of Drosophila melanogaster to both study the proteotoxicity of the amyloid-β peptide and to screen for drug candidates. Expanding the knowledge of how the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease is related to proteotoxicity and how drugs can be used to block disease progression will hopefully shed further light on the field in the search for disease-modifying treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Elovsson
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden;
| | - Liza Bergkvist
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, 17164 Solna, Sweden;
| | - Ann-Christin Brorsson
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden;
- Correspondence:
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6
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Biophysical studies of protein misfolding and aggregation in in vivo models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Q Rev Biophys 2020; 49:e22. [PMID: 32493529 DOI: 10.1017/s0033583520000025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's diseases (PD), are characterised by the formation of aberrant assemblies of misfolded proteins. The discovery of disease-modifying drugs for these disorders is challenging, in part because we still have a limited understanding of their molecular origins. In this review, we discuss how biophysical approaches can help explain the formation of the aberrant conformational states of proteins whose neurotoxic effects underlie these diseases. We discuss in particular models based on the transgenic expression of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau in AD, and α-synuclein in PD. Because biophysical methods have enabled an accurate quantification and a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying protein misfolding and aggregation in vitro, we expect that the further development of these methods to probe directly the corresponding mechanisms in vivo will open effective routes for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
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7
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Co NT, Lan PD, Quoc Huy PD, Li MS. Heat-induced degradation of fibrils: Exponential vs logistic kinetics. J Chem Phys 2020; 152:115101. [PMID: 32199422 DOI: 10.1063/1.5144305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The degradation of fibrils under the influence of thermal fluctuations was studied experimentally by various groups around the world. In the first set of experiments, it was shown that the decay of fibril content, which can be measured by the ThT fluorescence assay, obeys a bi-exponential function. In the second series of experiments, it was demonstrated that when the monomers separated from the aggregate are not recyclable, the time dependence of the number of monomers belonging to the dominant cluster is described by a single-exponential function if the fraction of bound chains becomes less than a certain threshold. Note that the time dependence of the fraction of bound chains can be measured by tryptophan fluorescence. To understand these interesting experimental results, we developed a phenomenological theory and performed molecular simulation. According to our theory and simulations using the lattice and all-atom models, the time dependence of bound chains is described by a logistic function, which slowly decreases at short time scales but becomes a single exponential function at large time scales. The results, obtained by using lattice and all-atom simulations, ascertained that the time dependence of the fibril content can be described by a bi-exponential function that decays faster than the logistic function on short time scales. We have uncovered the molecular mechanism for the distinction between the logistic and bi-exponential behavior. Since the dissociation of the chain from the fibrils requires the breaking of a greater number of inter-chain contacts as compared to the breaking of the beta sheet structure, the decrease in the number of connected chains is slower than the fibril content. Therefore, the time dependence of the aggregate size is logistic, while the two-exponential behavior is preserved for the content of fibrils. Our results are in agreement with the results obtained in both sets of experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Truong Co
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Pham Dang Lan
- Institute for Computational Science and Technology, SBI Building, Quang Trung Software City, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Pham Dinh Quoc Huy
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mai Suan Li
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
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8
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Bernabeu-Zornoza A, Coronel R, Palmer C, Monteagudo M, Zambrano A, Liste I. Physiological and pathological effects of amyloid-β species in neural stem cell biology. Neural Regen Res 2019; 14:2035-2042. [PMID: 31397330 PMCID: PMC6788229 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.262571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although amyloid-β peptide is considered neurotoxic, it may mediate several physiological processes during embryonic development and in the adult brain. The pathological function of amyloid-β peptide has been extensively studied due to its implication in Alzheimer's disease, but its physiological function remains poorly understood. Amyloid-β peptide can be detected in non-aggregated (monomeric) and aggregated (oligomeric and fibrillary) forms. Each form has different cytotoxic and/or physiological properties, so amyloid-β peptide and its role in Alzheimer's disease need to be studied further. Neural stem cells and neural precursor cells are good tools for the study on neurodegenerative diseases and can provide future therapeutic applications in diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we provide an outline of the effects of amyloid-β peptide, in monomeric and aggregated forms, on the biology of neural stem cells/neural precursor cells, and discuss the controversies. We also describe the possible molecular targets that could be implicated in these effects, especially GSK3β. A better understanding of amyloid-β peptide (both physiological and pathological), and the signaling pathways involved are essential to advance the field of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adela Bernabeu-Zornoza
- Unidad de Regeneración Neural, Unidad Funcional de Investigación de Enfermedades Crónicas. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Coronel
- Unidad de Regeneración Neural, Unidad Funcional de Investigación de Enfermedades Crónicas. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Charlotte Palmer
- Unidad de Regeneración Neural, Unidad Funcional de Investigación de Enfermedades Crónicas. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Monteagudo
- Unidad de Regeneración Neural, Unidad Funcional de Investigación de Enfermedades Crónicas. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Zambrano
- Unidad de Regeneración Neural, Unidad Funcional de Investigación de Enfermedades Crónicas. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Liste
- Unidad de Regeneración Neural, Unidad Funcional de Investigación de Enfermedades Crónicas. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
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9
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Rahman MM, Westermark GT, Zetterberg H, Härd T, Sandgren M. Protofibrillar and Fibrillar Amyloid-β Binding Proteins in Cerebrospinal Fluid. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 66:1053-1064. [PMID: 30372682 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Aggregation and deposition of misfolded amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in the brain is central to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Oligomeric, protofibrillar, and fibrillar forms of Aβ are believed to be neurotoxic and cause neurodegeneration in AD, but the toxicity mechanisms are not well understood and may involve Aβ-interacting molecular partners. In a previous study, we identified potential Aβ42 protofibrillar-binding proteins in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using an engineered version of Aβ42 (Aβ42CC) that forms protofibrils, but not fibrils. Here we studied binding of proteins to Aβ42 fibrils in AD and non-AD CSF and compared these with protofibrillar Aβ42CC-binding partners. Aβ42 fibrils sequestered 2.4-fold more proteins than Aβ42CC protofibrils. Proteins with selective binding to fibrillar aggregates with low nanomolar affinity were identified. We also found that protofibrillar and fibrillar Aβ-binding proteins represent distinct functional categories. Aβ42CC protofibrils triggered interactions with proteins involved in catalytic activities, like transferases and oxidoreductases, while Aβ42 fibrils were more likely involved in binding to proteoglycans, growth factors and neuron-associated proteins, e.g., neurexin-1, -2, and -3. Interestingly, 10 brain-enriched proteins were identified among the fibril-binding proteins, while protofibril-extracted proteins had more general expression patterns. Both types of Aβ aggregates bound several extracellular proteins. Additionally, we list a set of CSF proteins that might have potential to discriminate between AD and non-AD CSF samples. The results may be of relevance both for biomarker studies and for studies of Aβ-related toxicity mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mahafuzur Rahman
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala BioCenter, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
| | - Torleif Härd
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala BioCenter, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mats Sandgren
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala BioCenter, Uppsala, Sweden
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10
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Jokar S, Khazaei S, Behnammanesh H, Shamloo A, Erfani M, Beiki D, Bavi O. Recent advances in the design and applications of amyloid-β peptide aggregation inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease therapy. Biophys Rev 2019; 11:10.1007/s12551-019-00606-2. [PMID: 31713720 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-019-00606-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible neurological disorder that progresses gradually and can cause severe cognitive and behavioral impairments. This disease is currently considered a social and economic incurable issue due to its complicated and multifactorial characteristics. Despite decades of extensive research, we still lack definitive AD diagnostic and effective therapeutic tools. Consequently, one of the most challenging subjects in modern medicine is the need for the development of new strategies for the treatment of AD. A large body of evidence indicates that amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide fibrillation plays a key role in the onset and progression of AD. Recent studies have reported that amyloid hypothesis-based treatments can be developed as a new approach to overcome the limitations and challenges associated with conventional AD therapeutics. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive view of the challenges in AD therapy and pathophysiology. We also discuss currently known compounds that can inhibit amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation and their potential role in advancing current AD treatments. We have specifically focused on Aβ aggregation inhibitors including metal chelators, nanostructures, organic molecules, peptides (or peptide mimics), and antibodies. To date, these molecules have been the subject of numerous in vitro and in vivo assays as well as molecular dynamics simulations to explore their mechanism of action and the fundamental structural groups involved in Aβ aggregation. Ultimately, the aim of these studies (and current review) is to achieve a rational design for effective therapeutic agents for AD treatment and diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safura Jokar
- Department of Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. BOX: 14155-6559, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeedeh Khazaei
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomaterials , Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. BOX: 14155-6559, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Behnammanesh
- Department of Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. BOX: 14155-6559, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Shamloo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box: 11365-11155, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mostafa Erfani
- Radiation Application Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), P.O. Box: 14155-1339, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Beiki
- Research Center for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. BOX: 14155-6559, Tehran, Iran
| | - Omid Bavi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Shiraz University of Technology, P.O. Box: 71555-313, Shiraz, Iran.
