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Salmani F, Mohammadi M, Seif R, Khatami SH, Noori S, Tehrani HS, Riazi G, Balalaie S, Moosavi-Movahedi AA, Fard AM, Mahnam K, Keramatinia A, Tafakhori A, Aghamollaii V, Toutounchi AH, Shahmohammadi MR, Karima S. Lysine ε-aminolysis and incorporation of sulfhydryl groups into human brain tau 4R/1N and 306VQIVYK 311 enhances the formation of beta structures and toxicity. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 263:130223. [PMID: 38365146 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
In the present study, we investigated the effects of N-homocysteine thiolactone (tHcy) modification on expressed and purified tau protein and the synthesized VQIVYK target peptide. The modified constructs were subjected to comprehensive validation using various methodologies, including mass spectrometry. Subsequently, in vivo, in vitro, and in silico characterizations were performed under both reducing and non-reducing conditions, as well as in the presence and absence of heparin as a cofactor. Our results unequivocally confirmed that under reducing conditions and in the presence of heparin, the modified constructs exhibited a greater propensity for aggregation. This enhanced aggregative behavior can be attributed to the disruption of lysine positive charges and the subsequent influence of hydrophobic and p-stacking intermolecular forces. Notably, the modified oligomeric species induced apoptosis in the SH-SY5Y cell line, and this effect was further exacerbated with longer incubation times and higher concentrations of the modifier. These observations suggest a potential mechanism involving reactive oxygen species (ROS). To gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the neurotoxic effects, further investigations are warranted. Elucidating these mechanisms will contribute to the development of more effective strategies to counteract aggregation and mitigate neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Salmani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran
| | - Marjan Mohammadi
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Roozbeh Seif
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyyed Hossein Khatami
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran
| | - Shokoofeh Noori
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Gholamhossein Riazi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Balalaie
- Peptide Chemistry Research Center, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Karim Mahnam
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Nanotechnology Research Center, Sharekord University, Sharekord, Iran
| | - Aliasghar Keramatinia
- Department of Community Medicine,Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Tafakhori
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Vajiheh Aghamollaii
- Neurology Department, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Haghbin Toutounchi
- Department of general surgery, Imam Hosein medical and educational center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,Tehran,Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Shahmohammadi
- Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Karima
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran.
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2
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Loubane G, Robert G, Firdaus SB, Venne P, Comeau C, Boudreault PL, Komba JE, Wagner JR, Naylor S, Klarskov K. Conundrum of dehydroascorbic acid and homocysteine thiolactone reaction products: Structural characterization and effect on peptide and protein N-homocysteinylation. Free Radic Biol Med 2023; 206:111-124. [PMID: 37385568 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
An excessive blood level of homocysteine (HcySH) is associated with numerous cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease conditions. It has been suggested that direct S-homocysteinylation, of proteins by HcySH, or N-homosteinylation by homocysteine thiolactone (HTL) could play a causative role in these maladies. In contrast, ascorbic acid (AA) plays a significant role in oxidative stress prevention. AA is oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) and if not rapidly reduced back to AA may degrade to reactive carbonyl products. In the present work, DHA is shown to react with HTL to produce a spiro bicyclic ring containing a six-membered thiazinane-carboxylic acid moiety. This reaction product is likely formed by initial imine condensation and subsequent hemiaminal product followed by HTL ring opening and intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the resulting thiol anion to form the spiro product. The reaction product was determined to have an accurate mass of 291.0414 and a molecular composition C10H13NO7S containing five double bond equivalents. We structurally characterized the reaction product using a combination of accurate mass tandem mass spectrometry, 1D and 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance. We also demonstrated that formation of the reaction product prevented peptide and protein N-homocysteinylation by HTL using a model peptide and α-lactalbumin. Furthermore, the reaction product is formed in Jurkat cells when exposed to HTL and DHA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghizlane Loubane
- Département de Pharmacologie et Physiologie Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 2160 San Fernando Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53122, USA
| | - Gabriel Robert
- Département de Médecine Nucléaire et Radiobiologie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 2160 San Fernando Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53122, USA
| | - Syed Benazir Firdaus
- Département de Pharmacologie et Physiologie Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 2160 San Fernando Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53122, USA
| | - Philippe Venne
- Département de Chimie, 2160 San Fernando Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53122, USA
| | - Christian Comeau
- Département de Chimie, 2160 San Fernando Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53122, USA
| | | | - Jeampy E Komba
- Département de Pharmacologie et Physiologie Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 2160 San Fernando Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53122, USA
| | - J Richard Wagner
- Département de Médecine Nucléaire et Radiobiologie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 2160 San Fernando Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53122, USA
| | - Stephen Naylor
- ReNeuroGen LLC, 2160 San Fernando Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53122, USA
| | - Klaus Klarskov
- Département de Pharmacologie et Physiologie Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 2160 San Fernando Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53122, USA.
