The stress response neuropeptide CRF increases amyloid‐β production by regulating γ‐secretase activity

The biological underpinnings linking stress to Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk are poorly understood. We investigated how corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), a critical stress response mediator, influences amyloid‐β (Aβ) production. In cells, CRF treatment increases Aβ production and triggers CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) and γ‐secretase internalization. Co‐immunoprecipitation studies establish that γ‐secretase associates with CRFR1; this is mediated by β‐arrestin binding motifs. Additionally, CRFR1 and γ‐secretase co‐localize in lipid raft fractions, with increased γ‐secretase accumulation upon CRF treatment. CRF treatment also increases γ‐secretase activity in vitro, revealing a second, receptor‐independent mechanism of action. CRF is the first endogenous neuropeptide that can be shown to directly modulate γ‐secretase activity. Unexpectedly, CRFR1 antagonists also increased Aβ. These data collectively link CRF to increased Aβ through γ‐secretase and provide mechanistic insight into how stress may increase AD risk. They also suggest that direct targeting of CRF might be necessary to effectively modulate this pathway for therapeutic benefit in AD, as CRFR1 antagonists increase Aβ and in some cases preferentially increase Aβ42 via complex effects on γ‐secretase.     

Kinetics of the competitive reactions of isomerization and peptide bond cleavage at l‐α‐ and d‐β‐aspartyl residues in an αA‐crystallin fragment

d ‐β‐aspartyl (Asp) residue has been found in a living body such as aged lens crystallin, although l ‐α‐amino acids are constituents in natural proteins. Isomerization from l ‐α‐ to d ‐β‐Asp probably modulates structures to affect biochemical reactions. At Asp residue, isomerization and peptide bond cleavage compete with each other. To gain insight into how fast each reaction proceeds, the analysis requires the consideration of both pathways simultaneously and independently. No information has been provided, however, about these competitive processes because each reaction has been studied separately. The contribution of Asp isomers to the respective pathways has still been veiled. In this work, the two competitive reactions, isomerization and spontaneous peptide bond cleavage at Asp residue, were simultaneously observed and compared in an αA‐crystallin fragment, S⁵¹LFRTVLD⁵⁸SG⁶⁰ containing l ‐α‐ and d ‐β‐Asp58 isomers. The kinetics showed that the formation of l ‐ and d ‐succinimide (Suc) intermediate, as a first step of isomerization, was comparable at l ‐α‐ and d ‐β‐Asp. Although l ‐Suc was converted to l ‐β‐Asp, d ‐Suc was liable to return to the original d ‐β‐Asp, the reverse reaction marked enough to consider d ‐β‐Asp as apparently stable. d ‐β‐Asp was also resistant to the peptide bond cleavage. Such apparent less reactivity is probably the reason for gradual and abnormal accumulation of d ‐β‐Asp in a living body under physiological conditions. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

β‐Hairpin stabilization in a 28‐residue peptide derived from the β‐subunit sequence of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone

The β‐subunit of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone, which is believed to be related to certain types of cancer, contains three hairpin‐like fragments. To investigate the role of β‐hairpin formation in the early stages of the hCGβ folding, a 28‐residue peptide with the sequence RDVRFESIRLPGSPRGVNPVVSYAVALS, corresponding to the H3‐β hairpin fragment (residues 60–87) of the hCGβ subunit, was studied under various conditions using three optical spectroscopic methods: Fourier transform ir spectroscopy, electronic CD, and vibrational CD. Environmental conditions are critical factors for formation of secondary structure in this peptide. TFE : H₂O mixed solvents induced helical formation. Formation of β‐structure in this peptide, which may be related to the native β‐hairpin formation in the intact hormone, was found to be induced only under conditions such as high concentration, high temperature, and the presence of nonmicellar sodium dodecyl sulfate concentrations. These findings support a protein folding mechanism for the hCGβ subunit in which an initial hydrophobic collapse, which increases intermolecular interactions in hCGβ, is needed to induce the H3‐β hairpin formation. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 50: 413–423, 1999     

The N‐terminal tripeptide of insulin‐like growth factor‐I protects against β‐amyloid‐induced somatostatin depletion by calcium and glycogen synthase kinase 3β modulation