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11
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Agerschou ED, Flagmeier P, Saridaki T, Galvagnion C, Komnig D, Heid L, Prasad V, Shaykhalishahi H, Willbold D, Dobson CM, Voigt A, Falkenburger B, Hoyer W, Buell AK. An engineered monomer binding-protein for α-synuclein efficiently inhibits the proliferation of amyloid fibrils. eLife 2019; 8:46112. [PMID: 31389332 PMCID: PMC6721797 DOI: 10.7554/elife.46112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Removing or preventing the formation of α-synuclein aggregates is a plausible strategy against Parkinson’s disease. To this end, we have engineered the β-wrapin AS69 to bind monomeric α-synuclein with high affinity. In cultured cells, AS69 reduced the self-interaction of α-synuclein and formation of visible α-synuclein aggregates. In flies, AS69 reduced α-synuclein aggregates and the locomotor deficit resulting from α-synuclein expression in neuronal cells. In biophysical experiments in vitro, AS69 highly sub-stoichiometrically inhibited both primary and autocatalytic secondary nucleation processes, even in the presence of a large excess of monomer. We present evidence that the AS69-α-synuclein complex, rather than the free AS69, is the inhibitory species responsible for sub-stoichiometric inhibition of secondary nucleation. These results represent a new paradigm that high affinity monomer binders can lead to strongly sub-stoichiometric inhibition of nucleation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrick Flagmeier
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Céline Galvagnion
- RG Mechanisms of Neuroprotection, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.,Department of Pharmacology and Drug Design, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Komnig
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Laetitia Heid
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Vibha Prasad
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Hamed Shaykhalishahi
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6), Structural Biochemistry, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Voigt
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Bjoern Falkenburger
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Dresden University Medical Center, Dresden, Germany.,JARA BRAIN Institute II, Julich and Aachen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6), Structural Biochemistry, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Alexander K Buell
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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12
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Wentink A, Nussbaum-Krammer C, Bukau B. Modulation of Amyloid States by Molecular Chaperones. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2019; 11:cshperspect.a033969. [PMID: 30755450 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a033969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant protein aggregation is a defining feature of most neurodegenerative diseases. During pathological aggregation, key proteins transition from their native state to alternative conformations, which are prone to oligomerize into highly ordered fibrillar states. As part of the cellular quality control machinery, molecular chaperones can intervene at many stages of the aggregation process to inhibit or reverse aberrant protein aggregation or counteract the toxicity associated with amyloid species. Although the action of chaperones is considered cytoprotective, essential housekeeping functions can be hijacked for the propagation and spreading of protein aggregates, suggesting the cellular protein quality control system constitutes a double-edged sword in neurodegeneration. Here, we discuss the various mechanisms used by chaperones to influence protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils to understand how the interplay of these activities produces specific cellular outcomes and to define mechanisms that may be targeted by pharmacological agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Wentink
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carmen Nussbaum-Krammer
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bernd Bukau
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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13
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Perez C, Miti T, Hasecke F, Meisl G, Hoyer W, Muschol M, Ullah G. Mechanism of Fibril and Soluble Oligomer Formation in Amyloid Beta and Hen Egg White Lysozyme Proteins. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:5678-5689. [PMID: 31246474 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b02338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Assembly and deposition of insoluble amyloid fibrils with a distinctive cross-β-sheet structure is the molecular hallmark of amyloidogenic diseases affecting the central nervous system as well as non-neuropathic amyloidosis. Amyloidogenic proteins form aggregates via kinetic pathways dictated by initial solution conditions. Often, early stage, cytotoxic, small globular amyloid oligomers (gOs) and curvilinear fibrils (CFs) precede the formation of late-stage rigid fibrils (RFs). Growing experimental evidence suggests that soluble gOs are off-pathway aggregates that do not directly convert into the final stage RFs. Yet, the kinetics of RFs aggregation under conditions that either promote or suppress the growth of gOs remain incompletely understood. Here we present a self-assembly model for amyloid fibril formation in the presence and absence of early stage off-pathway aggregates, driven by our experimental results on hen egg white lysozyme (HewL) and beta amyloid (Aβ) aggregation. The model reproduces a range of experimental observations including the sharp boundary in the protein concentration above which the self-assembly of gOs occurs. This is possible when both primary and secondary RFs nucleation rates are allowed to have a nonlinear dependence on initial protein concentration, hinting toward more complex prenucleation and RFs assembly scenarios. Moreover, analysis of RFs lag period in the presence and absence of gOs indicates that these off-pathway aggregates have an inhibitory effect on RFs nucleation. Finally, we incorporate the effect of an Aβ binding protein on the aggregation process in the model that allows us to identify the most suitable solution conditions for suppressing gOs and RFs formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Perez
- Department of Physics , University of South Florida , Tampa , Florida 33620 , United States
| | - Tatiana Miti
- Department of Physics , University of South Florida , Tampa , Florida 33620 , United States
| | - Filip Hasecke
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie , Heinrich-Heine-Universität , 40204 Düsseldorf , Germany
| | - Georg Meisl
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge CB2 1EW , U.K
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge CB2 1EW , U.K.,Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6), Structural Biochemistry , Research Centre Jülich , 52425 Jülich , Germany
| | - Martin Muschol
- Department of Physics , University of South Florida , Tampa , Florida 33620 , United States
| | - Ghanim Ullah
- Department of Physics , University of South Florida , Tampa , Florida 33620 , United States
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14
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Boutajangout A, Lindberg H, Awwad A, Paul A, Baitalmal R, Almokyad I, Höidén-Guthenberg I, Gunneriusson E, Frejd FY, Härd T, Löfblom J, Ståhl S, Wisniewski T. Affibody-Mediated Sequestration of Amyloid β Demonstrates Preventive Efficacy in a Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model. Front Aging Neurosci 2019; 11:64. [PMID: 30967771 PMCID: PMC6440316 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Different strategies for treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are currently under investigation, including passive immunization with anti-amyloid β (anti-Aβ) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Here, we investigate the therapeutic potential of a novel type of Aβ-targeting agent based on an affibody molecule with fundamentally different properties to mAbs. We generated a therapeutic candidate, denoted ZSYM73-albumin-binding domain (ABD; 16.8 kDa), by genetic linkage of the dimeric ZSYM73 affibody for sequestering of monomeric Aβ-peptides and an ABD for extension of its in vivo half-life. Amyloid precursor protein (APP)/PS1 transgenic AD mice were administered with ZSYM73-ABD, followed by behavioral examination and immunohistochemistry. Results demonstrated rescued cognitive functions and significantly lower amyloid burden in the treated animals compared to controls. No toxicological symptoms or immunology-related side-effects were observed. To our knowledge, this is the first reported in vivo investigation of a systemically delivered scaffold protein against monomeric Aβ, demonstrating a therapeutic potential for prevention of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allal Boutajangout
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Physiology & Neuroscience, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hanna Lindberg
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Abdulaziz Awwad
- School of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arun Paul
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Rabaa Baitalmal
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ismail Almokyad
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | | | | | | | - Torleif Härd
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - John Löfblom
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Ståhl
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Wisniewski
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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15
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Pandey G, Morla S, Nemade HB, Kumar S, Ramakrishnan V. Modulation of aggregation with an electric field; scientific roadmap for a potential non-invasive therapy against tauopathies. RSC Adv 2019; 9:4744-4750. [PMID: 35514655 PMCID: PMC9060620 DOI: 10.1039/c8ra09993f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxic aggregation of tau protein to neurofibrillary tangles (NFTS) is a central pathological event involved in tauopathies. Inhibition of tau protein aggregation can serve as a straightforward therapeutic strategy. However, tau-based therapeutic solutions are not very common. Phenothiazine methylene blue (tau protein inhibitor) is currently the only drug under phase III clinical trials. In this work, a non-invasive strategy is presented for modulating the aggregation of core peptide segments of tau protein (VQIVYK and VQIINK) by using electric fields of varying strengths. We use thioflavin T staining, tyrosine fluorescence assay, electron microscopy, IR, dynamic and static light scattering, and neuronal toxicity estimation, for verifying the effect of electric field on the aggregation kinetics, morphology, conformational state and cellular toxicity of peptide systems. Our observations suggest that electric field arrests the self-assembly of VQIVYK and VQIINK fibrils thereby reducing the neurotoxicity instigated by them. Based on our observations, we propose a prospective scheme for a futuristic non-invasive therapeutic device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Pandey
