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Le-Dao HA, Dinh TT, Tran TL, Lee VS, Tran-Van H. Molecular Dynamics Simulations Reveal Novel Interacting Regions of Human Prion Protein to Brucella abortus Hsp60 Protein. Mol Biotechnol 2024; 66:687-695. [PMID: 36633832 PMCID: PMC9838441 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00655-9] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The distinctive morphology characteristics of microfold cells (M cells) allow the vaccine antigen not only to interact with immune cells directly, but also to effectively stimulate mucosal immune responses via receptors on its apical surface. Human prion protein, a transmembrane receptor for Brucella abortus Hsp60, is highly expressed on the M cell surface. Nonetheless, this protein tends to express in inclusion body in prokaryotic hosts. In this study, the shorter interacting regions of human prion protein were identified via computational methods such as docking and molecular dynamics simulations to minimize its aggregation tendency. The computational calculations revealed three novel human prion protein-interacting regions, namely PrP125, PrP174, and PrP180. In accordance with in silico prediction, the biologically synthesized peptides fusing with GST tag demonstrated their specific binding to Hsp60 protein via pull-down assay. Hence, this finding laid the groundwork for M-cell targeting candidate validation through these newly identified interacting regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang-Anh Le-Dao
- Laboratory of Biosensors, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
| | - Thuan-Thien Dinh
- Laboratory of Biosensors, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
| | - Thuoc Linh Tran
- Laboratory of Biosensors, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
| | - Vannajan Sanghiran Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hieu Tran-Van
- Laboratory of Biosensors, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
- Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
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2
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Li Q, Zhu Y, Meng X, Tong HHY, Liu H. Experiment and molecular dynamics simulations reveal proanthocyanidin B2 and B3 can inhibit prion aggregation by different mechanisms. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:2424-2436. [PMID: 37144732 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2209663] [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: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by the misfolding and aggregation of prion protein (PrP), and the inhibition of PrP aggregation is one of the most effective therapeutic strategies. Proanthocyanidin B2 (PB2) and B3 (PB3), the effective natural antioxidants have been evaluated for the inhibition of amyloid-related protein aggregation. Since PrP has similar aggregation mechanism with other amyloid-related proteins, will PB2 and PB3 affect the aggregation of PrP? In this paper, experimental and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation methods were combined to investigate the influence of PB2 and PB3 on PrP aggregation. Thioflavin T assays showed PB2 and PB3 could inhibit PrP aggregation in a concentrate-dependent manner in vitro. To understand the underlying mechanism, we performed 400 ns all-atom MD simulations. The results suggested PB2 could stabilize the α2 C-terminus and the hydrophobic core of protein by stabilizing two important salt bridges R156-E196 and R156-D202, and consequently made global structure of protein more stable. Surprisingly, PB3 could not stabilize PrP, which may inhibit PrP aggregation through a different mechanism. Since dimerization is the first step of aggregation, will PB3 inhibit PrP aggregation by inhibiting the dimerization? To verify our assumption, we then explored the effect of PB3 on protein dimerization by performing 800 ns MD simulations. The results suggested PB3 could reduce the residue contacts and hydrogen bonds between two monomers, preventing dimerization process of PrP. The possible inhibition mechanism of PB2 and PB3 on PrP aggregation could provide useful information for drug development against prion diseases.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Li
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, SAR, China
| | - Yongchang Zhu
- College of Chemical Engineering, Shijiazhuang University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Meng
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Henry H Y Tong
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, SAR, China
| | - Huanxiang Liu
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, SAR, China
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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3
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Gupta T, Arora L, Mukhopadhyay S, Pal SK. Ultrasensitive Detection of Lipid-Induced Misfolding of the Prion Protein at the Aqueous-Liquid Crystal Interface. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:2117-2122. [PMID: 38363235 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c02770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The misfolding of the α-helical cellular prion protein into a self-propagating β-rich aggregated form is a key pathogenic event in fatal and transmissible neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as prion diseases. Herein, we utilize the interfacial properties of liquid crystals (LCs) to monitor the lipid-membrane-induced conformational switching of prion protein (PrP) into β-rich amyloid fibrils. The lipid-induced conformational switching resulting in aggregation occurs at the nanomolar protein concentration and is primarily mediated by electrostatic interactions between PrP and lipid headgroups. Our LC-based methodology offers a potent and sensitive tool to detect and delineate molecular mechanisms of PrP misfolding mediated by lipid-protein interactions at the aqueous interface under physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarang Gupta
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Knowledge City, Manauli 140306, India
| | - Lisha Arora
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Centre for Protein Science, Design and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Knowledge City, Manauli 140306, India
| | - Samrat Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Centre for Protein Science, Design and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Knowledge City, Manauli 140306, India
| | - Santanu Kumar Pal
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Knowledge City, Manauli 140306, India
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4
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Leisi EV, Moiseenko AV, Kudryavtseva SS, Pozdyshev DV, Muronetz VI, Kurochkina LP. Bacteriophage-encoded chaperonins stimulate prion protein fibrillation in an ATP-dependent manner. Biochim Biophys Acta Proteins Proteom 2024; 1872:140965. [PMID: 37739110 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2023.140965] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of the various prion diseases is based on the conformational conversion of the prion protein from its physiological cellular form to the insoluble scrapie isoform. Several chaperones, including the Hsp60 family of group I chaperonins, are known to contribute to this transformation, but data on their effects are scarce and conflicting. In this work, two GroEL-like phage chaperonins, the single-ring OBP and the double-ring EL, were found to stimulate monomeric prion protein fibrillation in an ATP-dependent manner. The resulting fibrils were characterised by thioflavin T fluorescence, electron microscopy, proteinase K digestion assay and other methods. In the presence of ATP, chaperonins were found to promote the conversion of prion protein monomers into short amyloid fibrils with their further aggregation into less toxic large clusters. Fibrils generated with the assistance of phage chaperonins differ in morphology and properties from those formed spontaneously from monomeric prion in the presence of denaturants at acidic pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeniia V Leisi
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Bld 73, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey V Moiseenko
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Bld 12, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sofia S Kudryavtseva
- Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Bld 40, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis V Pozdyshev
- Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Bld 40, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir I Muronetz
- Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Bld 40, 119991 Moscow, Russia; Butlerov Chemical Institute, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya 18, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Lidia P Kurochkina
- Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Bld 40, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
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5
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Cha S, Kim MY. The role of cellular prion protein in immune system. BMB Rep 2023; 56:645-650. [PMID: 37817440 PMCID: PMC10761747] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have investigated the cellular prion protein (PrPC) since its discovery. These investigations have explained that its structure is predominantly composed of alpha helices and short beta sheet segments, and when its abnormal scrapie isoform (PrPSc) is infected, PrPSc transforms the PrPC, leading to prion diseases, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle. Given its ubiquitous distribution across a variety of cellular types, the PrPC manifests a diverse range of biological functions, including cell-cell adhesion, neuroprotection, signalings, and oxidative stress response. PrPC is also expressed in immune tissues, and its functions in these tissues include the activation of immune cells and the formation of secondary lymphoid tissues, such as the spleen and lymph nodes. Moreover, high expression of PrPC in immune cells plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. In addition, it affects inflammation and the development and progression of cancer via various mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the studies on the role of PrPC from various immunological perspectives. [BMB Reports 2023; 56(12): 645-650].
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunghwa Cha
- Department of Bioinformatics and Life Science, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Korea
| | - Mi-Yeon Kim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Life Science, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Korea
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Bohl J, Moudjou M, Herzog L, Reine F, Sailer F, Klute H, Halgand F, Rest GVD, Boulard Y, Béringue V, Igel A, Rezaei H. The Smallest Infectious Substructure Encoding the Prion Strain Structural Determinant Revealed by Spontaneous Dissociation of Misfolded Prion Protein Assemblies. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168280. [PMID: 37730082 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168280] [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: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
It is commonly accepted that the prion replicative propensity and strain structural determinant (SSD) are encoded in the fold of PrPSc amyloid fibril assemblies. By exploring the quaternary structure dynamicity of several prion strains, we revealed that all mammalian prion assemblies exhibit the generic property of spontaneously generating two sets of discreet infectious tetrameric and dimeric species differing significantly by their specific infectivity. By using perturbation approaches such as dilution and ionic strength variation, we demonstrated that these two oligomeric species were highly dynamic and evolved differently in the presence of chaotropic agents. In general, our observations of seven different prion strains from three distinct species highlight the high dynamicity of PrPSc assemblies as a common and intrinsic property of mammalian prions. The existence of such small infectious PrPSc species harboring the SSD indicates that the prion infectivity and the SSD are not restricted only to the amyloid fold but can also be encoded in other alternative quaternary structures. Such diversity in the quaternary structure of prion assemblies tends to indicate that the structure of PrPSc can be divided into two independent folding domains: a domain encoding the strain structural determinant and a second domain whose fold determines the type of quaternary structure that could adopt PrPSc assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Bohl
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAe, UVSQ, VIM, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; ICP, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Mohammed Moudjou
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAe, UVSQ, VIM, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Laetitia Herzog
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAe, UVSQ, VIM, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Fabienne Reine
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAe, UVSQ, VIM, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Fiona Sailer
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAe, UVSQ, VIM, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Hannah Klute
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAe, UVSQ, VIM, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | | | - Yves Boulard
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Vincent Béringue
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAe, UVSQ, VIM, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Angelique Igel
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAe, UVSQ, VIM, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Human Rezaei
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAe, UVSQ, VIM, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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7
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Cortez LM, Morrison AJ, Garen CR, Patterson S, Uyesugi T, Petrosyan R, Sekar RV, Harms MJ, Woodside MT, Sim VL. Probing the origin of prion protein misfolding via reconstruction of ancestral proteins. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4477. [PMID: 36254680 PMCID: PMC9667828 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by pathogenic misfolding of the prion protein, PrP. They are transmissible between hosts, and sometimes between different species, as with transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to humans. Although PrP is found in a wide range of vertebrates, prion diseases are seen only in certain mammals, suggesting that infectious misfolding was a recent evolutionary development. To explore when PrP acquired the ability to misfold infectiously, we reconstructed the sequences of ancestral versions of PrP from the last common primate, primate-rodent, artiodactyl, placental, bird, and amniote. Recombinant ancestral PrPs were then tested for their ability to form β-sheet aggregates, either spontaneously or when seeded with infectious prion strains from human, cervid, or rodent species. The ability to aggregate developed after the oldest ancestor (last common amniote), and aggregation capabilities diverged along evolutionary pathways consistent with modern-day susceptibilities. Ancestral bird PrP could not be seeded with modern-day prions, just as modern-day birds are resistant to prion disease. Computational modeling of structures suggested that differences in helix 2 could account for the resistance of ancestral bird PrP to seeding. Interestingly, ancestral primate PrP could be converted by all prion seeds, including both human and cervid prions, raising the possibility that species descended from an ancestral primate have retained the susceptibility to conversion by cervid prions. More generally, the results suggest that susceptibility to prion disease emerged prior to ~100 million years ago, with placental mammals possibly being generally susceptible to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo M. Cortez
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding DiseasesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Division of Neurology, Department of MedicineUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Anneliese J. Morrison
- Institute of Molecular BiologyUniversity of OregonEugeneOregonUSA
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of OregonEugeneOregonUSA
| | - Craig R. Garen
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Sawyer Patterson
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding DiseasesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Toshi Uyesugi
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Rafayel Petrosyan
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Present address:
Zaven & Sonia Akian College of Science and EngineeringAmerican University of ArmeniaYerevanArmenia
| | | | - Michael J. Harms
- Institute of Molecular BiologyUniversity of OregonEugeneOregonUSA
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of OregonEugeneOregonUSA
| | - Michael T. Woodside
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding DiseasesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of VirologyUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Valerie L. Sim
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding DiseasesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Division of Neurology, Department of MedicineUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
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8
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Posadas Y, López-Guerrero VE, Segovia J, Perez-Cruz C, Quintanar L. Dissecting the copper bioinorganic chemistry of the functional and pathological roles of the prion protein: Relevance in Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 66:102098. [PMID: 34768088 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.102098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a metal-binding biomolecule that can interact with different protein partners involved in pivotal physiological processes, such as neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity. Recent studies profile copper and PrPC as important players in the pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Although the copper-PrPC interaction has been characterized extensively, the role of the metal ion in the physiological and pathological roles of PrPC has been barely explored. In this article, we discuss how copper binding and proteolytic processing may impact the ability of PrPC to recruit protein partners for its functional roles. The importance to dissect the role of copper-PrPC interactions in health and disease is also underscored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanahi Posadas
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City, 07350, Mexico; Department of Pharmacology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City, 07350, Mexico
| | - Victor E López-Guerrero
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City, 07350, Mexico; Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neurosciences, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City, 07350, Mexico
| | - José Segovia
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neurosciences, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City, 07350, Mexico
| | - Claudia Perez-Cruz
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City, 07350, Mexico
| | - Liliana Quintanar
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City, 07350, Mexico.
