The role of the prion protein in the internalization of α-synuclein amyloids

Synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the accumulation of α-synuclein amyloids in several regions of the brain. α-Synuclein fibrils are able to spread via cell-to-cell transfer, and once inside the cells, they can template the misfolding and aggregation of the endogenous α-synuclein. Multiple mechanisms have been shown to participate in the process of propagation: endocytosis, tunneling nanotubes and macropinocytosis. Recently, we published a research showing that the cellular form of the prion protein (PrP^C) acts as a receptor for α-synuclein amyloid fibrils, facilitating their internalization through and endocytic pathway. This interaction occurs by a direct interaction between the fibrils and the N-terminal domain of PrP^C. In cell lines expressing the pathological form of PrP (PrP^Sc), the binding between PrP^C and α-synuclein fibrils prevents the formation and accumulation of PrP^Sc, since PrP^C is no longer available as a substrate for the pathological conversion templated by PrP^Sc. On the contrary, PrP^Sc deposits are cleared over passages, probably due to the increased processing of PrP^C into the neuroprotective fragments N1 and C1. Starting from these data, in this work we present new insights into the role of PrP^C in the internalization of protein amyloids and the possible therapeutic applications of these findings.     

The role of the acidic domain of α-synuclein in amyloid fibril formation: a molecular dynamics study

The detailed mechanism of the pathology of α-synuclein in the Parkinson’s disease has not been clearly elucidated. Recent studies suggested a possible chaperone-like role of the acidic C-terminal region of α-synuclein in the formation of amyloid fibrils. It was also previously demonstrated that the α-synuclein amyloid fibril formation is accelerated by mutations of proline residues to alanine in the acidic region. We performed replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations of the acidic and nonamyloid component (NAC) domains of the wild type and proline-to-alanine mutants of α-synuclein under various conditions. Our results showed that structural changes induced by a change in pH or an introduction of mutations lead to a reduction in mutual contacts between the NAC and acidic regions. Our data suggest that the highly charged acidic region of α-synuclein may act as an intramolecular chaperone by protecting the hydrophobic domain from aggregation. Understanding the function of such chaperone-like parts of fibril-forming proteins may provide novel insights into the mechanism of amyloid formation.     

基于肠脑轴传播α-突触核蛋白诱发帕金森病的研究进展

帕金森病(Parkinson’s disease, PD)是最常见的神经退行性疾病,随着我国人口老龄化加剧,PD病人的增加将造成严重的经济和医疗负担。PD的典型病理特征是黑质致密部多巴胺能神经元的死亡以及多巴胺能神经元中异常聚集的淀粉样蛋白α-突触核蛋白(α-synuclein,α-Syn)形成病理包涵体即路易小体(Lewy body)。研究发现路易小体不仅存在中枢神经系统中,也同样存在于外周神经系统。肠道内丰富的肠神经系统被称为“第二大脑”。肠脑轴的发现也证明α-Syn能在大脑和肠道进行双向传输。肠道中也存在着庞大的微生物群,这些微生物参与病理性α-Syn的形成和传输。因此文中基于肠脑轴探讨α-Syn在大脑和肠道的双向传输关系,尝试探索肠道微生物群对α-Syn异常聚集的影响。结合目前PD病人的研究和动物模型尤其是非人灵长类实验的研究,希望为PD疾病的筛查和诊断提供参考。     

Neuroprotective effects of extract of Acanthopanax senticosus harms on SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing wild-type or A53T mutant α-synuclein

Extract of Acanthopanax senticosus harms (EAS) has been shown to have neuroprotective effects on dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD) mice model. α-Synuclein is a key player in the pathogenesis of PD, the elevated level of which is deleterious to dopaminergic neurons, and enhancing its clearance might be a promising strategy for treating PD. To assess the potential of EAS in this regard, we investigated its effect on the SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing wild-type α-synuclein (WT-α-Syn) or A53T mutant α-synuclein (A53T-α-Syn), and the implicated pathway it might mediate. After treatment with EAS, the changes of α-synuclein, caspase-3, parkin, phospho-protein kinase B (Akt), phospho-glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β), and phospho-microtubule-associated protein tau (Tau) in WT-α-Syn or A53T-α-Syn transgenic cells were reverted back to near normal levels, demonstrated by the western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR outcomes. The neuroprotective effects of EAS may be able to protect WT-α-Syn or A53T-α-Syn transgenic SH-SY5Y cells from α-synuclein overexpression and toxicity. Therefore, we speculate that EAS might be a promising candidate for prevention or treatment of α-synuclein-related neurodegenerative disorders such as PD.     

