1
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Sitton J, Ali A, Osborne L, Holman AP, Rodriguez A, Kurouski D. Plasmalogens Alter the Aggregation Rate of Transthyretin and Lower Toxicity of Transthyretin Fibrils. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:4761-4766. [PMID: 38661515 PMCID: PMC11071038 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Heart tissue can experience a progressive accumulation of transthyretin (TTR), a small four subunit protein that transports holoretinol binding protein and thyroxine. This severe pathology is known as transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. Numerous experimental studies indicated that the aggregation rate and toxicity of TTR fibrils could be altered by the presence of lipids; however, the role of plasmalogens in this process remains unknown. In this study, we investigate the effect of choline plasmalogens (CPs) with different lengths and saturations of fatty acids (FAs) on TTR aggregation. We found that CPs with saturated and unsaturated FAs strongly suppressed TTR aggregation. We also found that CPs with saturated FAs did not change the morphology of TTR fibrils; however, much thicker fibrillar species were formed in the presence of CPs with unsaturated FAs. Finally, we found that CPs with C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1 FAs substantially lowered the cytotoxicity of TTR fibrils that were formed in their presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jadon Sitton
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Abid Ali
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Luke Osborne
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Aidan P. Holman
- Department
of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Axell Rodriguez
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
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2
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Ali A, Zhaliazka K, Dou T, Holman AP, Kumar R, Kurouski D. Secondary structure and toxicity of transthyretin fibrils can be altered by unsaturated fatty acids. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127241. [PMID: 37804888 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Transthyretin amyloidosis is a severe pathology characterized by the progressive accumulation of transthyretin (TTR) in various organs and tissues. This highly conserved through vertebrate evolution protein transports thyroid hormone thyroxine. In our bodies, TTR can interact with a large number of molecules, including ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are broadly used as food supplies. In this study, we investigated the effect of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs, as well as their fully saturated analog, on TTR aggregation. Our results showed that both ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs strongly decreased the rate of TTR aggregation. We also found that in the presence of PUFAs, TTR formed morphologically different fibrils compared to the lipid-free environment. Nano-Infrared imaging revealed that these fibrils had drastically different secondary structures compared to the secondary structure of TTR aggregates formed in the PUFAs-free environment. Furthermore, TTR fibrils formed in the presence of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs exerted significantly lower cell toxicity compared to the fibrils formed in the absence of fatty acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Kiryl Zhaliazka
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Tianyi Dou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Aidan P Holman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States.
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3
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Ali A, Zhaliazka K, Dou T, Holman AP, Kurouski D. Cholesterol and Sphingomyelin Uniquely Alter the Rate of Transthyretin Aggregation and Decrease the Toxicity of Amyloid Fibrils. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:10886-10893. [PMID: 38033106 PMCID: PMC10863059 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c02613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is a small tetrameric protein that aggregates, forming highly toxic oligomers and fibrils. In the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, TTR can interact with various biomolecules, phospho- and sphingolipids, and cholesterol on the red blood cell plasma membrane. However, the role of these molecules in TTR aggregation remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the extent to which phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingomyelin (SM), and cholesterol (Cho), important components of plasma membranes, could alter the rate of TTR aggregation. We found that PC and SM inhibited TTR aggregation whereas Cho strongly accelerated it. The presence of these lipids during the stage of protein aggregation uniquely altered the morphology and secondary structure of the TTR fibrils, which changed the toxicity of these protein aggregates. These results suggest that interactions of TTR with red blood cells, whose membranes are rich with these lipids, can trigger irreversible aggregation of TTR and cause transthyretin amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kiryl Zhaliazka
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Tianyi Dou
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Aidan P. Holman
- Department
of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
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4
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Rodriguez A, Ali A, Holman AP, Dou T, Zhaliazka K, Kurouski D. Nanoscale structural characterization of transthyretin aggregates formed at different time points of protein aggregation using atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4838. [PMID: 37967043 PMCID: PMC10683371 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is a progressive disease characterized by an abrupt aggregation of misfolded protein in multiple organs and tissues TTR is a tetrameric protein expressed in the liver and choroid plexus. Protein misfolding triggers monomerization of TTR tetramers. Next, monomers assemble forming oligomers and fibrils. Although the secondary structure of TTR fibrils is well understood, there is very little if anything is known about the structural organization of TTR oligomers. To end this, we used nano-infrared spectroscopy, also known as atomic force microscopy infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy. This emerging technique can be used to determine the secondary structure of individual amyloid oligomers and fibrils. Using AFM-IR, we examined the secondary structure of TTR oligomers formed at the early (3-6 h), middle (9-12 h), and late (28 h) of protein aggregation. We found that aggregating, TTR formed oligomers (Type 1) that were dominated by α-helix (40%) and β-sheet (~30%) together with unordered protein (30%). Our results showed that fibril formation was triggered by another type of TTR oligomers (Type 2) that appeared at 9 h. These new oligomers were primarily composed of parallel β-sheet (55%), with a small amount of antiparallel β-sheet, α-helix, and unordered protein. We also found that Type 1 oligomers were not toxic to cells, whereas TTR fibrils formed at the late stages of protein aggregation were highly cytotoxic. These results show the complexity of protein aggregation and highlight the drastic difference in the protein oligomers that can be formed during such processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axell Rodriguez
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Aidan P. Holman
- Department of EntomologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Tianyi Dou
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Kiryl Zhaliazka
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
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5
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Ali A, Zhaliazka K, Dou T, Holman AP, Kurouski D. Role of Saturation and Length of Fatty Acids of Phosphatidylserine in the Aggregation of Transthyretin. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3499-3506. [PMID: 37676231 PMCID: PMC10862486 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The progressive accumulation of transthyretin (TTR), a small protein that transports thyroxine, in various organs and tissues is observed upon transthyretin amyloidosis, a severe pathology that affects the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems. Once expressed in the liver and choroid plexus, TTR is secreted into the bloodstream and cerebrospinal fluid. In addition to thyroxine, TTR interacts with a large number of molecules, including retinol-binding protein and lipids. In this study, we examined the extent to which phosphatidylserine (PS), a phospholipid that is responsible for the recognition of apoptotic cells by macrophages, could alter the stability of TTR. Using thioflavin T assay, we investigated the rates of TTR aggregation in the presence of PS with different lengths and saturation of fatty acids (FAs). We found that all analyzed lipids decelerated the rate of TTR aggregation. We also used a set of biophysical methods to investigate the extent to which the presence of PS altered the morphology and secondary structure of TTR aggregates. Our results showed that the length and saturation of fatty acids in PS uniquely altered the morphology and secondary structure of TTR fibrils. As a result, TTR fibrils that were formed in the presence of PS with different lengths and saturation of FAs exerted significantly lower cell toxicity compared with the TTR aggregates grown in the lipid-free environment. These findings help to reveal the role of PS in transthyretin amyloidosis and determine the role of the length and saturation of FAs in PS on the morphology and secondary structure of TTR fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kiryl Zhaliazka