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3
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Zhou L, Guo T, Meng L, Zhang X, Tian Y, Dai L, Niu X, Li Y, Liu C, Chen G, Liu C, Ke W, Zhang Z, Bao A, Zhang Z. N-homocysteinylation of α-synuclein promotes its aggregation and neurotoxicity. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e13745. [PMID: 36437524 PMCID: PMC10014048 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of α-synuclein plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Epidemiological evidence indicates that high level of homocysteine (Hcy) is associated with an increased risk of PD. However, the molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that homocysteine thiolactone (HTL), a reactive thioester of Hcy, covalently modifies α-synuclein on the K80 residue. The levels of α-synuclein K80Hcy in the brain are increased in an age-dependent manner in the TgA53T mice, correlating with elevated levels of Hcy and HTL in the brain during aging. The N-homocysteinylation of α-synuclein stimulates its aggregation and forms fibrils with enhanced seeding activity and neurotoxicity. Intrastriatal injection of homocysteinylated α-synuclein fibrils induces more severe α-synuclein pathology and motor deficits when compared with unmodified α-synuclein fibrils. Increasing the levels of Hcy aggravates α-synuclein neuropathology in a mouse model of PD. In contrast, blocking the N-homocysteinylation of α-synuclein ameliorates α-synuclein pathology and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. These findings suggest that the covalent modification of α-synuclein by HTL promotes its aggregation. Targeting the N-homocysteinylation of α-synuclein could be a novel therapeutic strategy against PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyan Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Guo
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lanxia Meng
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xingyu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ye Tian
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lijun Dai
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuan Niu
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiming Li
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Congcong Liu
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guiqin Chen
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chaoyang Liu
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Ke
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhaohui Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Anyu Bao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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4
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Mitin DE, Chubarov AS. Fluorinated Human Serum Albumin as Potential (19)F Magnetic Resonance Imaging Probe. Molecules 2023; 28. [PMID: 36838682 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28041695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorinated human serum albumin conjugates were prepared and tested as potential metal-free probes for 19F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each protein molecule was modified by several fluorine-containing compounds via the N-substituted natural acylating reagent homocysteine thiolactone. Albumin conjugates retain the protein's physical and biological properties, such as its 3D dimensional structure, aggregation ability, good solubility, proteolysis efficiency, biocompatibility, and low cytotoxicity. A dual-labeled with cyanine 7 fluorescence dye and fluorine reporter group albumin were synthesized for simultaneous fluorescence imaging and 19F MRI. The preliminary in vitro studies show the prospects of albumin carriers for multimodal imaging.