The protective effects of insulin‐like growth factor I on the somatostatin (SRIF) system in the temporal cortex after β‐amyloid (Aβ) injury may be mediated through its N‐terminal tripeptide glycine‐proline‐glutamate (GPE). GPE is cleaved to cyclo[Pro‐Gly] (cPG), a metabolite suggested to mediate in neuroprotective actions. We evaluated the effects of GPE and cPG in the temporal cortex of Aβ25–35‐treated rats on SRIF and SRIF receptor protein and mRNA levels, adenylyl cyclase activity, cell death, Aβ25–35 accumulation, cytosolic calcium levels ([Ca²⁺]_c) and the intracellular signaling mechanisms involved. GPE and cPG did not change Aβ25–35 levels, but GPE partially restored SRIF and SRIF receptor 2 protein content and mRNA levels and protected against cell death after Aβ25–35 insult, which was coincident with Akt activation and glycogen synthase kinase 3β inhibition. In addition, GPE displaced glutamate from NMDA receptors and blocked the glutamate induced rise in cytosolic calcium in isolated rat neurons and moderately increased Ca²⁺ influx per se. Our findings suggest that GPE, but not its metabolite, mimics insulin‐like growth factor I effects on the SRIF system through a mechanism independent of Aβ clearance that involves modulation of calcium and glycogen synthase kinase 3β signaling.     

GC Separation of Enantiomers of Alkyl Esters of 2‐Bromo Substituted Carboxylic Acids Enantiomers on 6‐TBDMS‐2,3‐di‐alkyl‐ β‐ and γ‐Cyclodextrin Stationary Phases

The gas chromatographic separation of enantiomers of 2‐Br carboxylic acid derivatives was studied on four different 6‐TBDMS‐2,3‐di‐O‐alkyl‐ β‐ and ‐γ‐CD stationary phases. The differences in thermodynamic data {ΔH and –ΔS} for the 15 structurally related racemates were evaluated. The influence of structure differences in the alkyl substituents covalently attached to the stereogenic carbon atom, as well as in the ester group of the homologous analytes, and the selectivity of modified β‐ and γ‐ cyclodextrin derivatives was studied in detail. The cyclodextrin cavity size, as well as elongation of alkyl substituents in positions 2 and 3 of 6‐TBDMS‐β‐CD, also affected their selectivity. The quality of enantiomeric separations is influenced mainly by alkyl chains of the ester group of the molecule and this appears to be independent of the CD stationary phase used. In some cases the separations occur as the result of external adsorption rather than inclusion complexations with the chiral selector. It was found that the temperature dependencies of the selectivity factor were nonlinear. Chirality 26:279–285, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Regulation of interleukin‐1β by interferon‐γ is species specific,limited by suppressor of cytokine signalling 1 and influences interleukin‐17 production

Reports describing the effect of interferon‐γ (IFNγ) on interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) production are conflicting. We resolve this controversy by showing that IFNγ potentiates IL‐1β release from human cells, but transiently inhibits the production of IL‐1β from mouse cells. Release from this inhibition is dependent on suppressor of cytokine signalling 1. IL‐1β and Th17 cells are pathogenic in mouse models for autoimmune disease, which use Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), in which IFNγ and IFNβ are anti‐inflammatory. We observed that these cytokines suppress IL‐1β production in response to MTB, resulting in a reduced number of IL‐17‐producing cells. In human cells, IFNγ increased IL‐1β production, and this might explain why IFNγ is detrimental for multiple sclerosis. In mice, IFNγ decreased IL‐1β and subsequently IL‐17, indicating that the adaptive immune response can provide a systemic, but transient, signal to limit inflammation.     