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Tianyi Dou
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Aidan P. Holman
- Department
of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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6
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Jaklin M, Hritz J, Hribar-Lee B. A new fibrillization mechanism of β-lactoglobulin in glycine solutions. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 216:414-425. [PMID: 35803407 PMCID: PMC10039397 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.06.182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Even though amyloid aggregates were discovered many years ago the mechanism of their formation is still a mystery. Because of their connection to many of untreatable neurodegenerative diseases the motivation for finding a common aggregation path is high. We report a new high heat induced fibrillization path of a model protein β-lactoglobulin (BLG) when incubated in glycine instead of water at pH 2. By combining atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission emission microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and circular dichroism (CD) we predict that the basic building blocks of fibrils made in glycine are not peptides, but rather spheroid oligomers of different height that form by stacking of ring-like structures. Spheroid oligomers linearly align to form fibrils by opening up and combining. We suspect that glycine acts as an hydrolysation inhibitor which consequently promotes a different fibrillization path. By combining the known data on fibrillization in water with our experimental conclusions we come up with a new fibrillization scheme for BLG. We show that by changing the fibrillization conditions just by small changes in buffer composition can dramatically change the aggregation pathway and the effect of buffer shouldn't be neglected. Fibrils seen in our study are also gaining more and more attention because of their pore-like structure and a possible cytotoxic mechanism by forming pernicious ion-channels. By preparing them in a simple model system as BLG we opened a new way to study their formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matej Jaklin
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Večna pot 113, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Jozef Hritz
- CEITEC Masaryk University Kamenice 5, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University Kamenice 5, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Barbara Hribar-Lee
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Večna pot 113, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia.
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7
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Deep blue autofluorescence reflects the oxidation state of human transthyretin. Redox Biol 2022; 56:102434. [PMID: 35987087 PMCID: PMC9411673 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human transthyretin (TTR) is a tetrameric protein transporting thyroid hormones and retinol. TTR is a neuroprotective factor and sensor of oxidative stress which stability is diminished due to mutations and aging, leading to amyloid deposition. Adverse environmental conditions, such as redox and metal ion imbalances, induce destabilization of the TTR structure. We have previously shown that the stability of TTR was disturbed by Ca2+ and other factors, including DTT, and led to the formation of an intrinsic fluorophore(s) emitting blue light, termed deep blue autofluorescence (dbAF). Here, we show that the redox state of TTR affects the formation dynamics and properties of dbAF. Free thiols lead to highly unstable subpopulations of TTR and the frequent ocurrence of dbAF. Oxidative conditions counteracted the destabilizing effects of free thiols to some extent. However, strong oxidative conditions led to modifications of TTR, which altered the stability of TTR and resulted in unique dbAF spectra. Riboflavin and/or riboflavin photoproducts bound to TTR and crosslinked TTR subunits. Riboflavin-sensitized photooxidation increased TTR unfolding, while photooxidation, either in the absence or presence of riboflavin, increased proteolysis and resulted in multiple oxidative modifications and dityrosine formation in TTR molecules. Therefore, oxidation can switch the role of TTR from a protective to pathogenic factor.
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8
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Sanguinetti C, Minniti M, Susini V, Caponi L, Panichella G, Castiglione V, Aimo A, Emdin M, Vergaro G, Franzini M. The Journey of Human Transthyretin: Synthesis, Structure Stability, and Catabolism. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081906. [PMID: 36009453 PMCID: PMC9405911 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is a homotetrameric protein mainly synthesised by the liver and the choroid plexus whose function is to carry the thyroid hormone thyroxine and the retinol-binding protein bound to retinol in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. When the stability of the tetrameric structure is lost, it breaks down, paving the way for the aggregation of TTR monomers into insoluble fibrils leading to transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis, a progressive disorder mainly affecting the heart and nervous system. Several TTR gene mutations have been characterised as destabilisers of TTR structure and are associated with hereditary forms of ATTR amyloidosis. The reason why also the wild-type TTR is intrinsically amyloidogenic in some subjects is largely unknown. The aim of the review is to give an overview of the TTR biological life cycle which is largely unknown. For this purpose, the current knowledge on TTR physiological metabolism, from its synthesis to its catabolism, is described. Furthermore, a large section of the review is dedicated to examining in depth the role of mutations and physiological ligands on the stability of TTR tetramers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Sanguinetti
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marianna Minniti
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Vanessa Susini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Caponi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giorgia Panichella
- “Health Science” Interdisciplinary Research Center, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Castiglione
- “Health Science” Interdisciplinary Research Center, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alberto Aimo
- “Health Science” Interdisciplinary Research Center, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
- Cardiology Division, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Michele Emdin
- “Health Science” Interdisciplinary Research Center, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
- Cardiology Division, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Vergaro
- “Health Science” Interdisciplinary Research Center, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
- Cardiology Division, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Franzini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence:
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9
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Gao L, Xie X, Liu P, Jin J. High-avidity binding drives nucleation of amyloidogenic transthyretin monomer. JCI Insight 2022; 7:150131. [PMID: 35393947 PMCID: PMC9057628 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.150131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloidosis involves stepwise growth of fibrils assembled from soluble precursors. Transthyretin (TTR) naturally folds into a stable tetramer, whereas conditions and mutations that foster aberrant monomer formations facilitate TTR oligomeric aggregation and subsequent fibril extension. We investigated the early assembly of oligomers by WT TTR compared with its V30M and V122I variants. We monitored time-dependent redistribution among monomer, dimer, tetramer, and oligomer contents in the presence and absence of multimeric TTR seeds. The seeds were artificially constructed recombinant multimers that contained 20–40 TTR subunits via engineered biotin-streptavidin (SA) interactions. As expected, these multimer seeds rapidly nucleated TTR monomers into larger complexes, while having less effect on dimers and tetramers. In vivo, SA-induced multimers formed TTR-like deposits in the heart and the kidney following i.v. injection in mice. While all 3 variants prominently deposited glomerulus in the kidney, only V30M resulted in extensive deposition in the heart. The cardiac TTR deposits varied in size and shape and were localized in the intermyofibrillar space along the capillaries. These results are consistent with the notion of monomeric TTR engaging in high-avidity interactions with tissue amyloids. Our multimeric induction approach provides a model for studying the initiation of TTR deposition in the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Gao