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati Guwahati-781039 India +91 361 258 2249 +91 361 258 2227
| | - Sudhir Morla
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati Guwahati-781039 India +91 361 258 2249 +91 361 258 2227
| | - Harshal B Nemade
- Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati Guwahati-781039 India
| | - Sachin Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati Guwahati-781039 India +91 361 258 2249 +91 361 258 2227
| | - Vibin Ramakrishnan
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati Guwahati-781039 India +91 361 258 2249 +91 361 258 2227
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16
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Orr AA, Shaykhalishahi H, Mirecka EA, Jonnalagadda SVR, Hoyer W, Tamamis P. Elucidating the multi-targeted anti-amyloid activity and enhanced islet amyloid polypeptide binding of β-wrapins. Comput Chem Eng 2018; 116:322-332. [PMID: 30405276 PMCID: PMC6217933 DOI: 10.1016/j.compchemeng.2018.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
β-wrapins are engineered binding proteins stabilizing the β-hairpin conformations of amyloidogenic proteins islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), amyloid-β, and α-synuclein, thus inhibiting their amyloid propensity. Here, we use computational and experimental methods to investigate the molecular recognition of IAPP by β-wrapins. We show that the multi-targeted, IAPP, amyloid-β, and α-synuclein, binding properties of β-wrapins originate mainly from optimized interactions between β-wrapin residues and sets of residues in the three amyloidogenic proteins with similar physicochemical properties. Our results suggest that IAPP is a comparatively promiscuous β-wrapin target, probably due to the low number of charged residues in the IAPP β-hairpin motif. The sub-micromolar affinity of β-wrapin HI18, specifically selected against IAPP, is achieved in part by salt-bridge formation between HI18 residue Glu10 and the IAPP N-terminal residue Lys1, both located in the flexible N-termini of the interacting proteins. Our findings provide insights towards developing novel protein-based single- or multi-targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asuka A. Orr
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States
| | - Hamed Shaykhalishahi
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40204, Germany
| | - Ewa A. Mirecka
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40204, Germany
| | - Sai Vamshi R. Jonnalagadda
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40204, Germany
- Institute of Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich 52425, Germany
| | - Phanourios Tamamis
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States
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17
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Hasecke F, Miti T, Perez C, Barton J, Schölzel D, Gremer L, Grüning CSR, Matthews G, Meisl G, Knowles TPJ, Willbold D, Neudecker P, Heise H, Ullah G, Hoyer W, Muschol M. Origin of metastable oligomers and their effects on amyloid fibril self-assembly. Chem Sci 2018; 9:5937-5948. [PMID: 30079208 PMCID: PMC6050532 DOI: 10.1039/c8sc01479e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Assembly of rigid amyloid fibrils with their characteristic cross-β sheet structure is a molecular signature of numerous neurodegenerative and non-neuropathic disorders. Frequently large populations of small globular amyloid oligomers (gOs) and curvilinear fibrils (CFs) precede the formation of late-stage rigid fibrils (RFs), and have been implicated in amyloid toxicity. Yet our understanding of the origin of these metastable oligomers, their role as on-pathway precursors or off-pathway competitors, and their effects on the self-assembly of amyloid fibrils remains incomplete. Using two unrelated amyloid proteins, amyloid-β and lysozyme, we find that gO/CF formation, analogous to micelle formation by surfactants, is delineated by a "critical oligomer concentration" (COC). Below this COC, fibril assembly replicates the sigmoidal kinetics of nucleated polymerization. Upon crossing the COC, assembly kinetics becomes biphasic with gO/CF formation responsible for the lag-free initial phase, followed by a second upswing dominated by RF nucleation and growth. RF lag periods below the COC, as expected, decrease as a power law in monomer concentration. Surprisingly, the build-up of gO/CFs above the COC causes a progressive increase in RF lag periods. Our results suggest that metastable gO/CFs are off-pathway from RF formation, confined by a condition-dependent COC that is distinct from RF solubility, underlie a transition from sigmoidal to biphasic assembly kinetics and, most importantly, not only compete with RFs for the shared monomeric growth substrate but actively inhibit their nucleation and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Hasecke
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie , Heinrich-Heine-Universität , 40204 Düsseldorf , Germany .
| | - Tatiana Miti
- Department of Physics , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL 33620 , USA .
| | - Carlos Perez
- Department of Physics , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL 33620 , USA .
| | - Jeremy Barton
- Department of Physics , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL 33620 , USA .
| | - Daniel Schölzel
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie , Heinrich-Heine-Universität , 40204 Düsseldorf , Germany .
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6) , Structural Biochemistry , Research Centre Jülich , Germany
| | - Lothar Gremer
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie , Heinrich-Heine-Universität , 40204 Düsseldorf , Germany .
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6) , Structural Biochemistry , Research Centre Jülich , Germany
| | - Clara S R Grüning
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie , Heinrich-Heine-Universität , 40204 Düsseldorf , Germany .
| | - Garrett Matthews
- Department of Physics , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL 33620 , USA .
| | - Georg Meisl
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge CB2 1EW , UK
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge CB2 1EW , UK
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie , Heinrich-Heine-Universität , 40204 Düsseldorf , Germany .
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6) , Structural Biochemistry , Research Centre Jülich , Germany
| | - Philipp Neudecker
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie , Heinrich-Heine-Universität , 40204 Düsseldorf , Germany .
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6) , Structural Biochemistry , Research Centre Jülich , Germany
| | - Henrike Heise
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie , Heinrich-Heine-Universität , 40204 Düsseldorf , Germany .
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6) , Structural Biochemistry , Research Centre Jülich , Germany
| | - Ghanim Ullah
- Department of Physics , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL 33620 , USA .
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie , Heinrich-Heine-Universität , 40204 Düsseldorf , Germany .
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6) , Structural Biochemistry , Research Centre Jülich , Germany
| | - Martin Muschol
- Department of Physics , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL 33620 , USA .
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18
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Bode DC, Stanyon HF, Hirani T, Baker MD, Nield J, Viles JH. Serum Albumin's Protective Inhibition of Amyloid-β Fiber Formation Is Suppressed by Cholesterol, Fatty Acids and Warfarin. J Mol Biol 2018; 430:919-934. [PMID: 29409811 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Central to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is the assembly of monomeric amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) into oligomers and fibers. The most abundant protein in the blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid is human serum albumin. Albumin can bind to Aβ and is capable of inhibiting the fibrillization of Aβ at physiological (μM) concentrations. The ability of albumin to bind Aβ has recently been exploited in a phase II clinical trial, which showed a reduction in cognitive decline in AD patients undergoing albumin-plasma exchange. Here we explore the equilibrium between Aβ monomer, oligomer and fiber in the presence of albumin. Using transmission electron microscopy and thioflavin-T fluorescent dye, we have shown that albumin traps Aβ as oligomers, 9 nm in diameter. We show that albumin-trapped Aβ oligomeric assemblies are not capable of forming ion channels, which suggests a mechanism by which albumin is protective in Aβ-exposed neuronal cells. In vivo albumin binds a variety of endogenous and therapeutic exogenous hydrophobic molecules, including cholesterol, fatty acids and warfarin. We show that these molecules bind to albumin and suppress its ability to inhibit Aβ fiber formation. The interplay between Aβ, albumin and endogenous hydrophobic molecules impacts Aβ assembly; thus, changes in cholesterol and fatty acid levels in vivo may impact Aβ fibrillization, by altering the capacity of albumin to bind Aβ. These observations are particularly intriguing given that high cholesterol or fatty acid diets are well-established risk factors for late-onset AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Bode
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Rd., London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Helen F Stanyon
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Rd., London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Trisha Hirani
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Rd., London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Mark D Baker
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Whitechapel E1 2AT, UK
| | - Jon Nield
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Rd., London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - John H Viles
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Rd., London, E1 4NS, UK.