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5
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Petrides PE, Klein M, Schuhmann E, Torkler H, Molitor B, Loehr C, Obermeier Z, Beykirch MK. Severe homocysteinemia in two givosiran-treated porphyria patients: is free heme deficiency the culprit? Ann Hematol 2021; 100:1685-1693. [PMID: 34050373 PMCID: PMC8195940 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-021-04547-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Givosiran is a novel approach to treat patients with acute intermittent porphyrias (AIP) by silencing of ∂-ALA-synthase 1, the first enzyme of heme biosynthesis in the liver. We included two patients in the Envision study who responded clinically well to this treatment. However, in both patients, therapy had to be discontinued because of severe adverse effects: One patient (A) developed local injection reactions which continued to spread all over her body with increasing number of injections and eventually caused a severe systemic allergic reaction. Patient B was hospitalized because of a fulminant pancreatitis. Searching for possible causes, we also measured the patients plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels in fluoride-containing collection tubes: by LC-MS/MS unexpectedly, plasma Hcy levels were 100 and 200 in patient A and between 100 and 400 μmol/l in patient B. Searching for germline mutations in 10 genes that are relevant for homocysteine metabolism only revealed hetero- and homozygous polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene. Alternatively, an acquired inhibition of cystathionine-beta-synthase which is important for homocysteine metabolism could explain the plasma homocysteine increase. This enzyme is heme-dependent: when we gave heme arginate to our patients, Hcy levels rapidly dropped. Hence, we conclude that inhibition of ∂-ALA-synthase 1 by givosiran causes a drop of free heme in the hepatocyte and therefore the excessive increase of plasma homocysteine. Hyperhomocysteinemia may contribute to the adverse effects seen in givosiran-treated patients which may be due to protein-N-homocysteinylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petro E. Petrides
- EPNET Center Munich, Hematology Oncology Center, University of Munich Medical School, Zweibrückenstr.2, 80331 Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Klein
- Klinikum Vest, Dorstener Strasse 151, 45657 Recklinghausen, Germany
| | - Elfriede Schuhmann
- Homocysteine Laboratory, Labor Becker und Kollegen, Führichstr.70, 81671 Munich, Germany
| | - Heike Torkler
- Genetics Laboratory, MVZ Eberhard, Brauhausstr.4, 44137 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Brigitte Molitor
- Eurofin Laboratories, Rotthauser Str 19, 45879 Gelsenkirchen, Germany
| | - Christian Loehr
- Department of Radiology, Klinikum Vest, Dorstener Strasse 151, 45657 Recklinghausen, Germany
| | - Zahra Obermeier
- EPNET Center Munich, Hematology Oncology Center, University of Munich Medical School, Zweibrückenstr.2, 80331 Munich, Germany
| | - Maria K. Beykirch
- EPNET Center Munich, Hematology Oncology Center, University of Munich Medical School, Zweibrückenstr.2, 80331 Munich, Germany
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6
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Wang HQ, Kong EL, Zhang X, Meng XY, Zhang JM, Yu WF, Wu FX. Folic acid alleviates jaundice of phenylhydrazine (PHA)-induced neonatal rats by reducing Lys-homocysteinylation of albumin. Cell Biol Toxicol 2021; 37:679-693. [PMID: 33788065 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-021-09602-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal jaundice is a common symptom that occurs in neonates during the first month of their life and is generally divided into physiological and pathological subtypes. In serious cases, pathological neonatal jaundice frequently shows complications including seizures, cerebral palsy, and kernicterus. However, due to the unclear pathogenesis of pathological neonatal jaundice, effective drugs for this disease remain unsatisfied. In the present study, we first estimated the protective effects of folic acid (FA) on phenylhydrazine (PHA) or homocysteine (Hcy)-injected neonatal rats (2-3 days aged). Intriguingly, we found that FA significantly decreased the elevated total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin (DBIL) concentration, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in PHA- or Hcy-injected rats, indicating that FA improves liver functions. Meanwhile, our results also showed that the plasma Hcy level and N-homocysteinylation (N-Hcy) modification of albumin were significantly elevated in the jaundice rats, which were obviously reversed after FA administration. Furthermore, we identified a novel N-Hcy modification site K545 of human serum albumin (HSA) using LC-MS/MS, and the mutagenesis assay in HEK293 further validated these observations. Besides, we demonstrated that the N-Hcy modification of albumin functionally inhibits the bilirubin-binding ability of albumin without altering its protein level both in vitro and in vivo. Altogether, we highlight a mechanism that FA reduces the plasma Hcy level and thereby enhance the bilirubin-binding ability of albumin, which may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of pathological neonatal jaundice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Qian Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
| | - Er-Liang Kong
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, The 988th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA, Zhengzhou, 450042, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Meng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jin-Min Zhang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Wei-Feng Yu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China. .,Department of Anesthesiology, Ren Ji Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 201204, China.