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Department of Cardiology, and
| | - Xinfang Xie
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Pan Liu
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jing Jin
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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10
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Wieczorek E, Bezara P, Ożyhar A. Deep blue autofluorescence reveals the instability of human transthyretin. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 191:492-499. [PMID: 34562536 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.09.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Wild-type human transthyretin (TTR) is a tetrameric protein that transports thyroxine and retinol in the blood and brain. However, a number of mutations or aging leads to destabilization of the quaternary structure of TTR, which results in dissociation of TTR tetramers to monomers, followed by oligomerization and subsequent amyloid formation. TTR amyloid is a pathogenic factor underlying several diseases. It has recently been documented that destabilization of the structure of TTR is driven by Ca2+. The present work shows that the in vitro redox conditions contribute to the destabilization and formation of the highly unstable substoichiometric population(s) of TTR molecules. Importantly, destabilized TTR forms acquire the ability to emit fluorescence in the blue range of the light spectrum. Dithiothreitol (DTT), in the presence of Ca2+, enhances the formation of complex autofluorophore which displays maxima at 417 nm and 438 nm in the emission spectrum of TTR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elżbieta Wieczorek
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Patrycja Bezara
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Ożyhar
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
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11
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Wieczorek E, Ożyhar A. Transthyretin: From Structural Stability to Osteoarticular and Cardiovascular Diseases. Cells 2021; 10:1768. [PMID: 34359938 PMCID: PMC8307983 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is a tetrameric protein transporting hormones in the plasma and brain, which has many other activities that have not been fully acknowledged. TTR is a positive indicator of nutrition status and is negatively correlated with inflammation. TTR is a neuroprotective and oxidative-stress-suppressing factor. The TTR structure is destabilized by mutations, oxidative modifications, aging, proteolysis, and metal cations, including Ca2+. Destabilized TTR molecules form amyloid deposits, resulting in senile and familial amyloidopathies. This review links structural stability of TTR with the environmental factors, particularly oxidative stress and Ca2+, and the processes involved in the pathogenesis of TTR-related diseases. The roles of TTR in biomineralization, calcification, and osteoarticular and cardiovascular diseases are broadly discussed. The association of TTR-related diseases and vascular and ligament tissue calcification with TTR levels and TTR structure is presented. It is indicated that unaggregated TTR and TTR amyloid are bound by vicious cycles, and that TTR may have an as yet undetermined role(s) at the crossroads of calcification, blood coagulation, and immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elżbieta Wieczorek
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland;
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12
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Transthyretin Misfolding, A Fatal Structural Pathogenesis Mechanism. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094429. [PMID: 33922648 PMCID: PMC8122960 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is an essential transporter of a thyroid hormone and a holo-retinol binding protein, found abundantly in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. In addition, this protein is infamous for its amyloidogenic propensity, causing various amyloidoses in humans, such as senile systemic amyloidosis, familial amyloid polyneuropathy, and familial amyloid cardiomyopathy. It has been known for over two decades that decreased stability of the native tetrameric conformation of TTR is the main cause of these diseases. Yet, mechanistic details on the amyloidogenic transformation of TTR were not clear until recent multidisciplinary investigations on various structural states of TTR. In this review, we discuss recent advancements in the structural understanding of TTR misfolding and amyloidosis processes. Special emphasis has been laid on the observations of novel structural features in various amyloidogenic species of TTR. In addition, proteolysis-induced fragmentation of TTR, a recently proposed mechanism facilitating TTR amyloidosis, has been discussed in light of its structural consequences and relevance to acknowledge the amyloidogenicity of TTR.
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13
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Oligomerization Profile of Human Transthyretin Variants with Distinct Amyloidogenicity. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25235698. [PMID: 33287192 PMCID: PMC7730986 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25235698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the molecular hallmarks of amyloidoses is ordered protein aggregation involving the initial formation of soluble protein oligomers that eventually grow into insoluble fibrils. The identification and characterization of molecular species critical for amyloid fibril formation and disease development have been the focus of intense analysis in the literature. Here, using photo-induced cross-linking of unmodified proteins (PICUP), we studied the early stages of oligomerization of human transthyretin (TTR), a plasma protein involved in amyloid diseases (ATTR amyloidosis) with multiple clinical manifestations. Upon comparison, the oligomerization processes of wild-type TTR (TTRwt) and several TTR variants (TTRV30M, TTRL55P, and TTRT119M) clearly show distinct oligomerization kinetics for the amyloidogenic variants but a similar oligomerization mechanism. The oligomerization kinetics of the TTR amyloidogenic variants under analysis showed a good correlation with their amyloidogenic potential, with the most amyloidogenic variants aggregating faster (TTRL55P > TTRV30M > TTRwt). Moreover, the early stage oligomerization mechanism for these variants involves stepwise addition of monomeric units to the growing oligomer. A completely different behavior was observed for the nonamyloidogenic TTRT119M variant, which does not form oligomers in the same acidic conditions and even for longer incubation times. Thorough characterization of the initial steps of TTR oligomerization is critical for better understanding the origin of ATTR cytotoxicity and developing novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of ATTR amyloidosis.
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Ghadami SA, Chia S, Ruggeri FS, Meisl G, Bemporad F, Habchi J, Cascella R, Dobson CM, Vendruscolo M, Knowles TPJ, Chiti F. Transthyretin Inhibits Primary and Secondary Nucleations of Amyloid-β Peptide Aggregation and Reduces the Toxicity of Its Oligomers. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:1112-1125. [PMID: 32011129 PMCID: PMC7997117 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b01475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Alzheimer’s
disease is associated with the deposition of
the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) into extracellular senile plaques
in the brain. In vitro and in vivo observations have indicated that
transthyretin (TTR) acts as an Aβ scavenger in the brain, but
the mechanism has not been fully resolved. We have monitored the aggregation
process of Aβ40 by thioflavin T fluorescence, in
the presence or absence of different concentrations of preformed seed
aggregates of Aβ40, of wild-type tetrameric TTR (WT-TTR),
and of a variant engineered to be stable as a monomer (M-TTR). Both
WT-TTR and M-TTR were found to inhibit specific steps of the process
of Aβ40 fibril formation, which are primary and secondary
nucleations, without affecting the elongation of the resulting fibrils.