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19
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Wahlberg E, Rahman MM, Lindberg H, Gunneriusson E, Schmuck B, Lendel C, Sandgren M, Löfblom J, Ståhl S, Härd T. Identification of proteins that specifically recognize and bind protofibrillar aggregates of amyloid-β. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5949. [PMID: 28729665 PMCID: PMC5519597 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06377-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Protofibrils of the 42 amino acids long amyloid-β peptide are transient pre-fibrillar intermediates in the process of peptide aggregation into amyloid plaques and are thought to play a critical role in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. Hence, there is a need for research reagents and potential diagnostic reagents for detection and imaging of such aggregates. Here we describe an in vitro selection of Affibody molecules that bind to protofibrils of Aβ42cc, which is a stable engineered mimic of wild type Aβ42 protofibrils. Several binders were identified that bind Aβ42cc protofibrils with low nanomolar affinities, and which also recognize wild type Aβ42 protofibrils. Dimeric head-to-tail fusion proteins with subnanomolar binding affinities, and very slow dissociation off-rates, were also constructed. A mapping of the chemical properties of the side chains onto the Affibody scaffold surface reveals three distinct adjacent surface areas of positively charged surface, nonpolar surface and a polar surface, which presumably match a corresponding surface epitope on the protofibrils. The results demonstrate that the engineered Aβ42cc is a suitable antigen for directed evolution of affinity reagents with specificity for wild type Aβ42 protofibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Wahlberg
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala BioCenter, Box 7015, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.,Affibody AB, Gunnar Asplunds Allé 24, SE-171 69, Solna, Sweden
| | - M Mahafuzur Rahman
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala BioCenter, Box 7015, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hanna Lindberg
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), AlbaNova University Center, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Benjamin Schmuck
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala BioCenter, Box 7015, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christofer Lendel
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala BioCenter, Box 7015, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Sandgren
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala BioCenter, Box 7015, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - John Löfblom
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), AlbaNova University Center, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Ståhl
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), AlbaNova University Center, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Torleif Härd
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala BioCenter, Box 7015, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
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20
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Vandesquille M, Li T, Po C, Ganneau C, Lenormand P, Dudeffant C, Czech C, Grueninger F, Duyckaerts C, Delatour B, Dhenain M, Lafaye P, Bay S. Chemically-defined camelid antibody bioconjugate for the magnetic resonance imaging of Alzheimer's disease. MAbs 2017; 9:1016-1027. [PMID: 28657418 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2017.1342914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Today, molecular imaging of neurodegenerative diseases is mainly based on small molecule probes. Alternatively, antibodies are versatile tools that may be developed as new imaging agents. Indeed, they can be readily obtained to specifically target any antigen of interest and their scaffold can be functionalized. One of the critical issues involved in translating antibody-based probes to the clinic is the design and synthesis of perfectly-defined conjugates. Camelid single-domain antibody-fragments (VHHs) are very small and stable antibodies that are able to diffuse in tissues and potentially cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). Here, we selected a VHH (R3VQ) specifically targeting one of the main lesions of Alzheimer's disease (AD), namely the amyloid-beta (Aß) deposits. It was used as a scaffold for the design of imaging probes for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and labeled with the contrastophore gadolinium using either a random or site-specific approach. In contrast to the random strategy, the site-specific conjugation to a single reduced cysteine in the C-terminal part of the R3VQ generates a well-defined bioconjugate in a high yield process. This new imaging probe is able to cross the BBB and label Aß deposits after intravenous injection. Also, it displays improved r1 and r2 relaxivities, up to 30 times higher than a widely used clinical contrast agent, and it allows MRI detection of amyloid deposits in post mortem brain tissue of a mouse model of AD. The ability to produce chemically-defined VHH conjugates that cross the BBB opens the way for future development of tailored imaging probes targeting intracerebral antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Vandesquille
- a Institut Pasteur, Unité de Chimie des Biomolécules, Département Biologie Structurale et Chimie , Paris , France.,b CNRS UMR 3523, 75724 , France.,d French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission , Institute of Biomedical Imaging, Molecular Imaging Research Center , Fontenay-aux-Roses , France
| | - Tengfei Li
- c Institut Pasteur, CITECH, Plateforme d'Ingénierie des Anticorps , 75724 , Paris , France.,e Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06 UMR S 1127, and Inserm, U 1127, and CNRS UMR 7225, and ICM, 75013, Paris , France.,f Université Paris Diderot-Paris 7, Paris , France
| | - Chrystelle Po
- a Institut Pasteur, Unité de Chimie des Biomolécules, Département Biologie Structurale et Chimie , Paris , France.,b CNRS UMR 3523, 75724 , France.,d French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission , Institute of Biomedical Imaging, Molecular Imaging Research Center , Fontenay-aux-Roses , France
| | - Christelle Ganneau
- a Institut Pasteur, Unité de Chimie des Biomolécules, Département Biologie Structurale et Chimie , Paris , France.,b CNRS UMR 3523, 75724 , France
| | - Pascal Lenormand
- c Institut Pasteur, CITECH, Plateforme d'Ingénierie des Anticorps , 75724 , Paris , France
| | - Clémence Dudeffant
- e Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06 UMR S 1127, and Inserm, U 1127, and CNRS UMR 7225, and ICM, 75013, Paris , France
| | - Christian Czech
- g F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, NORD DTA, Roche Innovation Center Basel , Basel , Switzerland
| | - Fiona Grueninger
- g F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, NORD DTA, Roche Innovation Center Basel , Basel , Switzerland
| | - Charles Duyckaerts
- e Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06 UMR S 1127, and Inserm, U 1127, and CNRS UMR 7225, and ICM, 75013, Paris , France
| | - Benoît Delatour
- e Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06 UMR S 1127, and Inserm, U 1127, and CNRS UMR 7225, and ICM, 75013, Paris , France
| | - Marc Dhenain
- d French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission , Institute of Biomedical Imaging, Molecular Imaging Research Center , Fontenay-aux-Roses , France
| | - Pierre Lafaye
- c Institut Pasteur, CITECH, Plateforme d'Ingénierie des Anticorps , 75724 , Paris , France
| | - Sylvie Bay
- a Institut Pasteur, Unité de Chimie des Biomolécules, Département Biologie Structurale et Chimie , Paris , France.,b CNRS UMR 3523, 75724 , France
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21
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Ståhl S, Gräslund T, Eriksson Karlström A, Frejd FY, Nygren PÅ, Löfblom J. Affibody Molecules in Biotechnological and Medical Applications. Trends Biotechnol 2017; 35:691-712. [PMID: 28514998 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2017.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Revised: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Affibody molecules are small (6.5-kDa) affinity proteins based on a three-helix bundle domain framework. Since their introduction 20 years ago as an alternative to antibodies for biotechnological applications, the first therapeutic affibody molecules have now entered clinical development and more than 400 studies have been published in which affibody molecules have been developed and used in a variety of contexts. In this review, we focus primarily on efforts over the past 5 years to explore the potential of affibody molecules for medical applications in oncology, neurodegenerative, and inflammation disorders, including molecular imaging, receptor signal blocking, and delivery of toxic payloads. In addition, we describe recent examples of biotechnological applications, in which affibody molecules have been exploited as modular affinity fusion partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Ståhl
- Division of Protein Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Torbjörn Gräslund
- Division of Protein Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Fredrik Y Frejd
- Unit of Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; Affibody AB, Gunnar Asplunds Allé 24, SE-171 69 Solna, Sweden
| | - Per-Åke Nygren
- Division of Protein Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Löfblom
- Division of Protein Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
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22
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Abstract
Affibody molecules can be used as tools for molecular recognition in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. There are several preclinical studies reported on diagnostic and therapeutic use of this molecular class of alternative scaffolds, and early clinical evidence is now beginning to accumulate that suggests the Affibody molecules to be efficacious and safe in man. The small size and ease of engineering make Affibody molecules suitable for use in multispecific constructs where AffiMabs is one such that offers the option to potentiate antibodies for use in complex disease.
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23
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Orr AA, Wördehoff MM, Hoyer W, Tamamis P. Uncovering the Binding and Specificity of β-Wrapins for Amyloid-β and α-Synuclein. J Phys Chem B 2016; 120:12781-12794. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b08485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Asuka A. Orr
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States
| | - Michael M. Wördehoff
- Institut
für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40204 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institut
für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40204 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute
of Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Phanourios Tamamis
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States
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24
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Lindberg H, Sandersjöö L, Meister SW, Uhlén M, Löfblom J, Ståhl S. Flow-cytometric screening of aggregation-inhibitors using a fluorescence-assisted intracellular method. Biotechnol J 2016; 12. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201600364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Lindberg
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology; KTH - Royal Institute of Technology; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Lisa Sandersjöö
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology; KTH - Royal Institute of Technology; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Sebastian W. Meister
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology; KTH - Royal Institute of Technology; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Mathias Uhlén
- Division of Proteomics and Nanobiotechnology, Science for Life Laboratory, School of Biotechnology; KTH - Royal Institute of Technology; Solna Sweden
| | - John Löfblom
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology; KTH - Royal Institute of Technology; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Stefan Ståhl
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology; KTH - Royal Institute of Technology; Stockholm Sweden
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25
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Marciani DJ. Rejecting the Alzheimer's disease vaccine development for the wrong reasons. Drug Discov Today 2016; 22:609-614. [PMID: 27989721 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The development of amyloid β (Aβ) vaccines for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has consistently failed clinically, an outcome that is assumed to result from flaws in the proposed role of Aβ as the crucial causative agent of this disease. This opinion resulted in this research approach being disregarded, yet, review of the development of these vaccines indicates that they are more suited to transgenic mice, which is unsurprising given that these animal models were used to determine the efficacy of these vaccines, and that the approach overlooked research findings relevant to AD vaccines. Hence, new strategies using new immunogens and anti-inflammatory adjuvants mimicking the natural protective immunity against AD should be implemented to develop effective preventive vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dante J Marciani
- Qantu Therapeutics, Inc., 612 E. Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75057, USA.
