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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2020The object of our analysis is the structure of alpha-synuclein (ASyn), which, under in vivo conditions, associates with presynaptic vesicles. Misfolding of ASyn is known...
The object of our analysis is the structure of alpha-synuclein (ASyn), which, under in vivo conditions, associates with presynaptic vesicles. Misfolding of ASyn is known to be implicated in Parkinson's disease. The availability of structural information for both the micelle-bound and amyloid form of ASyn enables us to speculate on the specific mechanism of amyloid transformation. This analysis is all the more interesting given the fact that-Unlike in Aβ(1-42) amyloids-only the central fragment (30-100) of ASyn has a fibrillar structure, whereas, its N- and C-terminal fragments (1-30 and 100-140, respectively) are described as random coils. Our work addresses the following question: Can the ASyn chain-as well as the aforementioned individual fragments-adopt globular conformations? In order to provide an answer, we subjected the corresponding sequences to simulations carried out using Robetta and I-Tasser, both of which are regarded as accurate protein structure predictors. In addition, we also applied the fuzzy oil drop (FOD) model, which, in addition to optimizing the protein's internal free energy, acknowledges the presence of an external force field contributed by the aqueous solvent. This field directs hydrophobic residues to congregate near the center of the protein body while exposing hydrophilic residues on its surface. Comparative analysis of the obtained models suggests that fragments which do not participate in forming the amyloid fibril (i.e., 1-30 and 100-140) can indeed attain globular conformations. We also explain the influence of mutations observed in vivo upon the susceptibility of ASyn to undergo amyloid transformation. In particular, the 30-100 fragment (which adopts a fibrillar structure in PDB) is not predicted to produce a centralized hydrophobic core by any of the applied toolkits (Robetta, I-Tasser, and FOD). This means that in order to minimize the entropically disadvantageous contact between hydrophobic residues and the polar solvent, ASyn adopts the form of a ribbonlike micelle (rather than a spherical one). In other words, the ribbonlike micelle represents a synergy between the conformational preferences of the protein chain and the influence of its environment.
Topics: Amyloid; Humans; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Models, Molecular; Mutation; Peptide Fragments; Protein Conformation; alpha-Synuclein
PubMed: 32019169
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25030600 -
Movement Disorders : Official Journal... Feb 2016Aggregation of alpha-synuclein is implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases collectively termed synucleinopathies. Emerging evidence strongly implicates... (Review)
Review
Aggregation of alpha-synuclein is implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases collectively termed synucleinopathies. Emerging evidence strongly implicates cell-to-cell transmission of misfolded alpha-synuclein as a common pathogenetic mechanism in synucleinopathies. The impact of alpha-synuclein pathology on neuronal dysfunction and behavioral impairments is being explored in animal models. This review provides an update on how research in animal models supports the concept that misfolded alpha-synuclein spreads from cell to cell and describes how findings in animal models might relate to the disease process in humans. Finally, we discuss the current underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms and future therapeutic strategies targeting alpha-synuclein propagation.
Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Neurodegenerative Diseases; alpha-Synuclein
PubMed: 26347034
DOI: 10.1002/mds.26370 -
FASEB Journal : Official Publication of... Feb 2019The pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein (α-Syn), eventually resulting in the formation of Lewy bodies...
The pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein (α-Syn), eventually resulting in the formation of Lewy bodies and neurites in surviving neurons in the brain. Although α-Syn aggregation has been extensively studied in vitro, there is limited in vivo knowledge on α-Syn aggregation. Here, we used the powerful genetics of Drosophila melanogaster and developed an in vivo assay to monitor α-Syn accumulation by using a bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay. We found that both genetic and pharmacologic manipulations affected α-Syn accumulation. Interestingly, we also found that alterations in the cellular protein degradation mechanisms strongly influenced α-Syn accumulation. Administration of compounds identified as risk factors for Parkinson's disease, such as rotenone or heavy metal ions, had only mild or even no impact on α-Syn accumulation in vivo. Finally, we show that increasing phosphorylation of α-Syn at serine 129 enhances the accumulation and toxicity of α-Syn. Altogether, our study establishes a novel model to study α-Syn accumulation and illustrates the complexity of manipulating proteostasis in vivo.-Prasad, V., Wasser, Y., Hans, F., Goswami, A., Katona, I., Outeiro, T. F., Kahle, P. J., Schulz, J. B., Voigt, A. Monitoring α-synuclein multimerization in vivo.