Moreover, the analysis shows that both WT-TTR and M-TTR bind to Aβ40 oligomers formed in the aggregation reaction and inhibit
their conversion into the shortest fibrils able to elongate. Using
biophysical methods, TTR was found to change some aspects of its overall
structure following such interactions with Aβ40 oligomers,
as well as with oligomers of Aβ42, while maintaining
its overall topology. Hence, it is likely that the predominant mechanism
by which TTR exerts its protective role lies in the binding of TTR
to the Aβ oligomers and in inhibiting primary and secondary
nucleation processes, which limits both the toxicity of Aβ oligomers
and the ability of the fibrils to proliferate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyyed Abolghasem Ghadami
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Sean Chia
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Francesco Simone Ruggeri
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Georg Meisl
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Francesco Bemporad
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Johnny Habchi
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.,Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, 19 J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
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15
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S-Homocysteinylation effects on transthyretin: worsening of cardiomyopathy onset. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2020; 1864:129453. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2019.129453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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16
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Imaging and Manipulation of Extracellular Traps by Atomic Force Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2018. [PMID: 30374869 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8894-5_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are part of an immunological response and one of the mechanisms by which neutrophils protect the host from pathogen invasion and proliferation. Notwithstanding their protective role, NETs have also been linked to the development of a variety of disorders, including cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases. Since the first reports on NETs in 2004 it has been possible to image NETs by a variety of imaging techniques. Despite this, such reports seldomly include contact probe methods, and therefore lack the unique insights such techniques typically provide. In fact, more than 10 years have passed since the discovery of NETs, and although their importance as part of a unique cellular response mechanism has become very clear, studies that attempt to address them by atomic force microscopy (AFM) remain very limited. Particularly striking is the almost absent information on the mechanical properties of NETs, and factors that may influence them. The fact that NETs are a particularly adhesive network of filaments poses a considerable technical challenge for contact probe methods and can limit advances involving either imaging or manipulation of NETs by AFM. The current set of protocols aims at aiding a knowledgeable AFM operator to obtain AFM images and to perform force spectroscopy experiments with such samples. A variety of different topics, including sample preparation and data analysis, are discussed.
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17
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Wieczorek E, Chitruń A, Ożyhar A. Destabilised human transthyretin shapes the morphology of calcium carbonate crystals. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1863:313-324. [PMID: 30394286 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Human transthyretin (TTR) is a homotetramer that transports thyroid hormones and retinol in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. TTR is also an intracellular protein found in tissues such as those in the brain, eye and pancreas. TTR is a nutrition marker, reflecting the health of the organism, and TTR levels are linked to the normal and diseased states of the body. The switch from a protective to a pathological role is attributed to the destabilisation of the TTR structure, which leads to tetramer dissociation and amyloid formation. Native and destabilised TTR have been associated with osteoarthritis and bone density in humans. Moreover, TTR is present in eggshell mammillary cones; therefore, we verified the putative TTR engagement in the process of mineral formation. Using an in vitro assay, we found that TTR affected calcium carbonate crystal growth and morphology, producing asymmetric crystals with a complex nanocrystalline composition. The crystals possessed rounded edges and corners and irregular etch pits, suggesting the selective inhibition of crystal growth and/or dissolution imposed by TTR. The occurrence of many porosities, fibrillary inclusions and amorphous precipitates suggested that destabilisation of the TTR structure is an important factor involved in the mineralisation process. Crystals grown in the presence of TTR exhibited the characteristic features of crystals controlled by biomineralisation-active proteins, suggesting novel functions of TTR in the mineral formation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elżbieta Wieczorek
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Anna Chitruń
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Andrzej Ożyhar
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
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18
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Dasari AKR, Hung I, Gan Z, Lim KH. Two distinct aggregation pathways in transthyretin misfolding and amyloid formation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2018; 1867:344-349. [PMID: 30366153 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2018.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Misfolding and amyloid formation of transthyretin (TTR) is implicated in numerous degenerative diseases. TTR misfolding is greatly accelerated under acidic conditions, and thus most of the mechanistic studies of TTR amyloid formation have been conducted at various acidic pH values (2-5). In this study, we report the effect of pH on TTR misfolding pathways and amyloid structures. Our combined solution and solid-state NMR studies revealed that TTR amyloid formation can proceed via at least two distinct misfolding pathways depending on the acidic conditions. Under mildly acidic conditions (pH 4.4), tetrameric native TTR appears to dissociate to monomers that maintain most of the native-like β-sheet structures. The amyloidogenic protein undergoes a conformational transition to largely unfolded states at more acidic conditions (pH 2.4), leading to amyloid with distinct molecular structures. Aggregation kinetics is also highly dependent upon the acidic conditions. TTR quickly forms moderately ordered amyloids at pH 4.4, while the aggregation kinetics is dramatically reduced at a lower pH of 2.4. The effect of the pathogenic mutations on aggregation kinetics is also markedly different under the two different acidic conditions. Pathogenic TTR variants (V30M and L55P) aggregate more aggressively than WT TTR at pH 4.4. In contrast, the single-point mutations do not affect the aggregation kinetics at the more acidic condition of pH 2.4. Given that the pathogenic mutations lead to more aggressive forms of TTR amyloidoses, the mildly acidic condition might be more suitable for mechanistic studies of TTR misfolding and aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anvesh K R Dasari
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Ivan Hung
- Center of Interdisciplinary Magnetic Resonance (CIMAR), National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), 1800 East, Paul Dirac Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
| | - Zhehong Gan
- Center of Interdisciplinary Magnetic Resonance (CIMAR), National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), 1800 East, Paul Dirac Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
| | - Kwang Hun Lim
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
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19
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Hasan S, Fatma S, Zaman M, Khan RH, Naeem A. Carboxylic acids of different nature induces aggregation of hemoglobin. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 118:1584-1593. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Revised: 07/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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20
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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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21
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Choi H, Yoon T, Na S. Length-Dependent Manifestation of Vibration Modes Regulates a Specific Intermediate Morphology of Aβ17-42 in Different Environments. Chemphyschem 2018; 19:1643-1654. [PMID: 29575445 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201800010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Various cytotoxic mechanisms for neurodegenerative disease are induced by specific conformations of Aβ intermediates. The efforts to understand the diverse intermediate forms of amyloid oligomers have been focused on understanding the aggregation mechanism of specific morphologies for Aβ intermediates. However, these are still not easy tasks to be accomplished because the diverse conformations of Aβ intermediates can be altered during the aggregation process, even though the same Aβ monomers are present. Thus, efforts to reveal the conformational change mechanism could be a fundamental process to understand the formation of diverse Aβ intermediate conformations. Here, we evaluate the conformational characteristics of Aβ17-42 fibrillar oligomers in different environments according to the length. We observed that Aβ fibrillar oligomers optimize their inherent hydrogen bonds and configurational entropy to stabilize their structure according to the simulation time and their length increase. In addition, we revealed the role of the expressed vibration mode shape in the fibrillar oligomers' elongation and deformation processes. Our results suggest that limitations in amyloid oligomer growth and transformations of their morphologies can be regulated and controlled by modifying the vibration features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunsung Choi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Taeyoung Yoon