| | - Fei-Xiang Wu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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Mei X, Qi D, Zhang T, Zhao Y, Jin L, Hou J, Wang J, Lin Y, Xue Y, Zhu P, Liu Z, Huang L, Nie J, Si W, Ma J, Ye J, Finnell RH, Saiyin H, Wang H, Zhao J, Zhao S, Xu W. Inhibiting MARSs reduces hyperhomocysteinemia-associated neural tube and congenital heart defects. EMBO Mol Med 2020; 12:e9469. [PMID: 32003121 PMCID: PMC7059139 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201809469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinemia is a common metabolic disorder that imposes major adverse health consequences. Reducing homocysteine levels, however, is not always effective against hyperhomocysteinemia-associated pathologies. Herein, we report the potential roles of methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MARS)-generated homocysteine signals in neural tube defects (NTDs) and congenital heart defects (CHDs). Increased copy numbers of MARS and/or MARS2 were detected in NTD and CHD patients. MARSs sense homocysteine and transmit its signal by inducing protein lysine (N)-homocysteinylation. Here, we identified hundreds of novel N-homocysteinylated proteins. N-homocysteinylation of superoxide dismutases (SOD1/2) provided new mechanistic insights for homocysteine-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and Wnt signalling deregulation. Elevated MARS expression in developing and proliferating cells sensitizes them to the effects of homocysteine. Targeting MARSs using the homocysteine analogue acetyl homocysteine thioether (AHT) reversed MARS efficacy. AHT lowered NTD and CHD onsets in retinoic acid-induced and hyperhomocysteinemia-induced animal models without affecting homocysteine levels. We provide genetic and biochemical evidence to show that MARSs are previously overlooked genetic determinants and key pathological factors of hyperhomocysteinemia, and suggest that MARS inhibition represents an important medicinal approach for controlling hyperhomocysteinemia-associated diseases.
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8
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Perła-Kaján J, Jakubowski H. Dysregulation of Epigenetic Mechanisms of Gene Expression in the Pathologies of Hyperhomocysteinemia. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E3140. [PMID: 31252610 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) exerts a wide range of biological effects and is associated with a number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, dementia, neural tube defects, and cancer. Although mechanisms of HHcy toxicity are not fully uncovered, there has been a significant progress in their understanding. The picture emerging from the studies of homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism and pathophysiology is a complex one, as Hcy and its metabolites affect biomolecules and processes in a tissue- and sex-specific manner. Because of their connection to one carbon metabolism and editing mechanisms in protein biosynthesis, Hcy and its metabolites impair epigenetic control of gene expression mediated by DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA, which underlies the pathology of human disease. In this review we summarize the recent evidence showing that epigenetic dysregulation of gene expression, mediated by changes in DNA methylation and histone N-homocysteinylation, is a pathogenic consequence of HHcy in many human diseases. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of human disease induced by Hcy and its metabolites, and suggest therapeutic targets for the prevention and/or treatment.
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9
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Silla Y, Varshney S, Ray A, Basak T, Zinellu A, Sabareesh V, Carru C, Sengupta S. Hydrolysis of homocysteine thiolactone results in the formation of Protein-Cys-S-S-homocysteinylation. Proteins 2019; 87:625-634. [PMID: 30869815 DOI: 10.1002/prot.25681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
An increased level of homocysteine, a reactive thiol amino acid, is associated with several complex disorders and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A majority (>80%) of circulating homocysteine is protein bound. Homocysteine exclusively binds to protein cysteine residues via thiol disulfide exchange reaction, the mechanism of which has been reported. In contrast, homocysteine thiolactone, the cyclic thioester of homocysteine, is believed to exclusively bind to the primary amine group of lysine residue leading to N-homocysteinylation of proteins and hence studies on binding of homocysteine thiolactone to proteins thus far have only focused on N-homocysteinylation. Although it is known that homocysteine thiolactone can hydrolyze to homocysteine at physiological pH, surprisingly the extent of S-homocysteinylation during the exposure of homocysteine thiolactone with proteins has never been looked into. In this study, we clearly show that the hydrolysis of homocysteine thiolactone is pH dependent, and at physiological pH, 1 mM homocysteine thiolactone is hydrolysed to ~0.71 mM homocysteine within 24 h. Using albumin, we also show that incubation of HTL with albumin leads to a greater proportion of S-homocysteinylation (0.41 mol/mol of albumin) than N-homocysteinylation (0.14 mol/mol of albumin). S-homocysteinylation at Cys34 of HSA on treatment with homocysteine thiolactone was confirmed using LC-MS. Further, contrary to earlier reports, our results indicate that there is no cross talk between the cysteine attached to Cys34 of albumin and homocysteine attached to lysine residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumnam Silla