Mathematical models of α-synuclein transport in axons

To investigate possible effects of diffusion on α-synuclein (α-syn) transport in axons, we developed two models of α-syn transport, one that assumes that α-syn is transported only by active transport, as part of multiprotein complexes, and a second that assumes an interplay between motor-driven and diffusion-driven α-syn transport. By comparing predictions of the two models, we were able to investigate how diffusion could influence axonal transport of α-syn. The predictions obtained could be useful for future experimental work aimed at elucidating the mechanisms of axonal transport of α-syn. We also attempted to simulate possible defects in α-syn transport early in Parkinson's disease (PD). We assumed that in healthy axons α-syn localizes in the axon terminal while in diseased axons α-syn does not localize in the terminal (this was simulated by postulating a zero α-syn flux into the terminal). We found that our model of a diseased axon predicts the build-up of α-syn close to the axon terminal. This build-up could cause α-syn accumulation in Lewy bodies and the subsequent axonal death pattern observed in PD (‘dying back’ of axons).     

Photophysics of diphenyl-pyrazole compounds in solutions and α-synuclein aggregates

Background

Recently diphenyl-pyrazole (DPP) compounds and especially anle138b were found to reduce the aggregation of α-synuclein or Tau protein in vitro as well as in a mouse model of neurodegenerative diseases [1,2]. Direct interaction of the DPPs with the fibrillar structure was identified by fluorescence spectroscopy. Thereby a strong dependence of the fluorescence on the surroundings could be identified [3].

Differential inhibition of α-synuclein oligomeric and fibrillar assembly in parkinson's disease model by cinnamon extract

Background

The oligomeriztion of α-synuclein (α-syn) into ordered assemblies is associated with the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Yet, it is still debatable whether oligomers are formed as part of a multistep process towards amyloid fibril formation or alternatively as "off-pathway" aggregates.

Methods

100 μM α-syn was incubated with decreasing amounts of cinnamon extract precipitation (CEppt). The fibril formation was measured using spectroscopy and microscopy analyses and oligomers were detected using western blot analysis. The secondary structure of the protein was analyzed using CD. Drosophila brains were studied using immunostaining and confocal microscopy.

Results

Here we probed the inhibition pattern of oligomeric and fibrillar forms of α-syn, using a natural substance, CEppt which was previously shown to effectively inhibit aggregation of β-amyloid polypeptide. We demonstrated that CEppt has a differential inhibitory effect on the formation of soluble and insoluble aggregates of α-synuclein in vitro. This inhibition pattern revokes the possibility of redirection to "off-pathway" oligomers. When administering to Drosophila fly model expressing mutant A53T α-syn in the nervous system, a significant curative effect on the behavioral symptoms of the flies and on α-syn aggregation in their brain was observed.

Conclusions

We conclude that CEppt affects the process of aggregation of α-syn without changing its secondary structure and suggest that increasing amounts of CEppt slow this process by stabilizing the soluble oligomeric phase. When administered to Drosophila fly model, CEppt appears to have a curative effect on the defective flies.

General significance

Our results indicate that CEppt can be a potential therapeutic agent for PD.     