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26
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Bergkvist L, Sandin L, Kågedal K, Brorsson AC. AβPP processing results in greater toxicity per amount of Aβ1-42 than individually expressed and secreted Aβ1-42 in Drosophila melanogaster. Biol Open 2016; 5:1030-9. [PMID: 27387531 PMCID: PMC5004604 DOI: 10.1242/bio.017194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide into fibrillar deposits has long been considered the key neuropathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ peptides are generated from proteolytic processing of the transmembrane Aβ precursor protein (AβPP) via sequential proteolysis through the β-secretase activity of β-site AβPP-cleaving enzyme (BACE1) and by the intramembranous enzyme γ-secretase. For over a decade, Drosophila melanogaster has been used as a model organism to study AD, and two different approaches have been developed to investigate the toxicity caused by AD-associated gene products in vivo. In one model, the Aβ peptide is directly over-expressed fused to a signal peptide, allowing secretion of the peptide into the extracellular space. In the other model, human AβPP is co-expressed with human BACE1, resulting in production of the Aβ peptide through the processing of AβPP by BACE1 and by endogenous fly γ-secretase. Here, we performed a parallel study of flies that expressed the Aβ1-42 peptide alone or that co-expressed AβPP and BACE1. Toxic effects (assessed by eye phenotype, longevity and locomotor assays) and levels of the Aβ1-42, Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-38 peptides were examined. Our data reveal that the toxic effect per amount of detected Aβ1-42 peptide was higher in the flies co-expressing AβPP and BACE1 than in the Aβ1-42-expressing flies, and that the co-existence of Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40 in the flies co-expressing AβPP and BACE1 could be of significant importance to the neurotoxic effect detected in these flies. Thus, the toxicity detected in these two fly models seems to have different modes of action and is highly dependent on how and where the peptide is generated rather than on the actual level of the Aβ1-42 peptide in the flies. This is important knowledge that needs to be taken into consideration when using Drosophila models to investigate disease mechanisms or therapeutic strategies in AD research. Summary: In Drosophila, the proteotoxic effect of Aβ1-42 is highly dependent on how and where the peptide is generated, rather than on the peptide level in the flies, with implications for Alzheimer's disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liza Bergkvist
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden
| | - Linnea Sandin
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden
| | - Katarina Kågedal
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden
| | - Ann-Christin Brorsson
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden
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27
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High-affinity Anticalins with aggregation-blocking activity directed against the Alzheimer β-amyloid peptide. Biochem J 2016; 473:1563-78. [PMID: 27029347 PMCID: PMC4888463 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20160114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Anticalins engineered for high affinity and specificity towards the central VFFAED epitope in Aβ peptides potently inhibit their aggregation, thus providing novel reagents to study the molecular pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and alternative drug candidates compared with current biopharmaceutical treatments. Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides, in particular Aβ42 and Aβ40, exert neurotoxic effects and their overproduction leads to amyloid deposits in the brain, thus constituting an important biomolecular target for treatments of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We describe the engineering of cognate Anticalins as a novel type of neutralizing protein reagent based on the human lipocalin scaffold. Phage display selection from a genetic random library comprising variants of the human lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) with mutations targeted at 20 exposed amino acid positions in the four loops that form the natural binding site was performed using both recombinant and synthetic target peptides and resulted in three different Anticalins. Biochemical characterization of the purified proteins produced by periplasmic secretion in Escherichia coli revealed high folding stability in a monomeric state, with Tm values ranging from 53.4°C to 74.5°C, as well as high affinities for Aβ40, between 95 pM and 563 pM, as measured by real-time surface plasmon resonance analysis. The central linear VFFAED epitope within the Aβ sequence was mapped using a synthetic peptide array on membranes and was shared by all three Anticalins, despite up to 13 mutual amino acid differences in their binding sites. All Anticalins had the ability–with varying extent–to inhibit Aβ aggregation in vitro according to the thioflavin-T fluorescence assay and, furthermore, they abolished Aβ42-mediated toxicity in neuronal cell culture. Thus, these Anticalins provide not only useful protein reagents to study the molecular pathology of AD but they also show potential as alternative drug candidates compared with antibodies.
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28
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Wang X, Sun X, Kuang G, Ågren H, Tu Y. A theoretical study on the molecular determinants of the affibody protein Z(Aβ3) bound to an amyloid β peptide. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 17:16886-93. [PMID: 26060853 DOI: 10.1039/c5cp00615e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides are small cleavage products of the amyloid precursor protein. Aggregates of Aβ peptides are thought to be linked with Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Strategies aimed at inhibiting amyloid formation and promoting Aβ clearance have been proposed and investigated in in vitro experiments and in vivo therapies. A recent study indicated that a novel affibody protein ZAβ3, which binds to an Aβ40 monomer with a binding affinity of 17 nM, is able to prevent the aggregation of Aβ40. However, little is known about the energetic contribution of each residue in ZAβ3 to the formation of the (ZAβ3)2:Aβ complex. To address this issue, we carried out unbiased molecular dynamics simulations and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area calculations. Through the per-residue decomposition scheme, we identified that the van der Waals interactions between the hydrophobic residues of (ZAβ3)2 and those at the exterior and interior faces of Aβ are the main contributors to the binding of (ZAβ3)2 to Aβ. Computational alanine scanning identified 5 hot spots, all residing in the binding interface and contributing to the binding of (ZAβ3)2 to Aβ through the hydrophobic effect. In addition, the amide hydrogen bonds in the 4-strand β-sheet and the π-π stacking were also analyzed. Overall, our study provides a theoretical basis for future experimental improvement of the ZAβ3 peptide binding to Aβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Wang
- Division of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
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29
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Ott S, Vishnivetskaya A, Malmendal A, Crowther DC. Metabolic changes may precede proteostatic dysfunction in a Drosophila model of amyloid beta peptide toxicity. Neurobiol Aging 2016; 41:39-52. [PMID: 27103517 PMCID: PMC4869574 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide aggregation is linked to the initiation of Alzheimer's disease; accordingly, aggregation-prone isoforms of Aβ, expressed in the brain, shorten the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. However, the lethal effects of Aβ are not apparent until after day 15. We used shibireTS flies that exhibit a temperature-sensitive paralysis phenotype as a reporter of proteostatic robustness. In this model, we found that increasing age but not Aβ expression lowered the flies' permissive temperature, suggesting that Aβ did not exert its lethal effects by proteostatic disruption. Instead, we observed that chemical challenges, in particular oxidative stressors, discriminated clearly between young (robust) and old (sensitive) flies. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in combination with multivariate analysis, we compared water-soluble metabolite profiles at various ages in flies expressing Aβ in their brains. We observed 2 genotype-linked metabolomic signals, the first reported the presence of any Aβ isoform and the second the effects of the lethal Arctic Aβ. Lethality was specifically associated with signs of oxidative respiration dysfunction and oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Ott
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Anders Malmendal
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
| | - Damian C Crowther
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Neuroscience IMED, MedImmune Limited, Granta Park, Cambridge, UK.