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9
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Gielnik M, Taube M, Zhukova L, Zhukov I, Wärmländer SKTS, Svedružić Ž, Kwiatek WM, Gräslund A, Kozak M. Zn(II) binding causes interdomain changes in the structure and flexibility of the human prion protein. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21703. [PMID: 34737343 PMCID: PMC8568922 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00495-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a mainly α-helical 208-residue protein located in the pre- and postsynaptic membranes. For unknown reasons, PrPC can undergo a structural transition into a toxic, β-sheet rich scrapie isoform (PrPSc) that is responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Metal ions seem to play an important role in the structural conversion. PrPC binds Zn(II) ions and may be involved in metal ion transport and zinc homeostasis. Here, we use multiple biophysical techniques including optical and NMR spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and small angle X-ray scattering to characterize interactions between human PrPC and Zn(II) ions. Binding of a single Zn(II) ion to the PrPC N-terminal domain via four His residues from the octarepeat region induces a structural transition in the C-terminal α-helices 2 and 3, promotes interaction between the N-terminal and C-terminal domains, reduces the folded protein size, and modifies the internal structural dynamics. As our results suggest that PrPC can bind Zn(II) under physiological conditions, these effects could be important for the physiological function of PrPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Gielnik
- Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Michał Taube
- Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Lilia Zhukova
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Igor Zhukov
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106, Warszawa, Poland
| | | | - Željko Svedružić
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Wojciech M Kwiatek
- Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-342, Kraków, Poland
| | - Astrid Gräslund
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maciej Kozak
- Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614, Poznań, Poland.
- National Synchrotron Radiation Centre SOLARIS, Jagiellonian University, 30-392, Kraków, Poland.
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10
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Nochebuena J, Quintanar L, Vela A, Cisneros GA. Structural and electronic analysis of the octarepeat region of prion protein with four Cu 2+ by polarizable MD and QM/MM simulations. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:21568-21578. [PMID: 34550129 PMCID: PMC8497436 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp03187b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Prions have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases that affect various species of mammals including humans. The prion protein, located mainly in neurons, is believed to play the role of metal ion transporter. High levels of copper ions have been related to structural changes. A 32-residue region of the N-terminal domain, known as octarepeat, can bind up to four copper ions. Different coordination modes have been observed and are strongly dependent on Cu2+ concentration. Many theoretical studies carried out so far have focused on studying the coordination modes of a single copper ion. In this work we investigate the octarepeat region coordinated with four copper ions. Molecular dynamics (MD) and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations using the polarizable AMOEBA force field have been carried out. The polarizable MD simulations starting from a fully extended conformation indicate that the tetra-Cu2+/octarepeat complex forms a globular structure. The globular form is stabilized by interactions between Cu2+ and tryptophan residues resulting in some coordination sites observed to be in close proximity, in agreement with experimental results. Subsequent QM/MM simulations on several snapshots suggests the system is in a high-spin quintet state, with all Cu2+ bearing one single electron, and all unpaired electrons are ferromagnetically coupled. NMR simulations on selected structures provides insights on the chemical shifts of the first shell ligands around the metals with respect to inter-metal distances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Nochebuena
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, 76201, USA.
| | - Liliana Quintanar
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Mexico City, 07360, Mexico
| | - Alberto Vela
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Mexico City, 07360, Mexico
| | - G Andrés Cisneros
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, 76201, USA.
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11
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Fridmanis J, Toleikis Z, Sneideris T, Ziaunys M, Bobrovs R, Smirnovas V, Jaudzems K. Aggregation Condition-Structure Relationship of Mouse Prion Protein Fibrils. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9635. [PMID: 34502545 PMCID: PMC8431800 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are associated with conformational conversion of cellular prion protein into a misfolded pathogenic form, which resembles many properties of amyloid fibrils. The same prion protein sequence can misfold into different conformations, which are responsible for variations in prion disease phenotypes (prion strains). In this work, we use atomic force microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and magic-angle spinning NMR to devise structural models of mouse prion protein fibrils prepared in three different denaturing conditions. We find that the fibril core region as well as the structure of its N- and C-terminal parts is almost identical between the three fibrils. In contrast, the central part differs in length of β-strands and the arrangement of charged residues. We propose that the denaturant ionic strength plays a major role in determining the structure of fibrils obtained in a particular condition by stabilizing fibril core interior-facing glutamic acid residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jēkabs Fridmanis
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (J.F.); (Z.T.); (R.B.)
| | - Zigmantas Toleikis
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (J.F.); (Z.T.); (R.B.)
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania; (T.S.); (M.Z.); (V.S.)
| | - Tomas Sneideris
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania; (T.S.); (M.Z.); (V.S.)
| | - Mantas Ziaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania; (T.S.); (M.Z.); (V.S.)
| | - Raitis Bobrovs
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (J.F.); (Z.T.); (R.B.)
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania; (T.S.); (M.Z.); (V.S.)
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (J.F.); (Z.T.); (R.B.)
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12
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Gil‐Garcia M, Iglesias V, Pallarès I, Ventura S. Prion-like proteins: from computational approaches to proteome-wide analysis. FEBS Open Bio 2021; 11:2400-2417. [PMID: 34057308 PMCID: PMC8409284 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions are self-perpetuating proteins able to switch between a soluble state and an aggregated-and-transmissible conformation. These proteinaceous entities have been widely studied in yeast, where they are involved in hereditable phenotypic adaptations. The notion that such proteins could play functional roles and be positively selected by evolution has triggered the development of computational tools to identify prion-like proteins in different kingdoms of life. These algorithms have succeeded in screening multiple proteomes, allowing the identification of prion-like proteins in a diversity of unrelated organisms, evidencing that the prion phenomenon is well conserved among species. Interestingly enough, prion-like proteins are not only connected with the formation of functional membraneless protein-nucleic acid coacervates, but are also linked to human diseases. This review addresses state-of-the-art computational approaches to identify prion-like proteins, describes proteome-wide analysis efforts, discusses these unique proteins' functional role, and illustrates recently validated examples in different domains of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Gil‐Garcia
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia MolecularInstitut de Biotecnologia i de BiomedicinaUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaSpain
| | - Valentín Iglesias
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia MolecularInstitut de Biotecnologia i de BiomedicinaUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaSpain
| | - Irantzu Pallarès
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia MolecularInstitut de Biotecnologia i de BiomedicinaUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaSpain
| | - Salvador Ventura
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia MolecularInstitut de Biotecnologia i de BiomedicinaUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaSpain
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13
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Bergasa-Caceres F, Rabitz HA. Identification of Two Early Folding Stage Prion Non-Local Contacts Suggested to Serve as Key Steps in Directing the Final Fold to Be Either Native or Pathogenic. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168619. [PMID: 34445324 PMCID: PMC8395309 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The initial steps of the folding pathway of the C-terminal domain of the murine prion protein mPrP(90–231) are predicted based on the sequential collapse model (SCM). A non-local dominant contact is found to form between the connecting region between helix 1 and β-sheet 1 and the C-terminal region of helix 3. This non-local contact nucleates the most populated molten globule-like intermediate along the folding pathway. A less stable early non-local contact between segments 120–124 and 179–183, located in the middle of helix 2, promotes the formation of a less populated molten globule-like intermediate. The formation of the dominant non-local contact constitutes an example of the postulated Nature’s Shortcut to the prion protein collapse into the native structure. The possible role of the less populated molten globule-like intermediate is explored as the potential initiation point for the folding for three pathogenic mutants (T182A, I214V, and Q211P in mouse prion numbering) of the prion protein.
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14
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Sprunger ML, Jackrel ME. Prion-Like Proteins in Phase Separation and Their Link to Disease. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11071014. [PMID: 34356638 PMCID: PMC8301953 DOI: 10.3390/biom11071014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant protein folding underpins many neurodegenerative diseases as well as certain myopathies and cancers. Protein misfolding can be driven by the presence of distinctive prion and prion-like regions within certain proteins. These prion and prion-like regions have also been found to drive liquid-liquid phase separation. Liquid-liquid phase separation is thought to be an important physiological process, but one that is prone to malfunction. Thus, aberrant liquid-to-solid phase transitions may drive protein aggregation and fibrillization, which could give rise to pathological inclusions. Here, we review prions and prion-like proteins, their roles in phase separation and disease, as well as potential therapeutic approaches to counter aberrant phase transitions.