- Department of Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Swati Varshney
- Department of Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Arjun Ray
- Department of Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Trayambak Basak
- Department of Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Angelo Zinellu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Varatharajan Sabareesh
- Department of Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Ciriaco Carru
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Quality Control Unit, University Hospital of Sassari (AOU Sassari), Sassari, Italy
| | - Shantanu Sengupta
- Department of Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, Delhi, India
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10
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Schiappacasse A, Maltaneri RE, Chamorro ME, Nesse AB, Wetzler DE, Vittori DC. Modification of erythropoietin structure by N-homocysteinylation affects its antiapoptotic and proliferative functions. FEBS J 2018; 285:3801-3814. [PMID: 30103295 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Many patients under therapy with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEPO) show resistance to the treatment, an effect likely associated with the accumulation of tissue factors, especially in renal and cardiovascular diseases. Hyperhomocysteinemia due to high serum levels of homocysteine has been suggested among the risk factors in those pathologies. Its main effect is the N-homocysteinylation of proteins due to the interaction between the highly reactive homocysteine thiolactone (HTL) and lysine residues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of N-homocysteinylation on the erythropoietic and antiapoptotic abilities of EPO, which can be a consequence of structural changes in the modified protein. We found that both cellular functions were altered in the presence of HTL-EPO. A decreased net positive charge of HTL-EPO was detected by capillary zone electrophoresis, while analysis of polyacrylamide gel electropherograms suggested formation of aggregates. Far-UV spectra, obtained by Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy, indicated a switch of the protein's secondary structure from α-helix to β-sheet structures. Results of Congo red and Thioflavin T assays confirm the formation of repetitive β-sheet structures, which may account for aggregates. Accordingly, Dynamic Light Scattering analysis showed a markedly larger radius of the HTL-EPO structures, supporting the formation of soluble oligomers. These structural changes might interfere with the conformational adaptations necessary for efficient ligand-receptor interaction, thus affecting the proliferative and antiapoptotic functions of EPO. The present findings may contribute to explain the resistance exhibited by patients with cardio-renal syndrome to treatment with rhuEPO, as a consequence of structural modifications due to protein N-homocysteinylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Schiappacasse
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto del Departamento de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Romina Eugenia Maltaneri
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto del Departamento de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Eugenia Chamorro
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto del Departamento de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alcira Beatriz Nesse
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto del Departamento de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diana Elena Wetzler
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto del Departamento de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela Cecilia Vittori
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto del Departamento de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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11
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Sharma GS, Singh LR. Conformational status of cytochrome c upon N-homocysteinylation: Implications to cytochrome c release. Arch Biochem Biophys 2017; 614:23-7. [PMID: 28003096 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Revised: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
One of the proposed mechanisms of homocysteine (Hcy) toxicity is the post-translational modification of proteins by its metabolite, homocysteine thiolactone (HTL). Incubation of proteins with HTL has been shown to form covalent adducts with ε-amino group of lysine residues of protein (called N-homocysteinylation) which ultimately results in structural and functional alterations of the modified proteins. In the present study, the effects of HTL on the conformational and heme status of cytochrome c (cyt c) were investigated. Spectroscopic analyses revealed that HTL-modified cyt c undergoes certain conformational alterations leading to disturbed heme-Trp distance and packing of the apolar groups. These alterations were accompanied with the reduction of the heme moiety and activation of peroxidase-like function of cyt c, which is known to be a crucial event for initiation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Further structural characterization revealed that disruption of the heme-Met80 interaction, thereby converting the hexa-coordinate cyt c to a penta-coordinate species (with a free heme ligand), was responsible for the activation of the peroxidase activity. The study provides insights for the possible role of cyt c N-homocysteinylation in eliciting its toxicity and cell death.