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsoo Na
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
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22
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Ghosh DK, Roy A, Ranjan A. Aggregation-prone Regions in HYPK Help It to Form Sequestration Complex for Toxic Protein Aggregates. J Mol Biol 2018; 430:963-986. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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23
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Ghadami SA, Bemporad F, Sala BM, Tiana G, Ricagno S, Chiti F. FRET studies of various conformational states adopted by transthyretin. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:3577-3598. [PMID: 28478513 PMCID: PMC11107560 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2533-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 04/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is an extracellular protein able to deposit into well-defined protein aggregates called amyloid, in pathological conditions known as senile systemic amyloidosis, familial amyloid polyneuropathy, familial amyloid cardiomyopathy and leptomeningeal amyloidosis. At least three distinct partially folded states have been described for TTR, including the widely studied amyloidogenic state at mildly acidic pH. Here, we have used fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments in a monomeric variant of TTR (M-TTR) and in its W41F and W79F mutants, taking advantage of the presence of a unique, solvent-exposed, cysteine residue at position 10, that we have labelled with a coumarin derivative (DACM, acceptor), and of the two natural tryptophan residues at positions 41 and 79 (donors). Trp41 is located in an ideal position as it is one of the residues of β-strand C, whose degree of unfolding is debated. We found that the amyloidogenic state at low pH has the same FRET efficiency as the folded state at neutral pH in both M-TTR and W79F-M-TTR, indicating an unmodified Cys10-Trp41 distance. The partially folded state populated at low denaturant concentrations also has a similar FRET efficiency, but other spectroscopic probes indicate that it is distinct from the amyloidogenic state at acidic pH. By contrast, the off-pathway state accumulating transiently during refolding has a higher FRET efficiency, indicating non-native interactions that reduce the Cys10-Trp41 spatial distance, revealing a third distinct conformational state. Overall, our results clarify a negligible degree of unfolding of β-strand C in the formation of the amyloidogenic state and establish the concept that TTR is a highly plastic protein able to populate at least three distinct conformational states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyyed Abolghasem Ghadami
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio", Sezione di Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Bemporad
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio", Sezione di Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Maria Sala
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Guido Tiana
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano and INFN, via Celoria 16, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Ricagno
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio", Sezione di Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134, Florence, Italy.
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24
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Cieplak AS. Protein folding, misfolding and aggregation: The importance of two-electron stabilizing interactions. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180905. [PMID: 28922400 PMCID: PMC5603215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases are highly pleiomorphic and may adopt an all-α-helical fold in one environment, assemble into all-β-sheet or collapse into a coil in another, and rapidly polymerize in yet another one via divergent aggregation pathways that yield broad diversity of aggregates’ morphology. A thorough understanding of this behaviour may be necessary to develop a treatment for Alzheimer’s and related disorders. Unfortunately, our present comprehension of folding and misfolding is limited for want of a physicochemical theory of protein secondary and tertiary structure. Here we demonstrate that electronic configuration and hyperconjugation of the peptide amide bonds ought to be taken into account to advance such a theory. To capture the effect of polarization of peptide linkages on conformational and H-bonding propensity of the polypeptide backbone, we introduce a function of shielding tensors of the Cα atoms. Carrying no information about side chain-side chain interactions, this function nonetheless identifies basic features of the secondary and tertiary structure, establishes sequence correlates of the metamorphic and pH-driven equilibria, relates binding affinities and folding rate constants to secondary structure preferences, and manifests common patterns of backbone density distribution in amyloidogenic regions of Alzheimer’s amyloid β and tau, Parkinson’s α-synuclein and prions. Based on those findings, a split-intein like mechanism of molecular recognition is proposed to underlie dimerization of Aβ, tau, αS and PrPC, and divergent pathways for subsequent association of dimers are outlined; a related mechanism is proposed to underlie formation of PrPSc fibrils. The model does account for: (i) structural features of paranuclei, off-pathway oligomers, non-fibrillar aggregates and fibrils; (ii) effects of incubation conditions, point mutations, isoform lengths, small-molecule assembly modulators and chirality of solid-liquid interface on the rate and morphology of aggregation; (iii) fibril-surface catalysis of secondary nucleation; and (iv) self-propagation of infectious strains of mammalian prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Stanisław Cieplak
- Department of Chemistry, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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25
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Sartiani L, Bucciantini M, Spinelli V, Leri M, Natalello A, Nosi D, Maria Doglia S, Relini A, Penco A, Giorgetti S, Gerace E, Mannaioni G, Bellotti V, Rigacci S, Cerbai E, Stefani M. Biochemical and Electrophysiological Modification of Amyloid Transthyretin on Cardiomyocytes. Biophys J 2017; 111:2024-2038. [PMID: 27806283 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidoses are familial or sporadic degenerative conditions that often feature heavy cardiac involvement. Presently, no effective pharmacological therapy for TTR amyloidoses is available, mostly due to a substantial lack of knowledge about both the molecular mechanisms of TTR aggregation in tissue and the ensuing functional and viability modifications that occur in aggregate-exposed cells. TTR amyloidoses are of particular interest regarding the relation between functional and viability impairment in aggregate-exposed excitable cells such as peripheral neurons and cardiomyocytes. In particular, the latter cells provide an opportunity to investigate in parallel the electrophysiological and biochemical modifications that take place when the cells are exposed for various lengths of time to variously aggregated wild-type TTR, a condition that characterizes senile systemic amyloidosis. In this study, we investigated biochemical and electrophysiological modifications in cardiomyocytes exposed to amyloid oligomers or fibrils of wild-type TTR or to its T4-stabilized form, which resists tetramer disassembly, misfolding, and aggregation. Amyloid TTR cytotoxicity results in mitochondrial potential modification, oxidative stress, deregulation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels, and Ca2+ cycling. The altered intracellular Ca2+ cycling causes a prolongation of the action potential, as determined by whole-cell recordings of action potentials on isolated mouse ventricular myocytes, which may contribute to the development of cellular arrhythmias and conduction alterations often seen in patients with TTR amyloidosis. Our data add information about the biochemical, functional, and viability alterations that occur in cardiomyocytes exposed to aggregated TTR, and provide clues as to the molecular and physiological basis of heart dysfunction in sporadic senile systemic amyloidosis and familial amyloid cardiomyopathy forms of TTR amyloidoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sartiani
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Center of Molecular Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Monica Bucciantini
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio,", University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Research Centre on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Valentina Spinelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Center of Molecular Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Manuela Leri