Epitope structure and binding affinity of single chain llama anti‐β‐amyloid antibodies revealed by proteolytic excision affinity‐mass spectrometry

ß‐Amyloid (Aß) immunotherapy has become a promising strategy for reducing the level of Aß in brain. New immunological approaches have been recently proposed for rapid, early diagnosis, and molecular treatment of neurodegenerative diseases related to Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The combination of proteolytic epitope excision and extraction and mass spectrometry using digestion with various proteases has been shown to be an efficient tool for the identification and molecular characterization of antigenic determinants. Here, we report the identification of the Aβ epitope recognized by the variable domain of single chain llama anti‐Aβ‐antibodies, termed Aβ‐nanobodies, that have been discovered in the blood of camelids and found to be promising candidates for immunotherapy of AD. The epitope recognized by two Aβ‐specific nanobodies was identified by proteolytic epitope extraction‐ and excision‐mass spectrometry using a series of proteases (trypsin, chymotrypsin, GluC‐protease, and LysC‐protease). Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization – mass spectrometric analysis of the affinity – elution fraction provided the epitope, Aβ(17–28), in the mid‐ to carboxy‐terminal domain of Aβ, which has been shown to exert an Aß‐fibril inhibiting effect. Affinity studies of the synthetic epitope confirmed that the Aβ(17–28) peptide is the minimal fragment that binds to the nanobodies. The interactions between the nanobodies and full length Aβ(1–40) or Aβ‐peptides containing or lacking the epitope sequence were further characterized by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and bioaffinity analysis. Determinations of binding affinities between the Aβ‐nanobodies and Aβ(1–40) and the Aβ(17–28) epitope provided K_D values of approximately 150 and 700 nmol, respectively. Thus, the knowledge of the epitope may be highly useful for future studies of Aβ‐aggregation (oligomerization and fibril formation) and for designing new aggregation inhibitors. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Folding type-specific secondary structure propensities of amino acids,derived from α-helical, β-sheet, α/β, and α+β proteins of known structures

Folding type-specific secondary structure propensities of 20 naturally occurring amino acids have been derived from α-helical, β-sheet, α/β, and α+β proteins of known structures. These data show that each residue type of amino acids has intrinsic propensities in different regions of secondary structures for different folding types of proteins. Each of the folding types shows markedly different rank ordering, indicating folding type-specific effects on the secondary structure propensities of amino acids. Rigorous statistical tests have been made to validate the folding type-specific effects. It should be noted that α and β proteins have relatively small α-helices and β-strands forming propensities respectively compared with those of α+β and α/β proteins. This may suggest that, with more complex architectures than α and β proteins, α+β and α/β proteins require larger propensities to distinguish from interacting α-helices and β-strands. Our finding of folding type-specific secondary structure propensities suggests that sequence space accessible to each folding type may have differing features. Differing sequence space features might be constrained by topological requirement for each of the folding types. Almost all strong β-sheet forming residues are hydrophobic in character regardless of folding types, thus suggesting the hydrophobicities of side chains as a key determinant of β-sheet structures. In contrast, conformational entropy of side chains is a major determinant of the helical propensities of amino acids, although other interactions such as hydrophobicities and charged interactions cannot be neglected. These results will be helpful to protein design, class-based secondary structure prediction, and protein folding. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 35–49, 1998     

β1‐adrenergic receptor antagonists signal via PDE4 translocation

It is generally assumed that antagonists of G_s‐coupled receptors do not activate cAMP signalling, because they do not stimulate cAMP production via G_s‐protein/adenylyl cyclase activation. Here, we report a new signalling pathway whereby antagonists of β₁‐adrenergic receptors (β₁ARs) increase cAMP levels locally without stimulating cAMP production directly. Binding of antagonists causes dissociation of a preformed complex between β₁ARs and Type‐4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE4s). This reduces the local concentration of cAMP‐hydrolytic activity, thereby increasing submembrane cAMP and PKA activity. Our study identifies receptor/PDE4 complex dissociation as a novel mechanism of antagonist action that contributes to the pharmacological properties of β₁AR antagonists and might be shared by other receptor subtypes.     