血清pro-BDNF、α-syn、RANTES水平在不同H-Y分期帕金森病患者中的变化及与认知功能障碍的关系

摘要 目的：探讨血清脑源性神经营养因子前体蛋白（pro-BDNF）、α-突触核蛋白（α-syn）、活化T细胞趋化因子（RANTES）水平在不同Hoehn-Yahr（H-Y）分期帕金森病（PD）患者中的变化及与认知功能障碍的关系。方法：选取2019年11月～2021年11月成都市第三人民医院收治的92例PD患者,将其按照H-Y分期的差异分作早期组（H-Y分期1～2期）45例以及中晚期组（H-Y分期3～5期）47例,另取我院同期50例健康体检志愿者作为对照组。比较各组血清pro-BDNF、α-syn、RANTES水平,以Spearman相关性分析血清pro-BDNF、α-syn、RANTES水平与PD患者H-Y分期的相关性。采用蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）评估认知功能,并据此将所有患者分为认知功能障碍组和无认知功能障碍组,以单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析PD患者认知功能障碍的影响因素。结果：早期组和中晚期组的血清pro-BDNF、α-syn、RANTES水平均高于对照组,且中晚期组上述各项指标水平高于早期组（P＜0.05）。Spearman相关性分析结果显示,血清pro-BDNF、α-syn、RANTES水平均与PD患者H-Y分期呈正相关（P＜0.05）。单因素分析结果显示,PD患者是否发生认知功能障碍与其年龄、病程、受教育年限以及血清pro-BDNF、α-syn、RANTES水平有关（P＜0.05）。进一步多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,年龄偏大、病程较长以及血清pro-BDNF、α-syn、RANTES水平升高均是PD患者认知功能障碍的危险因素,而受教育年限较长是认知功能障碍的保护因素（P＜0.05）。结论：血清pro-BDNF、α-syn、RANTES水平在PD患者中异常升高,且与H-Y分期呈正相关,还与患者认知功能障碍密切相关。     

Interaction of the molecular chaperone alphaB-crystallin with alpha-synuclein: effects on amyloid fibril formation and chaperone activity

alpha-Synuclein is a pre-synaptic protein, the function of which is not completely understood, but its pathological form is involved in neurodegenerative diseases. In vitro, alpha-synuclein spontaneously forms amyloid fibrils. Here, we report that alphaB-crystallin, a molecular chaperone found in Lewy bodies that are characteristic of Parkinson's disease (PD), is a potent in vitro inhibitor of alpha-synuclein fibrillization, both of wild-type and the two mutant forms (A30P and A53T) that cause familial, early onset PD. In doing so, large irregular aggregates of alpha-synuclein and alphaB-crystallin are formed implying that alphaB-crystallin redirects alpha-synuclein from a fibril-formation pathway towards an amorphous aggregation pathway, thus reducing the amount of physiologically stable amyloid deposits in favor of easily degradable amorphous aggregates. alpha-Synuclein acts as a molecular chaperone to prevent the stress-induced, amorphous aggregation of target proteins. Compared to wild-type alpha-synuclein, both mutant forms have decreased chaperone activity in vitro against the aggregation of reduced insulin at 37 degrees C and the thermally induced aggregation of betaL-crystallin at 60 degrees C. Wild-type alpha-synuclein abrogates the chaperone activity of alphaB-crystallin to prevent the precipitation of reduced insulin. Interaction between these two chaperones and formation of a complex are also indicated by NMR spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography and mass spectrometry. In summary, alpha-synuclein and alphaB-crystallin interact readily with each other and affect each other's properties, in particular alpha-synuclein fibril formation and alphaB-crystallin chaperone action.     

Chaperonin-Affected Folding of Globular Proteins

We studied the effect of GroEL on the kinetic refolding of-lactalbumin by stopped-flow fluorescence techniques. We usedwild-type GroEL and its ATPase-defficient mutant D398A, and studied thebinding constants between GroEL and the molten globule foldingintermediate at various concentrations of ADP and ATP. The results arecompared with titration of GroEL with the nucleotides, ADP, ATP-analogs(ATP-S and AMP-PNP) and ATP, which have shown that bothADP and the ATP analogs are bound to GroEL in a non-cooperativemanner but that ATP shows a cooperative effect. Similarly, the bindingconstant between GroEL and the folding intermediate decreased in acooperative manner with an increase in ATP concentration although itshowed non-cooperative decrease with respect to ADP concentration. Itis shown that the allosteric control of GroEL by the nucleotides isresponsible for the above behavior of GroEL and that the observeddifference between the ATP- and ADP-induced transitions of GroEL isbrought about by a small difference in an allosteric parameter (the ratio ofthe nucleotide affinities of GroEL in the high-affinity and the low-affinitystates), i.e., 4.1 for ATP and 2.6 for ADP.