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30
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Brener O, Dunkelmann T, Gremer L, van Groen T, Mirecka EA, Kadish I, Willuweit A, Kutzsche J, Jürgens D, Rudolph S, Tusche M, Bongen P, Pietruszka J, Oesterhelt F, Langen KJ, Demuth HU, Janssen A, Hoyer W, Funke SA, Nagel-Steger L, Willbold D. QIAD assay for quantitating a compound's efficacy in elimination of toxic Aβ oligomers. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13222. [PMID: 26394756 PMCID: PMC4585794 DOI: 10.1038/srep13222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Strong evidence exists for a central role of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) oligomers in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. We have developed a fast, reliable and robust in vitro assay, termed QIAD, to quantify the effect of any compound on the Aβ aggregate size distribution. Applying QIAD, we studied the effect of homotaurine, scyllo-inositol, EGCG, the benzofuran derivative KMS88009, ZAβ3W, the D-enantiomeric peptide D3 and its tandem version D3D3 on Aβ aggregation. The predictive power of the assay for in vivo efficacy is demonstrated by comparing the oligomer elimination efficiency of D3 and D3D3 with their treatment effects in animal models of Alzheimer´s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksandr Brener
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.,Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tina Dunkelmann
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Lothar Gremer
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.,Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas van Groen
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Ewa A Mirecka
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Inga Kadish
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Antje Willuweit
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-4), Research Centre Jülich (FZJ), 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Janine Kutzsche
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Dagmar Jürgens
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Stephan Rudolph
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Markus Tusche
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Patrick Bongen
- Institute for Bioorganic Chemistry, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 52426 Jülich, Germany
| | - Jörg Pietruszka
- Institute for Bioorganic Chemistry, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 52426 Jülich, Germany.,Institut für Bio- und Geowissenschaften: Biotechnologie (IBG-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Filipp Oesterhelt
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Karl-Josef Langen
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-4), Research Centre Jülich (FZJ), 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Demuth
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Dep. Molecular Drug Biochemistry and Therapy, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Arnold Janssen
- Institute of Mathematics, Lehrstuhl für Statistik und Wahrscheinlichkeitstheorie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.,Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Susanne A Funke
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.,Bioanalytik, Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Coburg, Germany
| | - Luitgard Nagel-Steger
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.,Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.,Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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31
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Lindberg H, Härd T, Löfblom J, Ståhl S. A truncated and dimeric format of an Affibody library on bacteria enables FACS‐mediated isolation of amyloid‐beta aggregation inhibitors with subnanomolar affinity. Biotechnol J 2015; 10:1707-18. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201500131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Lindberg
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Torleif Härd
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - John Löfblom
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Ståhl
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm, Sweden
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32
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De Genst E, Muyldermans S. Development of a high affinity Affibody-derived protein against amyloid β-peptide for future Alzheimer's disease therapy. Biotechnol J 2015; 10:1668-9. [PMID: 26356678 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201500405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Revised: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Erwin De Genst
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Serge Muyldermans
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium.
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33
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Modeling the complex pathology of Alzheimer's disease in Drosophila. Exp Neurol 2015; 274:58-71. [PMID: 26024860 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia and the most common neurodegenerative disorder. AD is mostly a sporadic disorder and its main risk factor is age, but mutations in three genes that promote the accumulation of the amyloid-β (Aβ42) peptide revealed the critical role of amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing in AD. Neurofibrillary tangles enriched in tau are the other pathological hallmark of AD, but the lack of causative tau mutations still puzzles researchers. Here, we describe the contribution of a powerful invertebrate model, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, to uncover the function and pathogenesis of human APP, Aβ42, and tau. APP and tau participate in many complex cellular processes, although their main function is microtubule stabilization and the to-and-fro transport of axonal vesicles. Additionally, expression of secreted Aβ42 induces prominent neuronal death in Drosophila, a critical feature of AD, making this model a popular choice for identifying intrinsic and extrinsic factors mediating Aβ42 neurotoxicity. Overall, Drosophila has made significant contributions to better understand the complex pathology of AD, although additional insight can be expected from combining multiple transgenes, performing genome-wide loss-of-function screens, and testing anti-tau therapies alone or in combination with Aβ42.
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34
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Gauhar A, Shaykhalishahi H, Gremer L, Mirecka EA, Hoyer W. Impact of subunit linkages in an engineered homodimeric binding protein to α-synuclein. Protein Eng Des Sel 2014; 27:473-9. [PMID: 25332193 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzu047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of the protein α-synuclein (α-syn) has been implicated in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, collectively referred to as synucleinopathies. The β-wrapin AS69 is a small engineered binding protein to α-syn that stabilizes a β-hairpin conformation of monomeric α-syn and inhibits α-syn aggregation at substoichiometric concentrations. AS69 is a homodimer whose subunits are linked via a disulfide bridge between their single cysteine residues, Cys-28. Here we show that expression of a functional dimer as a single polypeptide chain is achievable by head-to-tail linkage of AS69 subunits. Choice of a suitable linker is essential for construction of head-to-tail dimers that exhibit undiminished α-syn affinity compared with the solely disulfide-linked dimer. We characterize AS69-GS3, a head-to-tail dimer with a glycine-serine-rich linker, under oxidized and reduced conditions in order to evaluate the impact of the Cys28-disulfide bond on structure, stability and α-syn binding. Formation of the disulfide bond causes compaction of AS69-GS3, increases its thermostability, and is a prerequisite for high-affinity binding to α-syn. Comparison of AS69-GS3 and AS69 demonstrates that head-to-tail linkage promotes α-syn binding by affording accelerated disulfide bond formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aziz Gauhar
- Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hamed Shaykhalishahi
- Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lothar Gremer
- Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany Institute of Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Ewa A Mirecka
- Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany Institute of Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
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35
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Haupt C, Fändrich M. Biotechnologically engineered protein binders for applications in amyloid diseases. Trends Biotechnol 2014; 32:513-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2014] [Revised: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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36
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Allan K, Perez KA, Barnham KJ, Camakaris J, Burke R. A commonly usedDrosophilamodel of Alzheimer's disease generates an aberrant species of amyloid-β with an additional N-terminal glutamine residue. FEBS Lett 2014; 588:3739-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Revised: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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37
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Knowles TPJ, Vendruscolo M, Dobson CM. The amyloid state and its association with protein misfolding diseases. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2014; 15:384-96. [PMID: 24854788 DOI: 10.1038/nrm3810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1584] [Impact Index Per Article: 158.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The phenomenon of protein aggregation and amyloid formation has become the subject of rapidly increasing research activities across a wide range of scientific disciplines. Such activities have been stimulated by the association of amyloid deposition with a range of debilitating medical disorders, from Alzheimer's disease to type II diabetes, many of which are major threats to human health and welfare in the modern world. It has become clear, however, that the ability to form the amyloid state is more general than previously imagined, and that its study can provide unique insights into the nature of the functional forms of peptides and proteins, as well as understanding the means by which protein homeostasis can be maintained and protein metastasis avoided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuomas P J Knowles
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
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38
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Wacker J, Rönicke R, Westermann M, Wulff M, Reymann KG, Dobson CM, Horn U, Crowther DC, Luheshi LM, Fändrich M. Oligomer-targeting with a conformational antibody fragment promotes toxicity in Aβ-expressing flies. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2014; 2:43. [PMID: 24725347 PMCID: PMC4029271 DOI: 10.1186/2051-5960-2-43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The self-assembly of Aβ peptides into a range of conformationally heterogeneous amyloid states represents a fundamental event in Alzheimer’s disease. Within these structures oligomeric intermediates are considered to be particularly pathogenic. To test this hypothesis we have used a conformational targeting approach where particular conformational states, such as oligomers or fibrils, are recognized in vivo by state-specific antibody fragments. Results We show that oligomer targeting with the KW1 antibody fragment, but not fibril targeting with the B10 antibody fragment, affects toxicity in Aβ-expressing Drosophila melanogaster. The effect of KW1 is observed to occur selectively with flies expressing Aβ(1–40) and not with those expressing Aβ(1–42) or the arctic variant of Aβ(1–42) This finding is consistent with the binding preference of KW1 for Aβ(1–40) oligomers that has been established in vitro. Strikingly, and in contrast to the previously demonstrated in vitro ability of this antibody fragment to block oligomeric toxicity in long-term potentiation measurements, KW1 promotes toxicity in the flies rather than preventing it. This result shows the crucial importance of the environment in determining the influence of antibody binding on the nature and consequences of the protein misfolding and aggregation. Conclusions While our data support to the pathological relevance of oligomers, they highlight the issues to be addressed when developing inhibitory strategies that aim to neutralize these states by means of antagonistic binding agents.