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio,", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Antonino Natalello
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Nosi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Maria Doglia
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Amanda Penco
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Sofia Giorgetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Gerace
- Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Guido Mannaioni
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Vittorio Bellotti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Wolfson Drug Discovery Unit, Centre for Amyloidosis and Acute Phase Proteins, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stefania Rigacci
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio,", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Cerbai
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Center of Molecular Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Research Centre on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Massimo Stefani
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio,", University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Research Centre on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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26
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Gade Malmos K, Blancas-Mejia LM, Weber B, Buchner J, Ramirez-Alvarado M, Naiki H, Otzen D. ThT 101: a primer on the use of thioflavin T to investigate amyloid formation. Amyloid 2017; 24:1-16. [PMID: 28393556 DOI: 10.1080/13506129.2017.1304905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 230] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Thioflavin T (ThT) has been widely used to investigate amyloid formation since 1989. While concerns have recently been raised about its use as a probe specific for amyloid, ThT still continues to be a very valuable tool for studying kinetic aspects of fibrillation and associated inhibition mechanisms. This review aims to provide a conceptual instruction manual, covering appropriate considerations and pitfalls related to the use of ThT. We start by giving a brief introduction to amyloid formation with focus on the morphology of different aggregate species, followed by a discussion of the quality of protein needed to obtain reliable fibrillation data. After an overview of the photochemical basis for ThT's amyloid binding properties and artifacts that may arise from this, we describe how to plan and analyze ThT assays. We conclude with recommendations for complementary techniques to address shortcomings in the ThT assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Gade Malmos
- a Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Center for Insoluble Protein Structures (inSPIN) , Aarhus University , Aarhus C , Denmark.,b Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics , Aarhus University , Aarhus C , Denmark
| | - Luis M Blancas-Mejia
- c Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , Mayo Clinic , Rochester , MN , USA
| | - Benedikt Weber
- d Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich at the Department Chemie , Technische Universität München , Garching , Germany
| | - Johannes Buchner
- d Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich at the Department Chemie , Technische Universität München , Garching , Germany
| | | | - Hironobu Naiki
- e Department of Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences , University of Fukui , Fukui , Japan
| | - Daniel Otzen
- a Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Center for Insoluble Protein Structures (inSPIN) , Aarhus University , Aarhus C , Denmark
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27
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Cappelli S, Penco A, Mannini B, Cascella R, Wilson MR, Ecroyd H, Li X, Buxbaum JN, Dobson CM, Cecchi C, Relini A, Chiti F. Effect of molecular chaperones on aberrant protein oligomers in vitro: super-versus sub-stoichiometric chaperone concentrations. Biol Chem 2016; 397:401-15. [PMID: 26812789 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2015-0250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Living systems protect themselves from aberrant proteins by a network of chaperones. We have tested in vitro the effects of different concentrations, ranging from 0 to 16 μm, of two molecular chaperones, namely αB-crystallin and clusterin, and an engineered monomeric variant of transthyretin (M-TTR), on the morphology and cytotoxicity of preformed toxic oligomers of HypF-N, which represent a useful model of misfolded protein aggregates. Using atomic force microscopy imaging and static light scattering analysis, all were found to bind HypF-N oligomers and increase the size of the aggregates, to an extent that correlates with chaperone concentration. SDS-PAGE profiles have shown that the large aggregates were predominantly composed of the HypF-N protein. ANS fluorescence measurements show that the chaperone-induced clustering of HypF-N oligomers does not change the overall solvent exposure of hydrophobic residues on the surface of the oligomers. αB-crystallin, clusterin and M-TTR can diminish the cytotoxic effects of the HypF-N oligomers at all chaperone concentration, as demonstrated by MTT reduction and Ca2+ influx measurements. The observation that the protective effect is primarily at all concentrations of chaperones, both when the increase in HypF-N aggregate size is minimal and large, emphasizes the efficiency and versatility of these protein molecules.
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28
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Pires RH, Saraiva MJ, Damas AM, Kellermayer MSZ. Force spectroscopy reveals the presence of structurally modified dimers in transthyretin amyloid annular oligomers. J Mol Recognit 2016; 30. [PMID: 27808434 DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Revised: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Toxicity in amyloidogenic protein misfolding disorders is thought to involve intermediate states of aggregation associated with the formation of amyloid fibrils. Despite their relevance, the heterogeneity and transience of these oligomers have placed great barriers in our understanding of their structural properties. Among amyloid intermediates, annular oligomers or annular protofibrils have raised considerable interest because they may contribute to a mechanism of cellular toxicity via membrane permeation. Here we investigated, by using AFM force spectroscopy, the structural detail of amyloid annular oligomers from transthyretin (TTR), a protein involved in systemic and neurodegenerative amyloidogenic disorders. Manipulation was performed in situ, in the absence of molecular handles and using persistence length-fit values to select relevant curves. Force curves reveal the presence of dimers in TTR annular oligomers that unfold via a series of structural intermediates. This is in contrast with the manipulation of native TTR that was more often manipulated over length scales compatible with a TTR monomer and without unfolding intermediates. Imaging and force spectroscopy data suggest that dimers are formed by the assembly of monomers in a head-to-head orientation with a nonnative interface along their β-strands. Furthermore, these dimers stack through nonnative contacts that may enhance the stability of the misfolded structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo H Pires
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria J Saraiva
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana M Damas
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Miklós S Z Kellermayer
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,MTA-SE Molecular Biophysics Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
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29
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Kar RK, Gazova Z, Bednarikova Z, Mroue KH, Ghosh A, Zhang R, Ulicna K, Siebert HC, Nifantiev NE, Bhunia A. Evidence for Inhibition of Lysozyme Amyloid Fibrillization by Peptide Fragments from Human Lysozyme: A Combined Spectroscopy, Microscopy, and Docking Study. Biomacromolecules 2016; 17:1998-2009. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rajiv K. Kar
- Department
of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Zuzana Gazova
- Department
of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 47, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia
- Department
of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry Faculty of Medicine, Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Bednarikova
- Department
of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 47, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia
- Department
of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Safarik University, Srobarova 2, 041 54 Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Kamal H. Mroue
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Anirban Ghosh
- Department
of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Ruiyan Zhang
- RI-B-NT Research
Institute
of Bioinformatics and Nanotechnology, Franziusallee 177, 24148 Kiel, Germany
| | - Katarina Ulicna
- Department
of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 47, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia
- Institute
of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Safarik University, Srobarova 2, 041 54 Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Hans-Christian Siebert
- RI-B-NT Research
Institute
of Bioinformatics and Nanotechnology, Franziusallee 177, 24148 Kiel, Germany
| | - Nikolay E. Nifantiev
- N.
D. Zellinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Anirban Bhunia
- Department
of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), Kolkata 700054, India
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30
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Leri M, Nosi D, Natalello A, Porcari R, Ramazzotti M, Chiti F, Bellotti V, Doglia SM, Stefani M, Bucciantini M. The polyphenol Oleuropein aglycone hinders the growth of toxic transthyretin amyloid assemblies. J Nutr Biochem 2016; 30:153-66. [PMID: 27012632 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2015.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is involved in a subset of familial or sporadic amyloid diseases including senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA), familial amyloid polyneuropathy and cardiomyopathy (FAP/FAC) for which no effective therapy has been found yet. These conditions are characterized by extracellular deposits primarily found in the heart parenchyma and in peripheral nerves whose main component are amyloid fibrils, presently considered the main culprits of cell sufferance. The latter are polymeric assemblies grown from misfolded TTR, either wt or carrying one out of many identified mutations. The recent introduction in the clinical practice of synthetic TTR-stabilizing molecules that reduce protein aggregation provides the rationale to search natural effective molecules able to interfere with TTR amyloid aggregation by hindering the appearance of toxic species or by favoring the growth of harmless aggregates. Here we carried out an in depth biophysical and morphological study on the molecular features of the aggregation of wt- and L55P-TTR involved in SSA or FAP/FAC, respectively, and on the interference with fibril aggregation, stability and toxicity to cardiac HL-1 cells to demonstrate the ability of Oleuropein aglycone (OleA), the main phenolic component of the extra virgin olive oil. We describe the molecular basis of such interference and the resulting reduction of TTR amyloid aggregate cytotoxicity. Our data offer the possibility to validate and optimize the use of OleA or its molecular scaffold to rationally design promising drugs against TTR-related pathologies that could enter a clinical experimental phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Leri
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio"- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Daniele Nosi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica - Università degli Studi di Firenze, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Antonino Natalello
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126, Milano, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Porcari
- Wolfson Drug Discovery Unit, Centre for Amyloidosis and Acute Phase Proteins, Division of Medicine, Royal Free Campus University College London, NW3 2PF, London, UK.
| | - Matteo Ramazzotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio"- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio"- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134, Firenze, Italy; Centro Interuniversitario per lo Studio delle Malattie Neurodegenerative (CIMN), 50134, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Vittorio Bellotti
- Wolfson Drug Discovery Unit, Centre for Amyloidosis and Acute Phase Proteins, Division of Medicine, Royal Free Campus University College London, NW3 2PF, London, UK; Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Istituto di Biochimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Silvia Maria Doglia
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126, Milano, Italy; Dipartimento di Fisica G. Occhialini, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, 20126, Milano, Italy.
| | - Massimo Stefani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio"- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134, Firenze, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Istituto di Biochimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Monica Bucciantini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio"- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134, Firenze, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Istituto di Biochimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
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31
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Saelices L, Johnson LM, Liang WY, Sawaya MR, Cascio D, Ruchala P, Whitelegge J, Jiang L, Riek R, Eisenberg DS. Uncovering the Mechanism of Aggregation of Human Transthyretin. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:28932-43. [PMID: 26459562 PMCID: PMC4661406 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.659912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The tetrameric thyroxine transport protein transthyretin (TTR) forms amyloid fibrils upon dissociation and monomer unfolding. The aggregation of transthyretin has been reported as the cause of the life-threatening transthyretin amyloidosis. The standard treatment of familial cases of TTR amyloidosis has been liver transplantation. Although aggregation-preventing strategies involving ligands are known, understanding the mechanism of TTR aggregation can lead to additional inhibition approaches. Several models of TTR amyloid fibrils have been proposed, but the segments that drive aggregation of the protein have remained unknown. Here we identify β-strands F and H as necessary for TTR aggregation. Based on the crystal structures of these segments, we designed two non-natural peptide inhibitors that block aggregation. This work provides the first characterization of peptide inhibitors for TTR aggregation, establishing a novel therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Saelices
- From the Department of Biological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich (ETH), Physical Chemistry, ETH Hönggerberg, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland, and
| | - Lisa M Johnson
- From the Department of Biological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570
| | - Wilson Y Liang
- From the Department of Biological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570
| | - Michael R Sawaya
- From the Department of Biological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570
| | - Duilio Cascio
- From the Department of Biological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570
| | - Piotr Ruchala
- the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA and The Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, California 90024
| | - Julian Whitelegge
- the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA and The Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, California 90024
| | - Lin Jiang
- From the Department of Biological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570
| | - Roland Riek
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich (ETH), Physical Chemistry, ETH Hönggerberg, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland, and
| | - David S Eisenberg
- From the Department of Biological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570,
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32
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Groenning M, Campos RI, Hirschberg D, Hammarström P, Vestergaard B. Considerably Unfolded Transthyretin Monomers Preceed and Exchange with Dynamically Structured Amyloid Protofibrils. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11443. [PMID: 26108284 PMCID: PMC4480009 DOI: 10.1038/srep11443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite numerous studies, a detailed description of the transthyretin (TTR) self-assembly mechanism and fibril structure in TTR amyloidoses remains unresolved. Here, using a combination of primarily small -angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry (HXMS) analysis, we describe an unexpectedly dynamic TTR protofibril structure which exchanges protomers with highly unfolded monomers in solution. The protofibrils only grow to an approximate final size of 2,900 kDa and a length of 70 nm and a comparative HXMS analysis of native and aggregated samples revealed a much higher average solvent exposure of TTR upon fibrillation. With SAXS, we reveal the continuous presence of a considerably unfolded TTR monomer throughout the fibrillation process, and show that a considerable fraction of the fibrillating protein remains in solution even at a late maturation state. Together, these data reveal that the fibrillar state interchanges with the solution state. Accordingly, we suggest that TTR fibrillation proceeds via addition of considerably unfolded monomers, and the continuous presence of amyloidogenic structures near the protofibril surface offers a plausible explanation for secondary nucleation. We argue that the presence of such dynamic structural equilibria must impact future therapeutic development strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Groenning
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- IFM – Department of Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Raul I. Campos
- IFM – Department of Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Daniel Hirschberg
- IFM – Department of Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per Hammarström
- IFM – Department of Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Bente Vestergaard
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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33