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15
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Abstract
A two-step synthesis for methionine-containing hydrophobic and/or aggregation-prone peptides is presented that takes advantage of the reversibility of methionine oxidation. The use of polar methionine sulfoxide as a building block in solid-phase peptide synthesis improves the synthesis quality and yields the crude peptide, with significantly improved solubility compared to the reduced species. This facilitates the otherwise often laborious peptide purification by high-performance liquid chromatography. The subsequent reduction proceeds quantitatively. This approach has been optimised with the methionine-rich Tar-DNA-binding protein 43 (307-347), but is also more generally applicable, as demonstrated by the syntheses of human calcitonin and two aggregation-prone peptides from the human prion protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Reusche
- Institute of Organic ChemistryHeidelberg UniversityIm Neuenheimer Feld 27069120HeidelbergGermany
- Centre for Advanced MaterialsIm Neuenheimer Feld 22569120HeidelbergGermany
- Institute of Organic and Biomolecular ChemistryUniversity of GöttingenTammannstrasse 237077GöttingenGermany
| | - Franziska Thomas
- Institute of Organic ChemistryHeidelberg UniversityIm Neuenheimer Feld 27069120HeidelbergGermany
- Centre for Advanced MaterialsIm Neuenheimer Feld 22569120HeidelbergGermany
- Institute of Organic and Biomolecular ChemistryUniversity of GöttingenTammannstrasse 237077GöttingenGermany
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16
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Carlson GA, Prusiner SB. How an Infection of Sheep Revealed Prion Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4861. [PMID: 34064393 PMCID: PMC8125442 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although it is not yet universally accepted that all neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are prion disorders, there is little disagreement that Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and other NDs are a consequence of protein misfolding, aggregation, and spread. This widely accepted perspective arose from the prion hypothesis, which resulted from investigations on scrapie, a common transmissible disease of sheep and goats. The prion hypothesis argued that the causative infectious agent of scrapie was a novel proteinaceous pathogen devoid of functional nucleic acids and distinct from viruses, viroids, and bacteria. At the time, it seemed impossible that an infectious agent like the one causing scrapie could replicate and exist as diverse microbiological strains without nucleic acids. However, aggregates of a misfolded host-encoded protein, designated the prion protein (PrP), were shown to be the cause of scrapie as well as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS), which are similar NDs in humans. This review discusses historical research on diseases caused by PrP misfolding, emphasizing principles of pathogenesis that were later found to be core features of other NDs. For example, the discovery that familial prion diseases can be caused by mutations in PrP was important for understanding prion replication and disease susceptibility not only for rare PrP diseases but also for far more common NDs involving other proteins. We compare diseases caused by misfolding and aggregation of APP-derived Aβ peptides, tau, and α-synuclein with PrP prion disorders and argue for the classification of NDs caused by misfolding of these proteins as prion diseases. Deciphering the molecular pathogenesis of NDs as prion-mediated has provided new approaches for finding therapies for these intractable, invariably fatal disorders and has revolutionized the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A. Carlson
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA;
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Stanley B. Prusiner
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA;
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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17
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Langeveld JPM, Balkema-Buschmann A, Becher D, Thomzig A, Nonno R, Andréoletti O, Davidse A, Di Bari MA, Pirisinu L, Agrimi U, Groschup MH, Beekes M, Shih J. Stability of BSE infectivity towards heat treatment even after proteolytic removal of prion protein. Vet Res 2021; 52:59. [PMID: 33863379 PMCID: PMC8052740 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-021-00928-8] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The unconventional infectious agents of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are prions. Their infectivity co-appears with PrPSc, aberrant depositions of the host's cellular prion protein (PrPC). Successive heat treatment in the presence of detergent and proteolysis by a keratinase from Bacillus licheniformis PWD-1 was shown before to destroy PrPSc from bovine TSE (BSE) and sheep scrapie diseased brain, however data regarding expected reduction of infectivity were still lacking. Therefore, transgenic Tgbov XV mice which are highly BSE susceptible were used to quantify infectivity before and after the bovine brain treatment procedure. Also four immunochemical analyses were applied to compare the levels of PrPSc. After heating at 115 °C with or without subsequent proteolysis, the original BSE infectivity of 106.2-6.4 ID50 g-1 was reduced to a remaining infectivity of 104.6-5.7 ID50 g-1 while strain characteristics were unaltered, even after precipitation with methanol. Surprisingly, PrPSc depletion was 5-800 times higher than the loss of infectivity. Similar treatment was applied on other prion strains, which were CWD1 in bank voles, 263 K scrapie in hamsters and sheep PG127 scrapie in tg338 ovinized mice. In these strains however, infectivity was already destroyed by heat only. These findings show the unusual heat resistance of BSE and support a role for an additional factor in prion formation as suggested elsewhere when producing prions from PrPC. Leftover material in the remaining PrPSc depleted BSE preparation offers a unique substrate for searching additional elements for prion infectivity and improving our concept about the nature of prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan P M Langeveld
- Department of Infection Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR), 8221RA 39, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
| | - Anne Balkema-Buschmann
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Dieter Becher
- MICROMUN, Institut Für Mikrobiologische Forschung GmbH, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Achim Thomzig
- Prion and Prionoid Research Unit, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Romolo Nonno
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Olivier Andréoletti
- UMR INRAE/ENVT 1225 IHAP, École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 31300, Toulouse, France
| | - Aart Davidse
- Department of Infection Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR), 8221RA 39, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Michele A Di Bari
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Pirisinu
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Umberto Agrimi
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Michael Beekes
- Prion and Prionoid Research Unit, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jason Shih
- Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7608, USA
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18
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Singh S, Agarwal A, Avni A, Mukhopadhyay S. Ultrasensitive Characterization of the Prion Protein by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering: Selective Enhancement via Electrostatic Tethering of the Intrinsically Disordered Domain with Functionalized Silver Nanoparticles. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:3187-3194. [PMID: 33759537 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) circumvents the inherent insensitivity of Raman spectroscopy and offers a powerful tool for the ultrasensitive detection and characterization of biomolecules at low concentrations. Here we show that SERS via electrostatic tethering between surface-modified negatively charged silver nanoparticles and highly positively charged intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain of the prion protein allows highly sensitive and reproducible protein detection and characterization at as low as hundreds of nanomolar protein concentrations. These measurements preferentially illuminate a selective part of the protein due to a sharp dependence of the near-field intensity on the distance between the nanoparticle surface and the protein. We also demonstrate that by shortening the length of the disordered tail it is possible to achieve a domain-selective Raman enhancement to study the C-terminal globular domain. Our tether-length-dependent SERS methodology will serve as a potent, noninvasive, and label-free strategy to detect and characterize a wide range of proteins possessing disordered segments.
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19
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Arifin MI, Hannaoui S, Chang SC, Thapa S, Schatzl HM, Gilch S. Cervid Prion Protein Polymorphisms: Role in Chronic Wasting Disease Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052271. [PMID: 33668798 PMCID: PMC7956812 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease found in both free-ranging and farmed cervids. Susceptibility of these animals to CWD is governed by various exogenous and endogenous factors. Past studies have demonstrated that polymorphisms within the prion protein (PrP) sequence itself affect an animal's susceptibility to CWD. PrP polymorphisms can modulate CWD pathogenesis in two ways: the ability of the endogenous prion protein (PrPC) to convert into infectious prions (PrPSc) or it can give rise to novel prion strains. In vivo studies in susceptible cervids, complemented by studies in transgenic mice expressing the corresponding cervid PrP sequence, show that each polymorphism has distinct effects on both PrPC and PrPSc. It is not entirely clear how these polymorphisms are responsible for these effects, but in vitro studies suggest they play a role in modifying PrP epitopes crucial for PrPC to PrPSc conversion and determining PrPC stability. PrP polymorphisms are unique to one or two cervid species and most confer a certain degree of reduced susceptibility to CWD. However, to date, there are no reports of polymorphic cervid PrP alleles providing absolute resistance to CWD. Studies on polymorphisms have focused on those found in CWD-endemic areas, with the hope that understanding the role of an animal's genetics in CWD can help to predict, contain, or prevent transmission of CWD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Immaculata Arifin
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Samia Hannaoui
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Sheng Chun Chang
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Simrika Thapa
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Hermann M. Schatzl
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Sabine Gilch
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Correspondence:
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20
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Wang LJ, Gu XD, Li XX, Shen L, Ji HF. Comparative analysis of heparin affecting the biochemical properties of chicken and murine prion proteins. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247248. [PMID: 33600459 PMCID: PMC7891698 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The conversion of cellular prion protein (PrPC) to disease-provoking conformer (PrPSc) is crucial in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. Heparin has been shown to enhance mammalian prion protein misfolding. As spontaneous prion disease has not been reported in non-mammalian species, such as chicken, it is interesting to explore the influence of heparin on the conversion of chicken prion protein (ChPrP). Herein, we investigated the influences of heparin on biochemical properties of full-length recombinant ChPrP, with murine prion protein (MoPrP) as control. The results showed that at low heparin concentration (10 μg/mL), a great loss of solubility was observed for both MoPrP and ChPrP using solubility assays. In contrast, when the concentration of heparin was high (30 μg/mL), the solubility of MoPrP and ChPrP both decreased slightly. Using circular dichroism, PK digestion and transmission electron microscopy, significantly increased β-sheet content, PK resistance and size of aggregates were observed for MoPrP interacted with 30 μg/mL heparin, whereas 30 μg/mL heparin-treated ChPrP showed less PK resistance and slight increase of β-sheet structure. Therefore, heparin can induce conformational changes in both MoPrP and ChPrP and the biochemical properties of the aggregates induced by heparin could be modified by heparin concentration. These results highlight the importance of concentration of cofactors affecting PrP misfolding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Juan Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Research Center for Bioinformatic Engineering and Technique, Zibo Key Laboratory of New Drug Development of Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- * E-mail: (LJW); (LS); (HFJ)
| | - Xiao-Dan Gu
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Research Center for Bioinformatic Engineering and Technique, Zibo Key Laboratory of New Drug Development of Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Xiao Li
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Research Center for Bioinformatic Engineering and Technique, Zibo Key Laboratory of New Drug Development of Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liang Shen
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Research Center for Bioinformatic Engineering and Technique, Zibo Key Laboratory of New Drug Development of Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- * E-mail: (LJW); (LS); (HFJ)
| | - Hong-Fang Ji
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Research Center for Bioinformatic Engineering and Technique, Zibo Key Laboratory of New Drug Development of Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- * E-mail: (LJW); (LS); (HFJ)
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21
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Go G, Lee CS, Yoon YM, Lim JH, Kim TH, Lee SH. PrP C Aptamer Conjugated-Gold Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of Doxorubicin to Colorectal Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041976. [PMID: 33671292 PMCID: PMC7922473 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Anticancer drugs, such as fluorouracil (5-FU), oxaliplatin, and doxorubicin (Dox) are commonly used to treat colorectal cancer (CRC); however, owing to their low response rate and adverse effects, the development of efficient drug delivery systems (DDSs) is required. The cellular prion protein PrPC, which is a cell surface glycoprotein, has been demonstrated to be overexpressed in CRC, however, there has been no research on the development of PrPC-targeting DDSs for targeted drug delivery to CRC. In this study, PrPC aptamer (Apt)-conjugated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized for targeted delivery of Dox to CRC. Thiol-terminated PrPC-Apt was conjugated to AuNPs, followed by hybridization of its complementary DNA for drug loading. Finally, Dox was loaded onto the AuNPs to synthesize PrPC-Apt-functionalized doxorubicin-oligomer-AuNPs (PrPC-Apt DOA). The PrPC-Apt DOA were spherical nanoparticles with an average diameter of 20 nm. Treatment of CRC cells with PrPC-Apt DOA induced reactive oxygen species generation by decreasing catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. In addition, treatment with PrPC-Apt DOA inhibited mitochondrial functions by decreasing the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha, complex 4 activity, and oxygen consumption rates. Compared to free Dox, PrPC-Apt DOA decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of CRC cells to a greater degree. In this study, we demonstrated that PrPC-Apt DOA targeting could effectively deliver Dox to CRC cells. PrPC-Apt DOA can be used as a treatment for CRC, and have the potential to replace existing anticancer drugs, such as 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and Dox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyeongyun Go
- Department of Biochemistry, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan 31151, Korea;
- Department of Biochemistry, BK21FOUR Project2, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan 31151, Korea;
| | - Chang-Seuk Lee
- Department of ICT Environmental Health System, Graduate School, Soonchunhyang University, Asan 31538, Korea;
| | - Yeo Min Yoon
- Medical Science Research Institute, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 04401, Korea;
| | - Ji Ho Lim
- Department of Biochemistry, BK21FOUR Project2, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan 31151, Korea;
- Medical Science Research Institute, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 04401, Korea;
| | - Tae Hyun Kim
- Department of ICT Environmental Health System, Graduate School, Soonchunhyang University, Asan 31538, Korea;
- Department of Chemistry, Soonchunhyang University, Asan 31538, Korea
- Correspondence: (T.H.K.); (S.H.L.)