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39
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Narayan P, Holmström KM, Kim DH, Whitcomb DJ, Wilson MR, St George-Hyslop P, Wood NW, Dobson CM, Cho K, Abramov AY, Klenerman D. Rare individual amyloid-β oligomers act on astrocytes to initiate neuronal damage. Biochemistry 2014; 53:2442-53. [PMID: 24717093 PMCID: PMC4004235 DOI: 10.1021/bi401606f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Oligomers of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide have been implicated in the neurotoxicity associated with Alzheimer's disease. We have used single-molecule techniques to examine quantitatively the cellular effects of adding well characterized Aβ oligomers to primary hippocampal cells and hence determine the initial pathway of damage. We found that even picomolar concentrations of Aβ (1-40) and Aβ (1-42) oligomers can, within minutes of addition, increase the levels of intracellular calcium in astrocytes but not in neurons, and this effect is saturated at a concentration of about 10 nM of oligomers. Both Aβ (1-40) and Aβ (1-42) oligomers have comparable effects. The rise in intracellular calcium is followed by an increase in the rate of ROS production by NADPH oxidase in both neurons and astrocytes. The increase in ROS production then triggers caspase-3 activation resulting in the inhibition of long-term potentiation. Our quantitative approach also reveals that only a small fraction of the oligomers are damaging and that an individual rare oligomer binding to an astrocyte can initiate the aforementioned cascade of responses, making it unlikely to be due to any specific interaction. Preincubating the Aβ oligomers with an extracellular chaperone, clusterin, sequesters the oligomers in long-lived complexes and inhibits all of the physiological damage, even at a ratio of 100:1, total Aβ to clusterin. To explain how Aβ oligomers are so damaging but that it takes decades to develop Alzheimer's disease, we suggest a model for disease progression where small amounts of neuronal damage from individual unsequestered oligomers can accumulate over time leading to widespread tissue-level dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Narayan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road, Cambridge, U.K
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40
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Hermansson E, Schultz S, Crowther D, Linse S, Winblad B, Westermark G, Johansson J, Presto J. The chaperone domain BRICHOS prevents CNS toxicity of amyloid-β peptide in Drosophila melanogaster. Dis Model Mech 2014; 7:659-65. [PMID: 24682783 PMCID: PMC4036473 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.014787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) into toxic oligomers and amyloid fibrils is linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Mutations of the BRICHOS chaperone domain are associated with amyloid disease and recent in vitro data show that BRICHOS efficiently delays Aβ42 oligomerization and fibril formation. We have generated transgenic Drosophila melanogaster flies that express the Aβ42 peptide and the BRICHOS domain in the central nervous system (CNS). Co-expression of Aβ42 and BRICHOS resulted in delayed Aβ42 aggregation and dramatic improvements of both lifespan and locomotor function compared with flies expressing Aβ42 alone. Moreover, BRICHOS increased the ratio of soluble:insoluble Aβ42 and bound to deposits of Aβ42 in the fly brain. Our results show that the BRICHOS domain efficiently reduces the neurotoxic effects of Aβ42, although significant Aβ42 aggregation is taking place. We propose that BRICHOS-based approaches should be explored with an aim towards the future prevention and treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Hermansson
- KI Alzheimer Disease Research Centre, NVS Department, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, 5th Floor, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Schultz
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital - The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | - Damian Crowther
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Sara Linse
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, PO Box 124, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Bengt Winblad
- KI Alzheimer Disease Research Centre, NVS Department, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, 5th Floor, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gunilla Westermark
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- KI Alzheimer Disease Research Centre, NVS Department, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, 5th Floor, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, The Biomedical Centre, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden. Institute of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tallinn University, Narva mnt 25, 101 20 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Jenny Presto
- KI Alzheimer Disease Research Centre, NVS Department, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, 5th Floor, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
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41
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Abstract
Amyloid fibrils with cross-β spine basic architectures are prevalent and stable forms of peptides and proteins. Recent research has provided significant contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms of fibril formation and to the surprising diversity and persistence of structural polymorphism in amyloid fibrils. There have also been successful demonstrations of how molecules can be engineered to inhibit unwanted amyloid formation by different mechanisms. Future research in these areas will include investigations of mechanisms for primary nucleation and the structure of oligomeric intermediates, the general role of secondary nucleation events (autocatalysis), elucidation of the mechanisms and implications of preservation of structural morphology in amyloid propagation, and research into the largely unexplored phenomenon of cross-seeding, by which amyloid fibrils of one species induce the formation of amyloid by another species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torleif Härd
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7015, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
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42
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Grüning CSR, Klinker S, Wolff M, Schneider M, Toksöz K, Klein AN, Nagel-Steger L, Willbold D, Hoyer W. The off-rate of monomers dissociating from amyloid-β protofibrils. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:37104-11. [PMID: 24247242 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.513432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The interconversion of monomers, oligomers, and amyloid fibrils of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. The determination of the kinetics of the individual association and dissociation reactions is hampered by the fact that forward and reverse reactions to/from different aggregation states occur simultaneously. Here, we report the kinetics of dissociation of Aβ monomers from protofibrils, prefibrillar high molecular weight oligomers previously shown to possess pronounced neurotoxicity. An engineered binding protein sequestering specifically monomeric Aβ was employed to follow protofibril dissociation by tryptophan fluorescence, precluding confounding effects of reverse or competing reactions. Aβ protofibril dissociation into monomers follows exponential decay kinetics with a time constant of ∼2 h at 25 °C and an activation energy of 80 kJ/mol, values typical for high affinity biomolecular interactions. This study demonstrates the high kinetic stability of Aβ protofibrils toward dissociation into monomers and supports the delineation of the Aβ folding and assembly energy landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara S R Grüning
- From the Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, 40204 Düsseldorf and
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43
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Wärmländer S, Tiiman A, Abelein A, Luo J, Jarvet J, Söderberg KL, Danielsson J, Gräslund A. Biophysical studies of the amyloid β-peptide: interactions with metal ions and small molecules. Chembiochem 2013; 14:1692-704. [PMID: 23983094 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201300262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most common of the protein misfolding ("amyloid") diseases. The deposits in the brains of afflicted patients contain as a major fraction an aggregated insoluble form of the so-called amyloid β-peptides (Aβ peptides): fragments of the amyloid precursor protein of 39-43 residues in length. This review focuses on biophysical studies of the Aβ peptides: that is, of the aggregation pathways and intermediates observed during aggregation, of the molecular structures observed along these pathways, and of the interactions of Aβ with Cu and Zn ions and with small molecules that modify the aggregation pathways. Particular emphasis is placed on studies based on high-resolution and solid-state NMR methods. Theoretical studies relating to the interactions are also included. An emerging picture is that of Aβ peptides in aqueous solution undergoing hydrophobic collapse together with identical partners. There then follows a relatively slow process leading to more ordered secondary and tertiary (quaternary) structures in the growing aggregates. These aggregates eventually assemble into elongated fibrils visible by electron microscopy. Small molecules or metal ions that interfere with the aggregation processes give rise to a variety of aggregation products that may be studied in vitro and considered in relation to observations in cell cultures or in vivo. Although the heterogeneous nature of the processes makes detailed structural studies difficult, knowledge and understanding of the underlying physical chemistry might provide a basis for future therapeutic strategies against the disease. A final part of the review deals with the interactions that may occur between the Aβ peptides and the prion protein, where the latter is involved in other protein misfolding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Wärmländer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm (Sweden)
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44
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Dubnovitsky A, Sandberg A, Rahman MM, Benilova I, Lendel C, Härd T. Amyloid-β protofibrils: size, morphology and synaptotoxicity of an engineered mimic. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66101. [PMID: 23843949 PMCID: PMC3699592 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural and biochemical studies of the aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) are important to understand the mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease, but research is complicated by aggregate inhomogeneity and instability. We previously engineered a hairpin form of Aβ called Aβcc, which forms stable protofibrils that do not convert into amyloid fibrils. Here we provide a detailed characterization of Aβ42cc protofibrils. Like wild type Aβ they appear as smooth rod-like particles with a diameter of 3.1 (±0.2) nm and typical lengths in the range 60 to 220 nm when observed by atomic force microscopy. Non-perturbing analytical ultracentrifugation and nanoparticle tracking analyses are consistent with such rod-like protofibrils. Aβ42cc protofibrils bind the ANS dye indicating that they, like other toxic protein aggregates, expose hydrophobic surface. Assays with the OC/A11 pair of oligomer specific antibodies put Aβ42cc protofibrils into the same class of species as fibrillar oligomers of wild type Aβ. Aβ42cc protofibrils may be used to extract binding proteins in biological fluids and apolipoprotein E is readily detected as a binder in human serum. Finally, Aβ42cc protofibrils act to attenuate spontaneous synaptic activity in mouse hippocampal neurons. The experiments indicate considerable structural and chemical similarities between protofibrils formed by Aβ42cc and aggregates of wild type Aβ42. We suggest that Aβ42cc protofibrils may be used in research and applications that require stable preparations of protofibrillar Aβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anatoly Dubnovitsky
- Department of Molecular Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - M. Mahafuzur Rahman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Iryna Benilova