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Faria TQ, Almeida ZL, Cruz PF, Jesus CSH, Castanheira P, Brito RMM. A look into amyloid formation by transthyretin: aggregation pathway and a novel kinetic model. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:7255-63. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cp04549a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The kinetics of transthyretin aggregation from acid-unfolded monomers to amyloid fibrils was studied by several biophysical techniques and may be described as a two-step process with transient accumulation of oligomeric species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Q. Faria
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology
- University of Coimbra
- Coimbra
- Portugal
| | - Zaida L. Almeida
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology
- University of Coimbra
- Coimbra
- Portugal
| | - Pedro F. Cruz
- Chemistry Department
- University of Coimbra
- Coimbra
- Portugal
| | - Catarina S. H. Jesus
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology
- University of Coimbra
- Coimbra
- Portugal
- Chemistry Department
| | - Pedro Castanheira
- Biocant – Biotechnology Innovation Center
- Parque Tecnológico de Cantanhede
- Cantanhede
- Portugal
| | - Rui M. M. Brito
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology
- University of Coimbra
- Coimbra
- Portugal
- Chemistry Department
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34
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Moreira L, Beirão JM, Beirão I, Pinho e Costa P. Oligomeric TTR V30M aggregates compromise cell viability, erythropoietin gene expression and promoter activity in the human hepatoma cell line Hep3B. Amyloid 2015; 22:93-9. [PMID: 26088020 DOI: 10.3109/13506129.2015.1007497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, ATTRV30M (p. TTRV50M) amyloidosis, is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by systemic extracellular amyloid deposition of a mutant transthyretin, TTR V30M. Anemia, with low erythropoietin (EPO) levels and spared kidney function, affects about 25% of symptomatic patients, suggesting a blockage of EPO-producing cells. Early non-fibrillar TTR aggregates are highly cytotoxic, inducing oxidative stress, the expression of apoptosis-related molecules and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, factors capable of inhibiting EPO production. Low EPO levels in these patients are not related to renal amyloid deposition or the presence of circulating TTR V30M. However, the role of early non-fibrillar TTR aggregates remains unexplored. We used the EPO producing Hep3B human hepatoma cell line to study the effect of TTR oligomeric aggregates on EPO expression. Hep3B cells were incubated with soluble and oligomeric TTR V30M, and cell proliferation as well as caspase 3/7 activation was evaluated. Relative quantification of EPO mRNA transcripts was performed by real-time PCR. Significant reductions in cell viability (13 ± 7.3%) and activation of caspases 3/7 were seen after 24 h in the presence of oligomeric TTR V30M. Also, EPO expression was significantly reduced (50 ± 2.8%), in normoxic conditions. A reporter assay was constructed with a PCR fragment of the EPO promoter linked to the luciferase gene to evaluate the role of transcription factors targeting the promoter. A significant reduction of EPO promoter activity (53 ± 6.5%) was observed in transfected cells exposed to TTR oligomers. Our results show that oligomeric TTR V30M reduces EPO expression, at least in part through inhibition of promoter activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Moreira
- Departamento de Genética Humana, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge , INSA I.P., Porto , Portugal
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35
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Amani S, Naeem A. Transition of transferrin from native to fibrillar state: An implication for amyloid-linked diseases. Biochem Eng J 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2014.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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36
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Blum D, Herrera F, Francelle L, Mendes T, Basquin M, Obriot H, Demeyer D, Sergeant N, Gerhardt E, Brouillet E, Buée L, Outeiro TF. Mutant huntingtin alters Tau phosphorylation and subcellular distribution. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:76-85. [DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
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37
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Trevitt CR, Hosszu LLP, Batchelor M, Panico S, Terry C, Nicoll AJ, Risse E, Taylor WA, Sandberg MK, Al-Doujaily H, Linehan JM, Saibil HR, Scott DJ, Collinge J, Waltho JP, Clarke AR. N-terminal domain of prion protein directs its oligomeric association. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:25497-508. [PMID: 25074940 PMCID: PMC4162156 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.566588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The self-association of prion protein (PrP) is a critical step in the pathology of prion diseases. It is increasingly recognized that small non-fibrillar β-sheet-rich oligomers of PrP may be of crucial importance in the prion disease process. Here, we characterize the structure of a well defined β-sheet-rich oligomer, containing ∼12 PrP molecules, and often enclosing a central cavity, formed using full-length recombinant PrP. The N-terminal region of prion protein (residues 23-90) is required for the formation of this distinct oligomer; a truncated form comprising residues 91-231 forms a broad distribution of aggregated species. No infectivity or toxicity was found using cell and animal model systems. This study demonstrates that examination of the full repertoire of conformers and assembly states that can be accessed by PrP under specific experimental conditions should ideally be done using the full-length protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare R Trevitt
- From the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Laszlo L P Hosszu
- From the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Mark Batchelor
- From the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Silvia Panico
- the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX
| | - Cassandra Terry
- From the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Andrew J Nicoll
- From the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Emmanuel Risse
- From the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - William A Taylor
- From the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Malin K Sandberg
- From the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Huda Al-Doujaily
- From the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Jacqueline M Linehan
- From the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Helen R Saibil
- the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX
| | - David J Scott
- the National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, the ISIS Spallation Neutron and Muon Source and Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire, OX11 0FA, and
| | - John Collinge
- From the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Jonathan P Waltho
- the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Krebs Institute for Biomolecular Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony R Clarke
- From the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG,
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Conti S, Li X, Gianni S, Ghadami SA, Buxbaum J, Cecchi C, Chiti F, Bemporad F. A Complex Equilibrium among Partially Unfolded Conformations in Monomeric Transthyretin. Biochemistry 2014; 53:4381-92. [DOI: 10.1021/bi500430w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Conti
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche “Mario Serio”,
Sezione di Biochimica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale G. B. Morgagni 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy
| | - Xinyi Li
- Department
of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, MEM-230, La
Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Stefano Gianni
- Istituto
Pasteur Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti and Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche
“A. Rossi Fanelli”, Istituto di Biologia e Patologia
Molecolari del CNR, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, P. le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Seyyed Abolghasem Ghadami
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche “Mario Serio”,
Sezione di Biochimica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale G. B. Morgagni 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy
| | - Joel Buxbaum
- Department
of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, MEM-230, La
Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Cristina Cecchi
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche “Mario Serio”,
Sezione di Biochimica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale G. B. Morgagni 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche “Mario Serio”,
Sezione di Biochimica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale G. B. Morgagni 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesco Bemporad
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche “Mario Serio”,
Sezione di Biochimica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale G. B. Morgagni 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy
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