| | - Sang Hun Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan 31151, Korea;
- Department of Biochemistry, BK21FOUR Project2, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan 31151, Korea;
- Medical Science Research Institute, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 04401, Korea;
- Correspondence: (T.H.K.); (S.H.L.)
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22
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Yu KH, Huang MY, Lee YR, Lin YK, Chen HR, Lee CI. The Effect of Octapeptide Repeats on Prion Folding and Misfolding. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041800. [PMID: 33670336 PMCID: PMC7918816 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Misfolding of prion protein (PrP) into amyloid aggregates is the central feature of prion diseases. PrP has an amyloidogenic C-terminal domain with three α-helices and a flexible tail in the N-terminal domain in which multiple octapeptide repeats are present in most mammals. The role of the octapeptides in prion diseases has previously been underestimated because the octapeptides are not located in the amyloidogenic domain. Correlation between the number of octapeptide repeats and age of onset suggests the critical role of octapeptide repeats in prion diseases. In this study, we have investigated four PrP variants without any octapeptides and with 1, 5 and 8 octapeptide repeats. From the comparison of the protein structure and the thermal stability of these proteins, as well as the characterization of amyloids converted from these PrP variants, we found that octapeptide repeats affect both folding and misfolding of PrP creating amyloid fibrils with distinct structures. Deletion of octapeptides forms fewer twisted fibrils and weakens the cytotoxicity. Insertion of octapeptides enhances the formation of typical silk-like fibrils but it does not increase the cytotoxicity. There might be some threshold effect and increasing the number of peptides beyond a certain limit has no further effect on the cell viability, though the reasons are unclear at this stage. Overall, the results of this study elucidate the molecular mechanism of octapeptides at the onset of prion diseases.
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Sangeetham SB, Engelke AD, Fodor E, Krausz SL, Tatzelt J, Welker E. The G127V variant of the prion protein interferes with dimer formation in vitro but not in cellulo. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3116. [PMID: 33542378 PMCID: PMC7862613 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82647-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Scrapie prion, PrPSc, formation is the central event of all types of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), while the pathway with possible intermediates and their mechanism of formation from the normal isoform of prion (PrP), remains not fully understood. Recently, the G127V variant of the human PrP is reported to render the protein refractory to transmission of TSEs, via a yet unknown mechanism. Molecular dynamics studies suggested that this mutation interferes with the formation of PrP dimers. Here we analyze the dimerization of 127G and 127VPrP, in both in vitro and a mammalian cell culture system. Our results show that while molecular dynamics may capture the features affecting dimerization in vitro, G127V inhibiting dimer formation of PrP, these are not evidenced in a more complex cellular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudheer Babu Sangeetham
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences, University of Szeged, Dugonics square 13, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
| | - Anna Dorothee Engelke
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Elfrieda Fodor
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Sarah Laura Krausz
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
- School of Ph.D. Studies, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
- Aktogen Hungary Ltd., Kecskemét, 6000, Hungary
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Ervin Welker
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, 6726, Hungary.
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
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Noor A, Zafar S, Zerr I. Neurodegenerative Proteinopathies in the Proteoform Spectrum-Tools and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1085. [PMID: 33499319 PMCID: PMC7865347 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteinopathy refers to a group of disorders defined by depositions of amyloids within living tissue. Neurodegenerative proteinopathies, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and others, constitute a large fraction of these disorders. Amyloids are highly insoluble, ordered, stable, beta-sheet rich proteins. The emerging theory about the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative proteinopathies suggests that the primary amyloid-forming proteins, also known as the prion-like proteins, may exist as multiple proteoforms that contribute differentially towards the disease prognosis. It is therefore necessary to resolve these disorders on the level of proteoforms rather than the proteome. The transient and hydrophobic nature of amyloid-forming proteins and the minor post-translational alterations that lead to the formation of proteoforms require the use of highly sensitive and specialized techniques. Several conventional techniques, like gel electrophoresis and conventional mass spectrometry, have been modified to accommodate the proteoform theory and prion-like proteins. Several new ones, like imaging mass spectrometry, have also emerged. This review aims to discuss the proteoform theory of neurodegenerative disorders along with the utility of these proteomic techniques for the study of highly insoluble proteins and their associated proteoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneeqa Noor
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (A.N.); (I.Z.)
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Saima Zafar
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (A.N.); (I.Z.)
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Department, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Bolan Road, H-12, 44000 Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Inga Zerr
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (A.N.); (I.Z.)
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075 Göttingen, Germany
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25
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Abstract
Prion diseases are characterized by the self-templated misfolding of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into infectious aggregates (PrPSc). The detailed molecular basis of the misfolding and aggregation of PrPC remains incompletely understood. It is believed that the transient misfolding of PrPC into partially structured intermediates precedes the formation of insoluble protein aggregates and is a critical component of the prion misfolding pathway. A number of environmental factors have been shown to induce the destabilization of PrPC and promote its initial misfolding. Recently, oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have emerged as one possible mechanism by which the destabilization of PrPC can be induced under physiological conditions. Methionine residues are uniquely vulnerable to oxidation by ROS and the formation of methionine sulfoxides leads to the misfolding and subsequent aggregation of PrPC. Here, we provide a review of the evidence for the oxidation of methionine residues in PrPC and its potential role in the formation of pathogenic prion aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Bettinger
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
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Yang XH, Xiao K, Wu Y, Gao L, Chen D, Dong XP, Shi Q. Cloning and analysis of PRNP gene of Vulpes corsac in Qinghai plateau, China. Prion 2020; 14:20-23. [PMID: 31880206 PMCID: PMC6959281 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2019.1704496] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PRNP gene encodes PrP protein, which is conservative among different species and associates with the susceptibility of prion disease. In this report, we cloned and sequenced the full-length PRNP gene of Vulpes corsac in Qinghai plateau, China. The amino acid sequence of Vulpes corsac PrP showed 100% homology with those of the other three species of foxes. The taxa relationship of Vulpes corsac PrP with other species of animals, including human, canine, bovine, cervus, capra, ovis, camelus, felis, Mustela, mouse and hamster were also analysed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Hua Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuezhang Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liping Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dongdong Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Ping Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Center for Global Public Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qi Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Cullingham CI, Peery RM, Dao A, McKenzie DI, Coltman DW. Predicting the spread-risk potential of chronic wasting disease to sympatric ungulate species. Prion 2020; 14:56-66. [PMID: 32008428 PMCID: PMC7009333 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2020.1720486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildlife disease incidence is increasing, resulting in negative impacts on the economy, biodiversity, and potentially human health. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids (wild and captive) which continues to spread geographically resulting in exposure to potential new host species. The disease agent (PrPCWD) is a misfolded conformer of the cellular prion protein (PrPC). In Canada, the disease is endemic in Alberta and Saskatchewan, affecting mule and white-tail deer, with lesser impact on elk and moose. As the disease continues to expand, additional wild ungulate species including bison, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and pronghorn antelope may be exposed. To better understand the species-barrier, we reviewed the current literature on taxa naturally or experimentally exposed to CWD to identify susceptible and resistant species. We created a phylogeny of these taxa using cytochrome B and found that CWD susceptibility followed the species phylogeny. Using this phylogeny we estimated the probability of CWD susceptibility for wild ungulate species. We then compared PrPC amino acid polymorphisms among these species to identify which sites segregated between susceptible and resistant species. We identified sites that were significantly associated with susceptibility, but they were not fully discriminating. Finally, we sequenced Prnp from 578 wild ungulates to further evaluate their potential susceptibility. Together, these data suggest the host-range for CWD will potentially include pronghorn, mountain goat and bighorn sheep, but bison are likely to be more resistant. These findings highlight the need for monitoring potentially susceptible species as CWD continues to expand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine I. Cullingham
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Rhiannon M. Peery
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Anh Dao
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Debbie I. McKenzie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - David W. Coltman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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28
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Abstract
Amyloids display a highly ordered fibrillar structure. Many of these assemblies appear associated with human disease. However, the controllable, stable, tunable, and robust nature of amyloid fibrils can be exploited to build up remarkable nanomaterials with a wide range of applications in biomedicine and biotechnology. Functional prions constitute a particular class of amyloids. These transmissible proteins exhibit a modular architecture, with a disordered prion domain responsible for the assembly and one or more globular domains that account for the activity. Importantly, the original globular protein can be replaced with any protein of interest, without compromising the fibrillation potential. These genetic fusions form fibrils in which the globular domain remains folded, rendering functional nanostructures. However, in some cases, steric hindrance restricts the activity of these fibrils. This limitation can be solved by dissecting prion domains into shorter sequences that keep their self-assembling properties while allowing better access to the active protein in the fibrillar state. In this review, we will discuss the properties of prion-like functional nanomaterials and the amazing applications of these biocompatible fibrillar arrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqiang Wang
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Salvador Ventura
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
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Dell’Acqua S, Massardi E, Monzani E, Di Natale G, Rizzarelli E, Casella L. Interaction between Hemin and Prion Peptides: Binding, Oxidative Reactivity and Aggregation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207553. [PMID: 33066163 PMCID: PMC7589926 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigate the interaction of hemin with four fragments of prion protein (PrP) containing from one to four histidines (PrP106-114, PrP95-114, PrP84-114, PrP76-114) for its potential relevance to prion diseases and possibly traumatic brain injury. The binding properties of hemin-PrP complexes have been evaluated by UV-visible spectrophotometric titration. PrP peptides form a 1:1 adduct with hemin with affinity that increases with the number of histidines and length of the peptide; the following log K1 binding constants have been calculated: 6.48 for PrP76-114, 6.1 for PrP84-114, 4.80 for PrP95-114, whereas for PrP106-114, the interaction is too weak to allow a reliable binding constant calculation. These constants are similar to that of amyloid-β (Aβ) for hemin, and similarly to hemin-Aβ, PrP peptides tend to form a six-coordinated low-spin complex. However, the concomitant aggregation of PrP induced by hemin prevents calculation of the K2 binding constant. The turbidimetry analysis of [hemin-PrP76-114] shows that, once aggregated, this complex is scarcely soluble and undergoes precipitation. Finally, a detailed study of the peroxidase-like activity of [hemin-(PrP)] shows a moderate increase of the reactivity with respect to free hemin, but considering the activity over long time, as for neurodegenerative pathologies, it might contribute to neuronal oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Dell’Acqua
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (E.M.); (E.M.)