Tunneling nanotubes spread fibrillar α‐synuclein by intercellular trafficking of lysosomes

Synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's disease are characterized by the pathological deposition of misfolded α‐synuclein aggregates into inclusions throughout the central and peripheral nervous system. Mounting evidence suggests that intercellular propagation of α‐synuclein aggregates may contribute to the neuropathology; however, the mechanism by which spread occurs is not fully understood. By using quantitative fluorescence microscopy with co‐cultured neurons, here we show that α‐synuclein fibrils efficiently transfer from donor to acceptor cells through tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) inside lysosomal vesicles. Following transfer through TNTs, α‐synuclein fibrils are able to seed soluble α‐synuclein aggregation in the cytosol of acceptor cells. We propose that donor cells overloaded with α‐synuclein aggregates in lysosomes dispose of this material by hijacking TNT‐mediated intercellular trafficking. Our findings thus reveal a possible novel role of TNTs and lysosomes in the progression of synucleinopathies.     

Posttranslational modification impact on the mechanism by which amyloid‐β induces synaptic dysfunction

Oligomeric amyloid‐β (Aβ) 1‐42 disrupts synaptic function at an early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Multiple posttranslational modifications of Aβ have been identified, among which N‐terminally truncated forms are the most abundant. It is not clear, however, whether modified species can induce synaptic dysfunction on their own and how altered biochemical properties can contribute to the synaptotoxic mechanisms. Here, we show that a prominent isoform, pyroglutamated Aβ3(pE)‐42, induces synaptic dysfunction to a similar extent like Aβ1‐42 but by clearly different mechanisms. In contrast to Aβ1‐42, Aβ3(pE)‐42 does not directly associate with synaptic membranes or the prion protein but is instead taken up by astrocytes and potently induces glial release of the proinflammatory cytokine TNFα. Moreover, Aβ3(pE)‐42‐induced synaptic dysfunction is not related to NMDAR signalling and Aβ3(pE)‐42‐induced impairment of synaptic plasticity cannot be rescued by D1‐agonists. Collectively, the data point to a scenario where neuroinflammatory processes together with direct synaptotoxic effects are caused by posttranslational modification of soluble oligomeric Aβ and contribute synergistically to the onset of synaptic dysfunction in AD.     

Characterizing the release of bioactive N‐glycans from dairy products by a novel endo‐β‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase

Endo‐β‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase isolated from B. infantis ATCC 15697 (EndoBI‐1) is a novel enzyme that cleaves N‐N′‐diacetyl chitobiose moieties found in the N‐glycan core of high mannose, hybrid, and complex N‐glycans. These conjugated N‐glycans are recently shown as a new prebiotic source that stimulates the growth of a key infant gut microbe, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. Infantis. The effects of pH (4.45–8.45), temperature (27.5–77.5°C), reaction time (15–475 min), and enzyme/protein ratio (1:3,000–1:333) were evaluated on the release of N‐glycans from bovine colostrum whey by EndoBI‐1. A central composite design was used, including a two‐level factorial design (2⁴) with four center points and eight axial points. In general, low pH values, longer reaction times, higher enzyme/protein ratio, and temperatures around 52°C resulted in the highest yield. The results demonstrated that bovine colostrum whey, considered to be a by/waste product, can be used as a glycan source with a yield of 20 mg N‐glycan/g total protein under optimal conditions for the ranges investigated. Importantly, these processing conditions are suitable to be incorporated into routine dairy processing activities, opening the door for an entirely new class of products (released bioactive glycans and glycan‐free milk). The new enzyme's activity was also compared with a commercially available enzyme, showing that EndoBI‐1 is more active on native proteins than PNGase F and can be efficiently used during pasteurization, streamlining its integration into existing processing strategies. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:1331–1339, 2015     

17α-Ethyl-5β-estrane-3α,17β-diol, a biological marker for the abuse of norethandrolone and ethylestrenol in slaughter cattle

The metabolism of the illegal growth promoter ethylestrenol (EES) was evaluated in bovine liver cells and subcellular fractions of bovine liver preparations. Incubations with bovine microsomal preparations revealed that EES is extensively biotransformed into norethandrolone (NE), another illegal growth promoter. Furthermore, incubations of monolayer cultures of hepatocytes with NE indicated that NE itself is rapidly reduced to 17α-ethyl-5β-estrane-3α,17β-diol (EED). In vivo tests confirmed that, after administration of either EES or NE, EED is excreted as a major metabolite. Therefore, it was concluded that, both in urine and faeces samples, EED can be used as a biological marker for the illegal use of EES and/or NE. Moreover, by monitoring EED in urine or faeces samples, the detection period after NE administration is significantly prolonged. These findings were further confirmed by three cases of norethandrolone abuse in a routine screening program for forbidden growth promoters.     