Topics: Amyloid; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Drosophila melanogaster; Male; Phosphorylation; Protein Multimerization; Reactive Oxygen Species; Serine; alpha-Synuclein
PubMed: 30252534
DOI: 10.1096/fj.201800148RRR -
Biomolecules Jul 2015α-Synuclein inclusion bodies are a pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, and contain aggregated α-synuclein and a... (Review)
Review
α-Synuclein inclusion bodies are a pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, and contain aggregated α-synuclein and a variety of recruited factors, including protein chaperones, proteasome components, ubiquitin and the small ubiquitin-like modifier, SUMO-1. Cell culture and animal model studies suggest that misfolded, aggregated α-synuclein is actively translocated via the cytoskeletal system to a region of the cell where other factors that help to lessen the toxic effects can also be recruited. SUMO-1 covalently conjugates to various intracellular target proteins in a way analogous to ubiquitination to alter cellular distribution, function and metabolism and also plays an important role in a growing list of cellular pathways, including exosome secretion and apoptosis. Furthermore, SUMO-1 modified proteins have recently been linked to cell stress responses, such as oxidative stress response and heat shock response, with increased SUMOylation being neuroprotective in some cases. Several recent studies have linked SUMOylation to the ubiquitin-proteasome system, while other evidence implicates the lysosomal pathway. Other reports depict a direct mechanism whereby sumoylation reduced the aggregation tendency of α-synuclein, and reduced the toxicity. However, the precise role of SUMO-1 in neurodegeneration remains unclear. In this review, we explore the potential direct or indirect role(s) of SUMO-1 in the cellular response to misfolded α-synuclein in neurodegenerative disorders.
Topics: Animals; Autophagy; Humans; Neuroprotection; Protein Aggregates; Proteolysis; SUMO-1 Protein; alpha-Synuclein
PubMed: 26213981
DOI: 10.3390/biom5031697 -
Journal of Peptide Science : An... Apr 2022Protein misfolding and aggregation play a vital role in several human diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and prion diseases. The development of nanoparticles...
Protein misfolding and aggregation play a vital role in several human diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and prion diseases. The development of nanoparticles that modulate aggregation could be potential drug candidates for these neurodegenerative disorders. Parkinson's disease pathogenesis is closely associated with the accumulation of α-synuclein oligomers and fibrils in the substantia nigra of the brain. This report discusses the interactions of novel tryptophan-cardanol nanoparticles with α-synuclein protein monomers and fibrils. These nanoparticles could effectively disrupt α-synuclein fibrils and inhibit fibril formation at low concentrations such as 5 μM. The tryptophan-cardanol nanoparticles inhibit fibril formation from unstructured protein resulting in spherical nanostructures. These nanoparticles could also disassemble amyloid fibrils; the complete disappearance of fibrils was evident after 48 h of incubation with tryptophan-cardanol. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs after the incubation did not show any remnants of the peptide aggregates or oligomers. The thioflavin T fluorescence after the disassembly was diminished compared with that of fibrils also supports the inhibitory effect of the nanoparticles. Also, these nanoparticles did not reduce the viability of the SH-SY5Y cells. These findings suggest that the tryptophan-cardanol nanoparticles showed sufficiently high inhibitory activity and may have therapeutic potential for synucleinopathies.
Topics: Amyloid; Nanoparticles; Phenols; Tryptophan; alpha-Synuclein
PubMed: 34651357
DOI: 10.1002/psc.3374 -
Brain Pathology (Zurich, Switzerland) May 2016It is now established that α-synuclein can be physiologically secreted to the extracellular space. In this sense, mechanisms that govern the secretion of the protein... (Review)
Review
It is now established that α-synuclein can be physiologically secreted to the extracellular space. In this sense, mechanisms that govern the secretion of the protein may be of importance in the initiation and progress of synucleinopathies. It is possible that increased secretion may aid the formation of toxic seeds extracellularly. Alternatively, reduced presence of extracellular α-synuclein due to impaired secretion may increase the intracellular load and trigger intracellular seeding. Once outside, α-synuclein can exert various paracrine actions on neighboring cells again by mechanisms that have not been fully elucidated. It has been demonstrated that, when applied extracellularly, α-synuclein species can induce multiple neurotoxic and inflammatory responses, and aid the transmission of pathology between neurons. Still, the exact mechanism(s) by which secreted α-synuclein affects the homeostasis of other neurons is still not well understood. A portion of α-synuclein has been shown to be associated with the surface and lumen of exosomes which can transfer it to the surrounding cells, and potentially trigger seeding. Interestingly, increased exosome release has been linked to pathological situations of lysosomal dysfunction as observed in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the possibility that the observed α-synuclein pathology spread is attributable to the passive diffusion of the initial injected α-synuclein strains cannot be excluded. Importantly, most of the studies that have so far addressed the role of extracellular α-synuclein have not employed naturally secreted forms of the protein. It is plausible that deregulation in the normal processing of secreted α-synuclein may aid the formation of "toxic" species and as such it may also be a causative risk factor for PD. In this capacity, elucidation of the underlying mechanisms that regulate the protein-levels of extracellular α-synuclein becomes essential. Such mechanisms could involve its proteolytic clearance from the extracellular milieu.