- Correspondence: (S.D.); (L.C.)
| | - Elisa Massardi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (E.M.); (E.M.)
| | - Enrico Monzani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (E.M.); (E.M.)
| | - Giuseppe Di Natale
- Istituto di Cristallografia, s.s. Catania, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Paolo Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy; (G.D.N.); (E.R.)
| | - Enrico Rizzarelli
- Istituto di Cristallografia, s.s. Catania, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Paolo Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy; (G.D.N.); (E.R.)
| | - Luigi Casella
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (E.M.); (E.M.)
- Correspondence: (S.D.); (L.C.)
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30
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Bianchini M, Giambelluca MA, Scavuzzo MC, Di Franco G, Guadagni S, Palmeri M, Furbetta N, Gianardi D, Funel N, Pollina LE, Di Candio G, Fornai F, Morelli L. The occurrence of prion protein in surgically resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Pancreatology 2020; 20:1218-1225. [PMID: 32828686 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2020.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among the several new targets for the comprehension of the biology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), Prion proteins (PrPc) deserve particular mention, since they share a marked neurotropism. Actually, PrPc could have also a role in tumorigenesis, as recently demonstrated. However, only few in vitro studies in cell cultures showed the occurrence of PrPc in PDAC cells. We aim to evaluate the presence of PrPc in vivo in PDAC tissues as a potential new biomarker. METHODS Samples from tumors of 23 patients undergone pancreatic resections from July 2018 to May 2020 at our institution were collected and analyzed. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting of PDAC tissues were compared with control tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used also to evaluate the localization of PrPc and of CD155, a tumoral stem-cell marker. RESULTS All cases were moderately differentiated PDAC, with perineural invasion (PNI) in 19/23 cases (83%). According to western-blot analysis, PrPc was markedly expressed in PDAC tissues (273.5 ± 44.63 OD) respect to controls (100 ± 28.35 OD, p = 0.0018). Immunohistochemistry confirmed these findings, with higher linear staining of PrPc in PDAC ducts (127.145 ± 7.56 μm vs 75.21 ± 5.01 μm, p < 0.0001). PrPc and CD155 exactly overlapped in ductal tumoral cells, highlighting the possible relationship of PrPc with cancer stemness. Finally, PrPc expression related with cancer stage and there was a potential correspondence with PNI. CONCLUSIONS Our work provides evidence for increased levels of PrPc in PDAC. This might contribute to cancer aggressiveness and provides a potentially new biomarker. Work is in progress to decipher clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Bianchini
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Anita Giambelluca
- Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Scavuzzo
- Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gregorio Di Franco
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Simone Guadagni
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Palmeri
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Niccolò Furbetta
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Desirée Gianardi
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Niccola Funel
- Division of Surgical Pathology, Department of Surgical, Medical Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Emanuele Pollina
- Division of Surgical Pathology, Department of Surgical, Medical Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulio Di Candio
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Fornai
- Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed - Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo, 86077, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Luca Morelli
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy; EndoCAS (Center for Computer Assisted Surgery), University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
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Jung JH, Barbosa AD, Hutin S, Kumita JR, Gao M, Derwort D, Silva CS, Lai X, Pierre E, Geng F, Kim SB, Baek S, Zubieta C, Jaeger KE, Wigge PA. A prion-like domain in ELF3 functions as a thermosensor in Arabidopsis. Nature 2020. [PMID: 32848244 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Temperature controls plant growth and development, and climate change has already altered the phenology of wild plants and crops1. However, the mechanisms by which plants sense temperature are not well understood. The evening complex is a major signalling hub and a core component of the plant circadian clock2,3. The evening complex acts as a temperature-responsive transcriptional repressor, providing rhythmicity and temperature responsiveness to growth through unknown mechanisms2,4-6. The evening complex consists of EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3)4,7, a large scaffold protein and key component of temperature sensing; ELF4, a small α-helical protein; and LUX ARRYTHMO (LUX), a DNA-binding protein required to recruit the evening complex to transcriptional targets. ELF3 contains a polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat8-10, embedded within a predicted prion domain (PrD). Here we find that the length of the polyQ repeat correlates with thermal responsiveness. We show that ELF3 proteins in plants from hotter climates, with no detectable PrD, are active at high temperatures, and lack thermal responsiveness. The temperature sensitivity of ELF3 is also modulated by the levels of ELF4, indicating that ELF4 can stabilize the function of ELF3. In both Arabidopsis and a heterologous system, ELF3 fused with green fluorescent protein forms speckles within minutes in response to higher temperatures, in a PrD-dependent manner. A purified fragment encompassing the ELF3 PrD reversibly forms liquid droplets in response to increasing temperatures in vitro, indicating that these properties reflect a direct biophysical response conferred by the PrD. The ability of temperature to rapidly shift ELF3 between active and inactive states via phase transition represents a previously unknown thermosensory mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Hoon Jung
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | | | - Stephanie Hutin
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire and Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS/CEA/INRAE, Grenoble, France
| | - Janet R Kumita
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mingjun Gao
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Catarina S Silva
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire and Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS/CEA/INRAE, Grenoble, France
| | - Xuelei Lai
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire and Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS/CEA/INRAE, Grenoble, France
| | - Elodie Pierre
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire and Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS/CEA/INRAE, Grenoble, France
| | - Feng Geng
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sol-Bi Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Sujeong Baek
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Chloe Zubieta
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire and Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS/CEA/INRAE, Grenoble, France
| | - Katja E Jaeger
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Leibniz-Institut für Gemüse- und Zierpflanzenbau, Großbeeren, Germany
| | - Philip A Wigge
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Leibniz-Institut für Gemüse- und Zierpflanzenbau, Großbeeren, Germany.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
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32
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Hara H, Sakaguchi S. N-Terminal Regions of Prion Protein: Functions and Roles in Prion Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176233. [PMID: 32872280 PMCID: PMC7504422 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The normal cellular isoform of prion protein, designated PrPC, is constitutively converted to the abnormally folded, amyloidogenic isoform, PrPSc, in prion diseases, which include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy in animals. PrPC is a membrane glycoprotein consisting of the non-structural N-terminal domain and the globular C-terminal domain. During conversion of PrPC to PrPSc, its 2/3 C-terminal region undergoes marked structural changes, forming a protease-resistant structure. In contrast, the N-terminal region remains protease-sensitive in PrPSc. Reverse genetic studies using reconstituted PrPC-knockout mice with various mutant PrP molecules have revealed that the N-terminal domain has an important role in the normal function of PrPC and the conversion of PrPC to PrPSc. The N-terminal domain includes various characteristic regions, such as the positively charged residue-rich polybasic region, the octapeptide repeat (OR) region consisting of five repeats of an octapeptide sequence, and the post-OR region with another positively charged residue-rich polybasic region followed by a stretch of hydrophobic residues. We discuss the normal functions of PrPC, the conversion of PrPC to PrPSc, and the neurotoxicity of PrPSc by focusing on the roles of the N-terminal regions in these topics.