Vibrational circular dichroism as a probe of solid‐state organisation of derivatives of cyclic β‐amino acids: Cis‐ and trans‐2‐aminocyclobutane‐1‐carboxylic acid

Peptide models built from cis‐ and trans‐2‐aminocyclobutane‐1‐carboxylic acids (ACBCs) are studied in the solid phase by combining Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy, vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), and quantum chemical calculations using density functional theory (DFT). The studied systems are N‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) derivatives of 2‐aminocyclobutanecarboxylic acid (ACBC) benzylamides, namely Boc?(cis‐ACBC)?NH?Bn and Boc?(trans‐ACBC)?NH?Bn. These two diastereomers show very different VCD signatures and intensities, which of the trans‐ACBC derivative being one order of magnitude larger in the region of the ν (CO) stretch. The spectral signature of the cis‐ACBC derivative is satisfactorily reproduced by that of the monomer extracted from the solid‐state geometry of related ACBC derivatives, which shows that no long‐range effects are implicated for this system. In terms of hydrogen bonds, the geometry of this monomer is intermediate between the C6 and C8 structures (exhibiting a 6‐ or 8‐membered cyclic NH?O hydrogen bond) previously evidenced in the gas phase. The benzyl group must be in an extended geometry to reproduce satisfactorily the shape of the VCD spectrum in the ν (CO) range, which qualifies VCD as a potential probe of dispersion interaction. In contrast, reproducing the IR and VCD spectrum of the trans‐ACBC derivative requires clusters larger than four units, exhibiting strong intermolecular H‐bonding patterns. A qualitative agreement is obtained for a tetramer, although the intensity enhancement is not reproduced. These results underline the sensitivity of VCD to the long‐range organisation in the crystal.     

Integrin αvβ3 enhances the suppressive effect of interferon‐γ on hematopoietic stem cells

Hematopoietic homeostasis depends on the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are regulated within a specialized bone marrow (BM) niche. When HSC sense external stimuli, their adhesion status may be critical for determining HSC cell fate. The cell surface molecule, integrin αvβ3, is activated through HSC adhesion to extracellular matrix and niche cells. Integrin β3 signaling maintains HSCs within the niche. Here, we showed the synergistic negative regulation of the pro‐inflammatory cytokine interferon‐γ (IFNγ) and β3 integrin signaling in murine HSC function by a novel definitive phenotyping of HSCs. Integrin αvβ3 suppressed HSC function in the presence of IFNγ and impaired integrin β3 signaling mitigated IFNγ‐dependent negative action on HSCs. During IFNγ stimulation, integrin β3 signaling enhanced STAT1‐mediated gene expression via serine phosphorylation. These findings show that integrin β3 signaling intensifies the suppressive effect of IFNγ on HSCs, which indicates that cell adhesion via integrin αvβ3 within the BM niche acts as a context‐dependent signal modulator to regulate the HSC function under both steady‐state and inflammatory conditions.     

Mutant huntingtin‐impaired degradation of β‐catenin causes neurotoxicity in Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder causing selective neuronal death in the brain. Dysfunction of the ubiquitin–proteasome system may contribute to the disease; however, the exact mechanisms are still unknown. We report here a new pathological mechanism by which mutant huntingtin specifically interferes with the degradation of β‐catenin. Huntingtin associates with the β‐catenin destruction complex that ensures its equilibrated degradation. The binding of β‐catenin to the destruction complex is altered in HD, leading to the toxic stabilization of β‐catenin. As a consequence, the β‐transducin repeat‐containing protein (β‐TrCP) rescues polyglutamine (polyQ)‐huntingtin‐induced toxicity in striatal neurons and in a Drosophila model of HD, through the specific degradation of β‐catenin. Finally, the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug indomethacin that decreases β‐catenin levels has a neuroprotective effect in a neuronal model of HD and in Drosophila and increases the lifespan of HD flies. We thus suggest that restoring β‐catenin homeostasis in HD is of therapeutic interest.