- Department for Molecular and Developmental Genetics, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Human Genetics, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christofer Lendel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Torleif Härd
- Department of Molecular Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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45
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Cascella R, Conti S, Tatini F, Evangelisti E, Scartabelli T, Casamenti F, Wilson MR, Chiti F, Cecchi C. Extracellular chaperones prevent Aβ42-induced toxicity in rat brains. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1832:1217-26. [PMID: 23602994 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2012] [Revised: 03/12/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by cognitive decline, formation of the extracellular amyloid β (Aβ42) plaques, neuronal and synapse loss, and activated microglia and astrocytes. Extracellular chaperones, which are known to inhibit amyloid fibril formation and promote clearance of misfolded aggregates, have recently been shown to reduce efficiently the toxicity of HypF-N misfolded oligomers to immortalised cell lines, by binding and clustering them into large species. However, the role of extracellular chaperones on Aβ oligomer toxicity remains unclear, with reports often appearing contradictory. In this study we microinjected into the hippocampus of rat brains Aβ42 oligomers pre-incubated for 1h with two extracellular chaperones, namely clusterin and α2-macroglobulin. The chaperones were found to prevent Aβ42-induced learning and memory impairments, as assessed by the Morris Water Maze test, and reduce Aβ42-induced glia inflammation and neuronal degeneration in rat brains, as probed by fluorescent immunohistochemical analyses. Moreover, the chaperones were able to prevent Aβ42 colocalisation with PSD-95 at post-synaptic terminals of rat primary neurons, suppressing oligomer cytotoxicity. All such effects were not effective by adding pre-formed oligomers and chaperones without preincubation. Molecular chaperones have therefore the potential to prevent the early symptoms of AD, not just by inhibiting Aβ42 aggregation, as previously demonstrated, but also by suppressing the toxicity of Aβ42 oligomers after they are formed. These findings elect them as novel neuroprotectors against amyloid-induced injury and excellent candidates for the design of therapeutic strategies against AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Cascella
- Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, V.le GB Morgagni 50, 50134, Italy
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46
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Lindgren J, Segerfeldt P, Sholts SB, Gräslund A, Karlström AE, Wärmländer SKTS. Engineered non-fluorescent Affibody molecules facilitate studies of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide in monomeric form: low pH was found to reduce Aβ/Cu(II) binding affinity. J Inorg Biochem 2012; 120:18-23. [PMID: 23262458 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2012.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Revised: 11/23/2012] [Accepted: 11/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Aggregation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides into oligomers and amyloid plaques in the human brain is considered a causative factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD). As metal ions are over-represented in AD patient brains, and as distinct Aβ aggregation pathways in presence of Cu(II) have been demonstrated, metal binding to Aβ likely affects AD progression. Aβ aggregation is moreover pH-dependent, and AD appears to involve inflammatory conditions leading to physiological acidosis. Although metal binding specificity to Aβ varies at different pH's, metal binding affinity to Aβ has so far not been quantitatively investigated at sub-neutral pH levels. This may be explained by the difficulties involved in studying monomeric peptide properties under aggregation-promoting conditions. We have recently devised a modified Affibody molecule, Z(Aβ3)(12-58), that binds Aβ with sub-nanomolar affinity, thereby locking the peptide in monomeric form without affecting the N-terminal region where metal ions bind. Here, we introduce non-fluorescent Aβ-binding Affibody variants that keep Aβ monomeric while only slightly affecting the Aβ peptide's metal binding properties. Using fluorescence spectroscopy, we demonstrate that Cu(II)/Aβ(1-40) binding is almost two orders of magnitude weaker at pH 5.0 (apparent K(D)=51 μM) than at pH 7.3 (apparent K(D)=0.86 μM). This effect is arguably caused by protonation of the histidines involved in the metal ligandation. Our results indicate that engineered variants of Affibody molecules are useful for studying metal-binding and other properties of monomeric Aβ under various physiological conditions, which will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Lindgren
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Centre, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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47
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Lindberg H, Johansson A, Härd T, Ståhl S, Löfblom J. Staphylococcal display for combinatorial protein engineering of a head-to-tail affibody dimer binding the Alzheimer amyloid-β peptide. Biotechnol J 2012; 8:139-45. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201200228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Revised: 08/21/2012] [Accepted: 09/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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48
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Fülöp L, Mándity IM, Juhász G, Szegedi V, Hetényi A, Wéber E, Bozsó Z, Simon D, Benkő M, Király Z, Martinek TA. A foldamer-dendrimer conjugate neutralizes synaptotoxic β-amyloid oligomers. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39485. [PMID: 22859942 PMCID: PMC3408453 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Unnatural self-organizing biomimetic polymers (foldamers) emerged as promising materials for biomolecule recognition and inhibition. Our goal was to construct multivalent foldamer-dendrimer conjugates which wrap the synaptotoxic β-amyloid (Aβ) oligomers with high affinity through their helical foldamer tentacles. Oligomeric Aβ species play pivotal role in Alzheimer's disease, therefore recognition and direct inhibition of this undruggable target is a great current challenge. METHODS AND RESULTS Short helical β-peptide foldamers with designed secondary structures and side chain chemistry patterns were applied as potential recognition segments and their binding to the target was tested with NMR methods (saturation transfer difference and transferred-nuclear Overhauser effect). Helices exhibiting binding in the µM region were coupled to a tetravalent G0-PAMAM dendrimer. In vitro biophysical (isothermal titration calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and size-exclusion chromatography) and biochemical tests (ELISA and dot blot) indicated the tight binding between the foldamer conjugates and the Aβ oligomers. Moreover, a selective low nM interaction with the low molecular weight fraction of the Aβ oligomers was found. Ex vivo electrophysiological experiments revealed that the new material rescues the long-term potentiation from the toxic Aβ oligomers in mouse hippocampal slices at submicromolar concentration. CONCLUSIONS The combination of the foldamer methodology, the fragment-based approach and the multivalent design offers a pathway to unnatural protein mimetics that are capable of specific molecular recognition, and has already resulted in an inhibitor for an extremely difficult target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lívia Fülöp
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - István M. Mándity
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Juhász
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Viktor Szegedi
- Bay Zoltán Foundation for Applied Research – BAYGEN, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Edit Wéber
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Bozsó
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Dóra Simon
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Mária Benkő
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Király
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Tamás A. Martinek
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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49
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Molecular basis of β-amyloid oligomer recognition with a conformational antibody fragment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:12503-8. [PMID: 22814377 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1206433109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oligomers are intermediates of the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide fibrillogenic pathway and are putative pathogenic culprits in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we report the biotechnological generation and biochemical characterization of an oligomer-specific antibody fragment, KW1. KW1 not only discriminates between oligomers and other Aβ conformations, such as fibrils or disaggregated peptide; it also differentiates between different types of Aβ oligomers, such as those formed by Aβ (1-40) and Aβ (1-42) peptide. This high selectivity of binding contrasts sharply with many other conformational antibodies that interact with a large number of structurally analogous but sequentially different antigens. X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and peptide array measurements imply that KW1 recognizes oligomers through a hydrophobic and significantly aromatic surface motif that includes Aβ residues 18-20. KW1-positive oligomers occur in human AD brain samples and induce synaptic dysfunctions in living brain tissues. Bivalent KW1 potently neutralizes this effect and interferes with Aβ assembly. By altering a specific step of the fibrillogenic cascade, it prevents the formation of mature Aβ fibrils and induces the accumulation of nonfibrillar aggregates. Our data illuminate significant mechanistic differences in oligomeric and fibril recognition and suggest the considerable potential of KW1 in future studies to detect or inhibit specific types of Aβ conformers.
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50
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Willander H, Presto J, Askarieh G, Biverstål H, Frohm B, Knight SD, Johansson J, Linse S. BRICHOS domains efficiently delay fibrillation of amyloid β-peptide. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:31608-17. [PMID: 22801430 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.393157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid diseases such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, and prion diseases are associated with a specific form of protein misfolding and aggregation into oligomers and fibrils rich in β-sheet structure. The BRICHOS domain consisting of ∼100 residues is found in membrane proteins associated with degenerative and proliferative disease, including lung fibrosis (surfactant protein C precursor; pro-SP-C) and familial dementia (Bri2). We find that recombinant BRICHOS domains from Bri2 and pro-SP-C prevent fibril formation of amyloid β-peptides (Aβ(40) and Aβ(42)) far below the stoichiometric ratio. Kinetic experiments show that a main effect of BRICHOS is to prolong the lag time in a concentration-dependent, quantitative, and reproducible manner. An ongoing aggregation process is retarded if BRICHOS is added at any time during the lag phase, but it is too late to interfere at the end of the process. Results from circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy, as well as analytical size exclusion chromatography, imply that Aβ is maintained as an unstructured monomer during the extended lag phase in the presence of BRICHOS. Electron microscopy shows that although the process is delayed, typical amyloid fibrils are eventually formed also when BRICHOS is present. Structural BRICHOS models display a conserved array of tyrosine rings on a five-stranded β-sheet, with inter-hydroxyl distances suited for hydrogen-bonding peptides in an extended β-conformation. Our data imply that the inhibitory mechanism is reliant on BRICHOS interfering with molecular events during the lag phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Willander
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, The Biomedical Centre, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
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