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Kriegler T, Lang S, Notari L, Hessa T. Prion Protein Translocation Mechanism Revealed by Pulling Force Studies. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:4447-4465. [PMID: 32502491 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian prion protein (PrP) engages with the ribosome-Sec61 translocation channel complex to generate different topological variants that are either physiological, or involved in neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we describe cotranslational folding and translocation mechanisms of PrP coupled to an Xbp1-based arrest peptide as folding sensor, to measure forces acting on PrP nascent chain. Our data reveal two main pulling events followed by a minor third one exerted on the nascent chains during their translocation. Using those force landscapes, we show that a specific sequence within an intrinsically disordered region, containing a polybasic and glycine-proline rich residues, modulates the second pulling event by interacting with TRAP complex. This work also delineates the sequence of events involved in generation of PrP toxic transmembrane topologies during its synthesis. Our results shed new insight into the folding of such a topological complex protein, where marginal pulling by the signal sequence, together with the flanking downstream sequence in the mature domain, primarily drives an overall inefficient translocation resulting in the nascent chain to adopt alternative topologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Kriegler
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratories of Natural Sciences, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sven Lang
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Luigi Notari
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Therapeutic Immune Design Unit, CMM, L8:02, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Tara Hessa
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratories of Natural Sciences, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Schilling KM, Tao L, Wu B, Kiblen JTM, Ubilla-Rodriguez NC, Pushie MJ, Britt RD, Roseman GP, Harris DA, Millhauser GL. Both N-Terminal and C-Terminal Histidine Residues of the Prion Protein Are Essential for Copper Coordination and Neuroprotective Self-Regulation. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:4408-4425. [PMID: 32473880 PMCID: PMC7387163 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPC) comprises two domains: a globular C-terminal domain and an unstructured N-terminal domain. Recently, copper has been observed to drive tertiary contact in PrPC, inducing a neuroprotective cis interaction that structurally links the protein's two domains. The location of this interaction on the C terminus overlaps with the sites of human pathogenic mutations and toxic antibody docking. Combined with recent evidence that the N terminus is a toxic effector regulated by the C terminus, there is an emerging consensus that this cis interaction serves a protective role, and that the disruption of this interaction by misfolded PrP oligomers may be a cause of toxicity in prion disease. We demonstrate here that two highly conserved histidines in the C-terminal domain of PrPC are essential for the protein's cis interaction, which helps to protect against neurotoxicity carried out by its N terminus. We show that simultaneous mutation of these histidines drastically weakens the cis interaction and enhances spontaneous cationic currents in cultured cells, the first C-terminal mutant to do so. Whereas previous studies suggested that Cu2+ coordination was localized solely to the protein's N-terminal domain, we find that both domains contribute equatorially coordinated histidine residue side-chains, resulting in a novel bridging interaction. We also find that extra N-terminal histidines in pathological familial mutations involving octarepeat expansions inhibit this interaction by sequestering copper from the C terminus. Our findings further establish a structural basis for PrPC's C-terminal regulation of its otherwise toxic N terminus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Schilling
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Lizhi Tao
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Bei Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord St Silvio Conte., Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Joseph T M Kiblen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Natalia C Ubilla-Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - M Jake Pushie
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Rd B419, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - R David Britt
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Graham P Roseman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - David A Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord St Silvio Conte., Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Glenn L Millhauser
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.
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Wickner RB, Edskes HK, Son M, Wu S, Niznikiewicz M. How Do Yeast Cells Contend with Prions? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21134742. [PMID: 32635197 PMCID: PMC7369894 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious proteins (prions) include an array of human (mammalian) and yeast amyloid diseases in which a protein or peptide forms a linear β-sheet-rich filament, at least one functional amyloid prion, and two functional infectious proteins unrelated to amyloid. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, at least eight anti-prion systems deal with pathogenic amyloid yeast prions by (1) blocking their generation (Ssb1,2, Ssz1, Zuo1), (2) curing most variants as they arise (Btn2, Cur1, Hsp104, Upf1,2,3, Siw14), and (3) limiting the pathogenicity of variants that do arise and propagate (Sis1, Lug1). Known mechanisms include facilitating proper folding of the prion protein (Ssb1,2, Ssz1, Zuo1), producing highly asymmetric segregation of prion filaments in mitosis (Btn2, Hsp104), competing with the amyloid filaments for prion protein monomers (Upf1,2,3), and regulation of levels of inositol polyphosphates (Siw14). It is hoped that the discovery of yeast anti-prion systems and elucidation of their mechanisms will facilitate finding analogous or homologous systems in humans, whose manipulation may be useful in treatment.
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Kim DJ, Kim YC, Kim AD, Jeong BH. Novel Polymorphisms and Genetic Characteristics of the Prion Protein Gene ( PRNP) in Dogs-A Resistant Animal of Prion Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21114160. [PMID: 32532135 PMCID: PMC7311962 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) have been reported in a wide range of species. However, TSE infection in natural cases has never been reported in dogs. Previous studies have reported that polymorphisms of the prion protein gene (PRNP) have a direct impact on the susceptibility of TSE. However, studies on polymorphisms of the canine PRNP gene are very rare in dogs. We examined the genotype, allele, and haplotype frequencies of canine PRNP in 204 dogs using direct sequencing and analyzed linkage disequilibrium (LD) using Haploview version 4.2. In addition, to evaluate the impact of nonsynonymous polymorphisms on the function of prion protein (PrP), we carried out in silico analysis using PolyPhen-2, PROVEAN, and PANTHER. Furthermore, we analyzed the structure of PrP and hydrogen bonds according to alleles of nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using the Swiss-Pdb Viewer program. Finally, we predicted the impact of the polymorphisms on the aggregation propensity of dog PrP using AMYCO. We identified a total of eight polymorphisms, including five novel SNPs and one insertion/deletion polymorphism, and found strong LDs and six major haplotypes among eight polymorphisms. In addition, we identified significantly different distribution of haplotypes among eight dog breeds, however, the kinds of identified polymorphisms were different among each dog breed. We predicted that p.64_71del HGGGWGQP, Asp182Gly, and Asp182Glu polymorphisms can impact the function and/or structure of dog PrP. Furthermore, the number of hydrogen bonds of dog PrP with the Glu182 and Gly182 alleles were predicted to be less than those with the Asp182 allele. Finally, Asp163Glu and Asp182Gly showed more aggregation propensity than wild-type dog PrP. These results suggest that nonsynonymous SNPs, Asp182Glu and Asp182Gly, can influence the stability of dog PrP and confer the possibility of TSE infection in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Ju Kim
- Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 54531, Korea; (D.-J.K.); (Y.-C.K.)
- Department of Bioactive Material Sciences and Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 54896, Korea
| | - Yong-Chan Kim
- Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 54531, Korea; (D.-J.K.); (Y.-C.K.)
- Department of Bioactive Material Sciences and Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 54896, Korea
| | - An-Dang Kim
- Cool-Pet Animal Hospital, Anyang, Gyeonggi 14066, Korea;
| | - Byung-Hoon Jeong
- Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 54531, Korea; (D.-J.K.); (Y.-C.K.)
- Department of Bioactive Material Sciences and Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 54896, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: 82-63-900-4040; Fax: 82-63-900-4012
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Teferedegn EY, Yaman Y, Ün C. Novel Variations in Native Ethiopian Goat breeds PRNP Gene and Their Potential Effect on Prion Protein Stability. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6953. [PMID: 32332800 PMCID: PMC7181617 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63874-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrapie is a lethal neurodegenerative disease of sheep and goats caused by the misfolding of the prion protein. Variants such as M142, D145, S146, H154, Q211, and K222 were experimentally found to increase resistance or extend scrapie incubation period in goats. We aimed to identify polymorphisms in the Afar and Arsi-Bale goat breeds of Ethiopia and computationally assess the effect of variants on prion protein stability. In the present study, four non-synonymous novel polymorphisms G67S, W68R, G69D, and R159H in the first octapeptide repeat and the highly conserved C-terminus globular domain of goat PrP were detected. The resistant genotype, S146, was detected in >50% of the present population. The current study population showed a genetic diversity in Ethiopian goat breeds. In the insilico analysis, the R68 variant was predicted to increase stability while S67, D69, and H159 decrease the stability of prion protein. The new variants in the octapeptide repeat motif were predicted to decrease amyloidogenicity but H159 increased the hotspot sequence amyloidogenic propensity. These novel variants could be the source of conformational flexibility that may trigger the gain or loss of function by prion protein. Further experimental study is required to depict the actual effects of variants on prion protein stability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yalçın Yaman
- Department of Biometry and Genetics, Bandırma Sheep Research Institute, Bandırma, Balıkesir, Turkey
| | - Cemal Ün
- Ege University, Department of Biology, Molecular Biology Division, Izmir, Turkey.
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38
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Carroll JA, Groveman BR, Williams K, Moore R, Race B, Haigh CL. Prion protein N1 cleavage peptides stimulate microglial interaction with surrounding cells. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6654. [PMID: 32313035 PMCID: PMC7171115 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63472-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia act as the protective immune cell of the brain. By surveying the tissue to identify and rectify problems, they function to maintain the health of brain cells. The prion protein N-terminal cleavage fragment, N1, has demonstrated neuroprotective activities in vitro and in vivo. This study aimed to elucidate whether N1 could modulate microglial function and, if so, determine the consequences for the surrounding tissue. Using a mixed neuronal lineage and microglia co-culture system, we showed that N1 stimulation changed overall morphology and metabolism, suggesting enhanced cellular viability. Furthermore, N1 induced an increase in Cxcl10 secretion in the co-cultures. Recombinant Cxcl10, administered exogenously, mediated the changes in the mixed neuronal lineage culture morphology and metabolism in the absence of microglia, but no effect of Cxcl10 was observed on microglia cultured on their own. Direct cell-to-cell contact was required for N1 to influence microglia in the co-cultures, and this was linked with restructuring of microglial membrane composition to include a higher GM1 content at interaction sites with surrounding cells. Our findings show that N1 can play a regulatory role in microglial function in the context of an inter-connected network of cells by changing both cellular interaction sites and cytokine secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Carroll
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - B R Groveman
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - K Williams
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - R Moore
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - B Race
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - C L Haigh
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.