Topics: Animals; Exocytosis; Humans; Neurodegenerative Diseases; alpha-Synuclein
PubMed: 26940375
DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12373 -
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces Jun 2018The assembly and accumulation of α-synuclein fibrils are implicated in the development of several neurodegenerative disorders including multiple system atrophy and...
The assembly and accumulation of α-synuclein fibrils are implicated in the development of several neurodegenerative disorders including multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease. Pre-existing α-synuclein fibrils can recruit and convert soluble non-fibrillar α-synuclein to the fibrillar form similar to what is observed in prion diseases. This raises concerns regarding attachment of fibrillary α-synuclein to medical instruments and subsequent exposure of patients to α-synuclein similar to what has been observed in iatrogenic transmission of prions. Here, we evaluated adsorption and desorption of α-synuclein to two surfaces: stainless steel and a gold surface coated with a 11-Amino-1-undecanethiol hydrochloride self-assembled-monolayer (SAM) using in-situ combinatorial quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation and spectroscopic ellipsometry. α-Synuclein was found to attach to both surfaces, however, increased α-synuclein adsorption was observed onto the positively charged SAM surface compared to the stainless steel surface. Dynamic light scattering data showed that larger α-synuclein fibrils were preferentially attached to the stainless steel surface when compared with the distributions in the original α-synuclein solution and on the SAM surface. We determined that after attachment, introduction of a 1N NaOH solution could completely remove α-synuclein adsorbed on the stainless steel surface while α-synuclein was retained on the SAM surface. Our results indicate α-synuclein can bind to multiple surface types and that decontamination is surface-dependent.
Topics: Protein Conformation; Stainless Steel; Surface Properties; alpha-Synuclein
PubMed: 29550546
DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.03.011 -
Small GTPases Apr 2017A common pathological event among various neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) is the misfolding and aggregation of different proteins in the brain. This is thought to... (Review)
Review
A common pathological event among various neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) is the misfolding and aggregation of different proteins in the brain. This is thought to potentiate aberrant protein-protein interactions that culminate in the disruption of several biological processes and, ultimately, in neuronal cell loss. Although protein aggregates are a common hallmark in several disorders, the molecular pathways leading to their generation remain unclear. The misfolding and aggregation of α-Synuclein (aSyn) is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson disease (PD), the second most common age related ND. It has been postulated that oligomeric species of aSyn, rather than more mature aggregated forms of the protein, are the causative agents of cytotoxicity. In recent years, we have been investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the initial steps of aSyn accumulation in living cells. Using an unbiased genome-wide lentiviral RNAi screen we identified trafficking and kinase genes as modulators of aSyn oligomerization, aggregation, and toxicity. Among those, Rab8b, Rab11a, Rab13 and Slp5 were found to promote the clearance of aSyn inclusions and reduce aSyn toxicity. Moreover, we found that endocytic recycling and secretion of aSyn was enhanced upon expression of Rab11a or Rab13 in cells accumulating aSyn inclusions. Altogether, our findings suggest specific trafficking steps may prove beneficial as targets for therapeutic intervention in synucleinopathies, and should be further investigated in other models.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Parkinson Disease; Protein Aggregates; Protein Transport; alpha-Synuclein
PubMed: 27314512
DOI: 10.1080/21541248.2016.1199191 -
Movement Disorders : Official Journal... Oct 2014
Topics: Animals; Brain; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Mutation; RNA, Small Interfering; alpha-Synuclein
PubMed: 25214445
DOI: 10.1002/mds.26028 -
Chemical Record (New York, N.Y.) Feb 2024Parkinson's disease is a yet incurable, age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the aggregation of small neuronal protein α-synuclein into amyloid... (Review)
Review
Parkinson's disease is a yet incurable, age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the aggregation of small neuronal protein α-synuclein into amyloid fibrils. Inhibition of this process is a prospective strategy for developing a disease-modifying treatment. We overview here small molecule, peptide, and protein inhibitors of α-synuclein fibrillization reported to date. Special attention was paid to the specificity of inhibitors and critical analysis of their action mechanisms. Namely, the importance of oxidation of polyphenols and cross-linking of α-synuclein into inhibitory dimers was highlighted. We also compared strategies of targeting monomeric, oligomeric, and fibrillar α-synuclein species, thoroughly discussed the strong and weak sides of different approaches to testing the inhibitors.
Topics: Humans; alpha-Synuclein; Parkinson Disease
PubMed: 37919046
DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202300282