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12
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Mei XY, He XD, Huang L, Qi DS, Nie J, Li Y, Si W, Zhao SM. Dehomocysteinylation is catalysed by the sirtuin-2-like bacterial lysine deacetylase CobB. FEBS J 2016; 283:4149-4162. [PMID: 27696686 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 09/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinemia, which is characterized by elevated blood levels of the non-protein amino acid homocysteine (Hcy), is an independent risk factor for many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and birth defects. The incorporation of homocysteine into proteins, known as protein N-homocysteinylation, has been considered a major mechanism that contributes to hyperhomocysteinemia. However, the process of dehomocysteinylation, the N-homocysteinylation substrates and the regulatory enzyme(s) remain largely unknown. In this study, we observed that the dehomocysteinylation reaction is a spontaneous process that can be inhibited by blocking -SH groups, which have been demonstrated to be critical for non-enzymatic dehomocysteinylation reactions. We also report that CobB, a known Sir2-like bacterial lysine deacetylase, catalyzes lysine dehomocysteinylation reactions both in vitro and in vivo. Our work provides insight into how this non-enzymatic modification might be removed from affected proteins, supplies potential targets for developing identification methods for N-homocysteine proteins, and identifies CobB as the first prokaryotic dehomocysteinylation enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yu Mei
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Interdisciplinary Center on Biology and Chemistry and Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Xia-Di He
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Da-Shi Qi
- Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ji Nie
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen Si
- Qingdao University of Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, China
| | - Shi-Min Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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13
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Stroylova YY, Semenyuk PI, Asriyantz RA, Gaillard C, Haertlé T, Muronetz VI. Creation of catalytically active particles from enzymes crosslinked with a natural bifunctional agent--homocysteine thiolactone. Biopolymers 2016; 101:975-84. [PMID: 24912753 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Revised: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The current study describes an approach to creation of catalytically active particles with increased stability from enzymes by N-homocysteinylation, a naturally presented protein modification. Enzymatic activities and properties of two globular tetrameric enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were studied before and after N-homocysteinylation. Modification of these proteins concerns the accessible lysine residues and introduces an average of 2-2,5 homocysteine residues per protein monomer. Formation of a range of aggregates was observed for both enzymes, which assemble via formation of intermolecular noncovalent bonds and by disulfide bonds. It was demonstrated that both studied enzymes retain their catalytic activities on modification and the subsequent formation of oligomeric forms. At low concentrations of homocysteine thiolactone, modification of GAPDH leads not only to prevention of spontaneous inactivation but also increases thermal stability of this enzyme on heating to 80°C. A moderate reduction of the activity of GAPDH observed in case of its crosslinking with 50-fold excess of homocysteine thiolactone per lysine is probably caused by hindered substrate diffusion. Spherical particles of 100 nm and larger diameters were observed by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscope techniques after modification of GAPDH with different homocysteine thiolactone concentrations. In case of LDH, branched fibril-like aggregates were observed under the same conditions. Interestingly, crosslinked samples of both proteins were found to have reversible thermal denaturation profiles, indicating that modification with homocysteine thiolactone stabilizes the spatial structure of these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia Y Stroylova
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234, Moscow, Russia
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14
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Chubarov AS, Zakharova OD, Koval OA, Romaschenko AV, Akulov AE, Zavjalov EL, Razumov IA, Koptyug IV, Knorre DG, Godovikova TS. Design of protein homocystamides with enhanced tumor uptake properties for (19)F magnetic resonance imaging. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:6943-54. [PMID: 26462051 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.09.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Revised: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/26/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Straightforward and reliable tools for in vivo imaging of tumors can benefit the studies of cancer development, as well as contribute to successful diagnosis and treatment of cancer. (19)F NMR offers an exceptional quantitative way of in vivo imaging of the infused agents because of the lack of (19)F signals from the endogenous molecules in the body. The purpose of this study is to develop molecular probes with appropriate NMR characteristics and the biocompatibility for in vivo applications using (19)F MRI. We have studied the reaction between perfluorotoluene and homocysteine thiolactone resulting in the formation of N-substituted homocysteine thiolactone derivative. It has been shown that the reaction occurs selectively at the para position. This fluorine-labeled homocysteine thiolactone has been employed for the introduction of a perfluorotoluene group as a (19)F-containing tag into human serum albumin. The modified protein has been studied in terms of its ability to aggregate and promote the formation of free radicals. By comparing the properties of N-perfluorotoluene-homocystamide of albumin with N-homocysteinylated albumin, it has been revealed that blocking of the alpha-amino group of the homocysteine residue in the fluorinated albumin conjugate inhibits the dangerous aggregation process, as well as free radical formation. A dual-labeled albumin-based molecular probe for (19)F MRI and fluorescence microscopy has been obtained by functionalizing the protein with both maleimide of a fluorescent dye and a fluorinated thiolactone derivative. The incubation of cells with this conjugate did not reveal any significant reduction in cell viability with respect to the parent albumin. The perfluorotoluene-labeled albumin has been demonstrated to act as a promising agent for in vivo (19)F MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey S Chubarov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Olga D Zakharova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Olga A Koval
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Andrey E Akulov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Ivan A Razumov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Igor V Koptyug
- International Tomography Center, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Dmitry G Knorre
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Tatyana S Godovikova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
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