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Boncella AE, Shattuck JE, Cascarina SM, Paul KR, Baer MH, Fomicheva A, Lamb AK, Ross ED. Composition-based prediction and rational manipulation of prion-like domain recruitment to stress granules. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:5826-5835. [PMID: 32127480 PMCID: PMC7084078 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1912723117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in a number of stress granule-associated proteins have been linked to various neurodegenerative diseases. Several of these mutations are found in aggregation-prone prion-like domains (PrLDs) within these proteins. In this work, we examine the sequence features governing PrLD localization to stress granules upon stress. We demonstrate that many yeast PrLDs are sufficient for stress-induced assembly into microscopically visible foci that colocalize with stress granule markers. Additionally, compositional biases exist among PrLDs that assemble upon stress, and these biases are consistent across different stressors. Using these biases, we have developed a composition-based prediction method that accurately predicts PrLD assembly into foci upon heat shock. We show that compositional changes alter PrLD assembly behavior in a predictable manner, while scrambling primary sequence has little effect on PrLD assembly and recruitment to stress granules. Furthermore, we were able to design synthetic PrLDs that were efficiently recruited to stress granules, and found that aromatic amino acids, which have previously been linked to PrLD phase separation, were dispensable for this recruitment. These results highlight the flexible sequence requirements for stress granule recruitment and suggest that PrLD localization to stress granules is driven primarily by amino acid composition, rather than primary sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy E Boncella
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Jenifer E Shattuck
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Sean M Cascarina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Kacy R Paul
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Matthew H Baer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Anastasia Fomicheva
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Andrew K Lamb
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Eric D Ross
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
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Lee S, Shin Y, Kim K, Song Y, Kim Y, Kang SW. Protein Translocation Acquires Substrate Selectivity Through ER Stress-Induced Reassembly of Translocon Auxiliary Components. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020518. [PMID: 32102453 PMCID: PMC7072789 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein import across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane is physiologically regulated in a substrate-selective manner to ensure the protection of stressed ER from the overload of misfolded proteins. However, it is poorly understood how different types of substrates are accurately distinguished and disqualified during translocational regulation. In this study, we found poorly assembled translocon-associated protein (TRAP) complexes in stressed ER. Immunoaffinity purification identified calnexin in the TRAP complex in which poor assembly inhibited membrane insertion of the prion protein (PrP) in a transmembrane sequence-selective manner, through translocational regulation. This reaction was induced selectively by redox perturbation, rather than calcium depletion, in the ER. The liberation of ERp57 from calnexin appeared to be the reason for the redox sensitivity. Stress-independent disruption of the TRAP complex prevented a pathogenic transmembrane form of PrP (ctmPrP) from accumulating in the ER. This study uncovered a previously unappreciated role for calnexin in assisting the redox-sensitive function of the TRAP complex and provided insights into the ER stress-induced reassembly of translocon auxiliary components as a key mechanism by which protein translocation acquires substrate selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohee Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea; (S.L.); (Y.S.); (Y.S.)
- Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Yejin Shin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea; (S.L.); (Y.S.); (Y.S.)
- Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Kyunggon Kim
- Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Korea;
| | - Youngsup Song
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea; (S.L.); (Y.S.); (Y.S.)
- Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Yongsub Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea; (S.L.); (Y.S.); (Y.S.)
- Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Sang-Wook Kang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea; (S.L.); (Y.S.); (Y.S.)
- Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-3010-2205
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Hassan A, Quinn CM, Struppe J, Sergeyev IV, Zhang C, Guo C, Runge B, Theint T, Dao HH, Jaroniec CP, Berbon M, Lends A, Habenstein B, Loquet A, Kuemmerle R, Perrone B, Gronenborn AM, Polenova T. Sensitivity boosts by the CPMAS CryoProbe for challenging biological assemblies. J Magn Reson 2020; 311:106680. [PMID: 31951864 PMCID: PMC7060763 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2019.106680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Despite breakthroughs in MAS NMR hardware and experimental methodologies, sensitivity remains a major challenge for large and complex biological systems. Here, we report that 3-4 fold higher sensitivities can be obtained in heteronuclear-detected experiments, using a novel HCN CPMAS probe, where the sample coil and the electronics operate at cryogenic temperatures, while the sample is maintained at ambient temperatures (BioSolids CryoProbe™). Such intensity enhancements permit recording 2D and 3D experiments that are otherwise time-prohibitive, such as 2D 15N-15N proton-driven spin diffusion and 15N-13C double cross polarization to natural abundance carbon experiments. The benefits of CPMAS CryoProbe-based experiments are illustrated for assemblies of kinesin Kif5b with microtubules, HIV-1 capsid protein assemblies, and fibrils of human Y145Stop and fungal HET-s prion proteins - demanding systems for conventional MAS solid-state NMR and excellent reference systems in terms of spectral quality. We envision that this probe technology will be beneficial for a wide range of applications, especially for biological systems suffering from low intrinsic sensitivity and at physiological temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alia Hassan
- Bruker Biospin Corporation, Fällanden, Switzerland.
| | - Caitlin M Quinn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Jochem Struppe
- Bruker Biospin Corporation, 15 Fortune Drive, Billerica, MA, United States
| | - Ivan V Sergeyev
- Bruker Biospin Corporation, 15 Fortune Drive, Billerica, MA, United States
| | - Chunting Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Changmiao Guo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Brent Runge
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States; Pittsburgh Center for HIV Protein Interactions, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Theint Theint
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Hanh H Dao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Christopher P Jaroniec
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Mélanie Berbon
- CNRS, CBMN, UMR5248, University of Bordeaux, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Alons Lends
- CNRS, CBMN, UMR5248, University of Bordeaux, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | | | - Antoine Loquet
- CNRS, CBMN, UMR5248, University of Bordeaux, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | | | | | - Angela M Gronenborn
- Pittsburgh Center for HIV Protein Interactions, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3501 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
| | - Tatyana Polenova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States; Pittsburgh Center for HIV Protein Interactions, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
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Pradhan P, Srivastava A, Singh J, Biswas B, Saini A, Siddique I, Kumari P, Khan MA, Mishra A, Yadav PK, Kumar S, Bhavesh NS, Venkatraman P, Vivekanandan P, Kundu B. Prion protein transcription is auto-regulated through dynamic interactions with G-quadruplex motifs in its own promoter. Biochim Biophys Acta Gene Regul Mech 2020; 1863:194479. [PMID: 31931179 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2019.194479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cellular prion protein (PrP) misfolds into an aberrant and infectious scrapie form (PrPSc) that lead to fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Association of prions with G-quadruplex (GQ) forming nucleic acid motifs has been reported, but implications of these interactions remain elusive. Herein, we show that the promoter region of the human prion gene (PRNP) contains two putative GQ motifs (Q1 and Q2) that assume stable, hybrid, intra-molecular quadruplex structures and bind with high affinity to PrP. Here, we investigate the ability of PrP to bind to the quadruplexes in its own promoter. We used a battery of techniques including SPR, NMR, CD, MD simulations and cell culture-based reporter assays. Our results show that PrP auto-regulates its expression by binding and resolving the GQs present in its own promoter. Furthermore, we map this resolvase-like activity to the N-terminal region (residues 23-89) of PrP. Our findings highlight a positive transcriptional-translational feedback regulation of the PRNP gene by PrP through dynamic unwinding of GQs in its promoter. Taken together, our results shed light on a yet unknown mechanism of regulation of the PRNP gene. This work provides the necessary framework for a plethora of studies on understanding the regulation of PrP levels and its implications in prion pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Pradhan
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Ankit Srivastava
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Jasdeep Singh
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Banhi Biswas
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Akanksha Saini
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Ibrar Siddique
- National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Pooja Kumari
- Transcription Regulation group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Mohd Asim Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Akhilesh Mishra
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Pramod Kumar Yadav
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Shivani Kumar
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Neel Sarovar Bhavesh
- Transcription Regulation group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Prasanna Venkatraman
- Tata Memorial Centre, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, 2nd floor, BARC Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400094, India
| | - Perumal Vivekanandan
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
| | - Bishwajit Kundu
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
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Reidenbach AG, Minikel EV, Zhao HT, Guzman SG, Leed AJ, Mesleh MF, Kordasiewicz HB, Schreiber SL, Vallabh SM. Characterization of the Prion Protein Binding Properties of Antisense Oligonucleotides. Biomolecules 2019; 10:E1. [PMID: 31861275 PMCID: PMC7022474 DOI: 10.3390/biom10010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) designed to lower prion protein (PrP) expression in the brain through RNase H1-mediated degradation of PrP RNA are in development as prion disease therapeutics. ASOs were previously reported to sequence-independently interact with PrP and inhibit prion accumulation in cell culture, yet in vivo studies using a new generation of ASOs found that only PrP-lowering sequences were effective at extending survival. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) PrP has been proposed as a pharmacodynamic biomarker for trials of such ASOs, but is only interpretable if PrP lowering is indeed the relevant mechanism of action in vivo and if measurement of PrP is unconfounded by any PrP-ASO interaction. Here, we examine the PrP-binding and antiprion properties of ASOs in vitro and in cell culture. Binding parameters determined by isothermal titration calorimetry were similar across all ASOs tested, indicating that ASOs of various chemistries bind full-length recombinant PrP with low- to mid-nanomolar affinity in a sequence-independent manner. Nuclear magnetic resonance, dynamic light scattering, and visual inspection of ASO-PrP mixtures suggested, however, that this interaction is characterized by the formation of large aggregates, a conclusion further supported by the salt dependence of the affinity measured by isothermal titration calorimetry. Sequence-independent inhibition of prion accumulation in cell culture was observed. The inefficacy of non-PrP-lowering ASOs against prion disease in vivo may be because their apparent activity in vitro is an artifact of aggregation, or because the concentration of ASOs in relevant compartments within the central nervous system (CNS) quickly drops below the effective concentration for sequence-independent antiprion activity after bolus dosing into CSF. Measurements of PrP concentration in human CSF were not impacted by the addition of ASO. These findings support the further development of PrP-lowering ASOs and of CSF PrP as a pharmacodynamic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G. Reidenbach
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; (A.G.R.); (E.V.M.); (S.G.G.); (S.L.S.)
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; (A.G.R.); (E.V.M.); (S.G.G.); (S.L.S.)
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Hien T. Zhao
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA; (H.T.Z.); (H.B.K.)
| | - Stacy G. Guzman
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; (A.G.R.); (E.V.M.); (S.G.G.); (S.L.S.)
- Exceptional Research Opportunities Program (EXROP), Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alison J. Leed
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; (A.J.L.); (M.F.M.)
| | - Michael F. Mesleh
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; (A.J.L.); (M.F.M.)
| | | | - Stuart L. Schreiber
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; (A.G.R.); (E.V.M.); (S.G.G.); (S.L.S.)
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sonia M. Vallabh
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; (A.G.R.); (E.V.M.); (S.G.G.); (S.L.S.)
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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44
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Kaelber N, Bett C, Asher DM, Gregori L. Quaking-induced conversion of prion protein on a thermal mixer accelerates detection in brains infected with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agents. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225904. [PMID: 31830760 PMCID: PMC6908438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Detection of misfolded prion protein, PrPTSE, in biological samples is important to develop antemortem tests for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). The real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay detects PrPTSE but requires dedicated equipment and relatively long incubation times when applied to samples containing extremely low levels of PrPTSE. It was shown that a microplate shaker with heated top (Thermomixer-C) accelerated amplification of PrPTSE in brain suspensions of 263K scrapie and sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). We expanded the investigation to include TSE agents previously untested, including chronic wasting disease (CWD), macaque-adapted variant CJD (vCJD) and human vCJD, and we further characterized the assays conducted at 42°C and 55°C. PrPTSE from all brains containing the TSE agents were successfully amplified using a truncated hamster recombinant protein except for human vCJD which required truncated bank vole recombinant protein. We compared assays conducted at 42°C on Thermomixer-C, Thermomixer-R (without heated top) and on a fluorimeter used for RT-QuIC. QuIC on Thermomixer-R achieved in only 18 hours assay sensitivity similar to that of RT-QuIC read at 60 hours (or 48 hours with sCJD). QuIC on Thermomixer-C required 24 hours to complete and the endpoint titers of some TSEs were 10-fold lower than those obtained with RT-QuIC and Thermomixer-R. Conversely, at 55°C, the reactions with sCJD and CWD on Thermomixer-C achieved the same sensitivity as with RT-QuIC but in shorter times. Human vCJD samples tested at higher temperatures gave rise to high reactivity in wells containing normal control samples. Similarly, reactions on Thermomixer-R were unsuitable at 55°C. The main disadvantage of Thermomixers is that they cannot track formation of PrP fibrils in real time, a feature useful in some applications. The main advantages of Thermomixers are that they need shorter reaction times to detect PrPTSE, are easier to use, involve more robust equipment, and are relatively affordable. Improvements to QuIC using thermal mixers may help develop accessible antemortem TSE tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Kaelber
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Cyrus Bett
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David M. Asher
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Luisa Gregori
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abskharon R, Wang F, Wohlkonig A, Ruan J, Soror S, Giachin G, Pardon E, Zou W, Legname G, Ma J, Steyaert J. Structural evidence for the critical role of the prion protein hydrophobic region in forming an infectious prion. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008139. [PMID: 31815959 PMCID: PMC6922452 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion or PrPSc is the proteinaceous infectious agent causing prion diseases in various mammalian species. Despite decades of research, the structural basis for PrPSc formation and prion infectivity remains elusive. To understand the role of the hydrophobic region in forming infectious prion at the molecular level, we report X-ray crystal structures of mouse (Mo) prion protein (PrP) (residues 89-230) in complex with a nanobody (Nb484). Using the recombinant prion propagation system, we show that the binding of Nb484 to the hydrophobic region of MoPrP efficiently inhibits the propagation of proteinase K resistant PrPSc and prion infectivity. In addition, when added to cultured mouse brain slices in high concentrations, Nb484 exhibits no neurotoxicity, which is drastically different from other neurotoxic anti-PrP antibodies, suggesting that the Nb484 can be a potential therapeutic agent against prion disease. In summary, our data provides the first structure-function evidence supporting a crucial role of the hydrophobic region of PrP in forming an infectious prion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romany Abskharon
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut Biotechnologie (VIB), Brussels, Belgium
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
- National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Fei Wang
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail: (FW); (JM); (JS)
| | - Alexandre Wohlkonig
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut Biotechnologie (VIB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Juxin Ruan
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Sameh Soror
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut Biotechnologie (VIB), Brussels, Belgium
- Center of Excellence, Helwan Structural Biology Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Gabriele Giachin
- Structural Biology Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France
| | - Els Pardon
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut Biotechnologie (VIB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wenquan Zou
- Departments of Pathology and Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Jiyan Ma
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail: (FW); (JM); (JS)
| | - Jan Steyaert
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut Biotechnologie (VIB), Brussels, Belgium
- * E-mail: (FW); (JM); (JS)
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Metrick MA, do Carmo Ferreira N, Saijo E, Hughson AG, Kraus A, Orrú C, Miller MW, Zanusso G, Ghetti B, Vendruscolo M, Caughey B. Million-fold sensitivity enhancement in proteopathic seed amplification assays for biospecimens by Hofmeister ion comparisons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:23029-23039. [PMID: 31641070 PMCID: PMC6859373 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1909322116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent work with prion diseases and synucleinopathies indicates that accurate diagnostic methods for protein-folding diseases can be based on the ultrasensitive, amplified measurement of pathological aggregates in biospecimens. A better understanding of the physicochemical factors that control the seeded polymerization of such aggregates, and their amplification in vitro, should allow improvements in existing assay platforms, as well as the development of new assays for other proteopathic aggregates. Here, we systematically investigated the effects of the ionic environment on the polymerization of tau, α-synuclein, and the prion protein (PrP) induced by aggregates in biospecimens. We screened salts of the Hofmeister series, a relative ordering of strongly and weakly hydrated salts that tend to precipitate or solubilize proteins. We found that sensitivities of tau-based assays for Alzheimer's seeds and PrP-based assays for prions were best in weakly hydrated anions. In contrast, we saw an inverse trend with different tau-based assays, improving detection sensitivity for progressive supranuclear palsy seeds by ≈106 Hofmeister analysis also improved detection of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease prions in human nasal brushings and chronic wasting disease prions in deer-ear homogenates. Our results demonstrate strong and divergent influences of ionic environments on the amplification and detection of proteopathic seeds as biomarkers for protein-folding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Metrick
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, MT 59840
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia do Carmo Ferreira
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, MT 59840
| | - Eri Saijo
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, MT 59840
| | - Andrew G Hughson
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, MT 59840
| | - Allison Kraus
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, MT 59840
| | - Christina Orrú
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, MT 59840
| | - Michael W Miller
- Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Health Program, Fort Collins, CO 80521-1049
| | - Gianluigi Zanusso
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Byron Caughey
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, MT 59840;
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47
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Baral PK, Yin J, Aguzzi A, James MNG. Transition of the prion protein from a structured cellular form (PrP C ) to the infectious scrapie agent (PrP Sc ). Protein Sci 2019; 28:2055-2063. [PMID: 31583788 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases in mammals are caused by a conformational transition of the cellular prion protein from its native conformation (PrPC ) to a pathological isoform called "prion protein scrapie" (PrPSc ). A molecular level of understanding of this conformational transition will be helpful in unveiling the disease etiology. Experimental structural biological techniques (NMR and X-ray crystallography) have been used to unravel the atomic level structural information for the prion and its binding partners. More than one hundred three-dimensional structures of the mammalian prions have been deposited in the protein databank. Structural studies on the prion protein and its structural transitions will deepen our understanding of the molecular basis of prion pathogenesis and will provide valuable guidance for future structure-based drug discovery endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pravas K Baral
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jiang Yin
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael N G James
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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48
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Ryskalin L, Busceti CL, Biagioni F, Limanaqi F, Familiari P, Frati A, Fornai F. Prion Protein in Glioblastoma Multiforme. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20205107. [PMID: 31618844 PMCID: PMC6834196 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPc) is an evolutionarily conserved cell surface protein encoded by the PRNP gene. PrPc is ubiquitously expressed within nearly all mammalian cells, though most abundantly within the CNS. Besides being implicated in the pathogenesis and transmission of prion diseases, recent studies have demonstrated that PrPc contributes to tumorigenesis by regulating tumor growth, differentiation, and resistance to conventional therapies. In particular, PrPc over-expression has been related to the acquisition of a malignant phenotype of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in a variety of solid tumors, encompassing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), osteosarcoma, breast cancer, gastric cancer, and primary brain tumors, mostly glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Thus, PrPc is emerging as a key in maintaining glioblastoma cancer stem cells’ (GSCs) phenotype, thereby strongly affecting GBM infiltration and relapse. In fact, PrPc contributes to GSCs niche’s maintenance by modulating GSCs’ stem cell-like properties while restraining them from differentiation. This is the first review that discusses the role of PrPc in GBM. The manuscript focuses on how PrPc may act on GSCs to modify their expression and translational profile while making the micro-environment surrounding the GSCs niche more favorable to GBM growth and infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa Ryskalin
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Carla L Busceti
- I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed, via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy.
| | | | - Fiona Limanaqi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Pietro Familiari
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sense Organs NESMOS, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Francesco Fornai
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
- I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed, via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy.
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Igel-Egalon A, Laferrière F, Moudjou M, Bohl J, Mezache M, Knäpple T, Herzog L, Reine F, Jas-Duval C, Doumic M, Rezaei H, Béringue V. Early stage prion assembly involves two subpopulations with different quaternary structures and a secondary templating pathway. Commun Biol 2019; 2:363. [PMID: 31602412 PMCID: PMC6778151 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0608-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamics of aggregation and structural diversification of misfolded, host-encoded proteins in neurodegenerative diseases are poorly understood. In many of these disorders, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and prion diseases, the misfolded proteins are self-organized into conformationally distinct assemblies or strains. The existence of intrastrain structural heterogeneity is increasingly recognized. However, the underlying processes of emergence and coevolution of structurally distinct assemblies are not mechanistically understood. Here, we show that early prion replication generates two subsets of structurally different assemblies by two sequential processes of formation, regardless of the strain considered. The first process corresponds to a quaternary structural convergence, by reducing the parental strain polydispersity to generate small oligomers. The second process transforms these oligomers into larger ones, by a secondary autocatalytic templating pathway requiring the prion protein. This pathway provides mechanistic insights into prion structural diversification, a key determinant for prion adaptation and toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Florent Laferrière
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Present Address: Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, CNRS UMR5293, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Jan Bohl
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
- LCP, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Mathieu Mezache
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
- INRIA, MAMBA, Université Paris VI, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Tina Knäpple
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Laetitia Herzog
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Fabienne Reine
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Christelle Jas-Duval
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, EFS, INSERM, University of Montpellier, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Marie Doumic
- INRIA, MAMBA, Université Paris VI, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Human Rezaei
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
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50
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Bernardi L, Bruni AC. Mutations in Prion Protein Gene: Pathogenic Mechanisms in C-Terminal vs. N-Terminal Domain, a Review. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E3606. [PMID: 31340582 PMCID: PMC6678283 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited mutations in the Prion protein (PrP), encoded by the PRNP gene, have been associated with autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorders, such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD), Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS), and Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI). Notably, PRNP mutations have also been described in clinical pictures resembling other neurodegenerative diseases, such as frontotemporal dementia. Regarding the pathogenesis, it has been observed that these point mutations are located in the C-terminal region of the PRNP gene and, currently, the potential significance of the N-terminal domain has largely been underestimated. The purpose of this report is to review and provide current insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of PRNP mutations, emphasizing the differences between the C- and N-terminal regions and focusing, in particular, on the lesser-known flexible N-terminal, for which recent biophysical evidence has revealed a physical interaction with the globular C-terminal domain of the cellular prion protein (PrPC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Bernardi
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASP Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme (CZ), Italy
| | - Amalia C Bruni
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASP Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme (CZ), Italy.
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