Aggregation of amyloids in a cellular context: modelling and experiment

2011 ◽  
Vol 438 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran Friedman
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Membranes ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Aggregation Process ◽  
Amyloid Aggregation ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
Context Modelling ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Recent Developments

Amyloid-related diseases are a group of illnesses in which an abnormal accumulation of proteins into fibrillar structures is evident. Results from a wide range of studies, ranging from identification of amyloid-β dimers in the brain to biophysical characterization of the interactions between amyloidogenic peptides and lipid membranes during fibril growth shed light on the initial events which take place during amyloid aggregation. Accounts of fibril disaggregation and formation of globular aggregates due to interactions with lipids or fatty acids further demonstrate the complexity of the aggregation process and the difficulty to treat amyloid-related diseases. There is an inherent difficulty in generalizing from studies of aggregation in vitro, but the involvement of too many cellular components limits the ability to follow amyloid aggregation in a cellular (or extracellular) context. Fortunately, the development of experimental methods to generate stable globular aggregates suggests new means of studying the molecular events associated with amyloid aggregation. Furthermore, simulation studies enable deeper understanding of the experimental results and provide useful predictions that can be tested in the laboratory. Computer simulations can nowadays provide molecular or even atomistic details that are experimentally not available or very difficult to obtain. In the present review, recent developments on modelling and experiments of amyloid aggregation are reviewed, and an integrative account on how isolated interactions (as observed in vitro and in silico) combine during the course of amyloid-related diseases is presented. Finally, it is argued that an integrative approach is necessary to get a better understanding of the protein aggregation process.

scholarly journals Lipid membranes trigger misfolding and self-assembly of amyloid β 42 protein into aggregates

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siddhartha Banerjee ◽  
Mohtadin Hashemi ◽  
Karen Zagorski ◽  
Yuri L. Lyubchenko
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Lipid Membranes ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Test Tube ◽  
Aggregation Process ◽  
Self Assembling ◽  
Nanoscale Aggregates

AbstractThe assembly of polypeptides and proteins into nanoscale aggregates is a phenomenon observed in a vast majority of proteins. Importantly, aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ) proteins is considered as a major cause for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The process depends on various conditions and typical test-tube experiments require high protein concentration that complicates the translation of results obtained in vitro to understanding the aggregation process in vivo. Here we demonstrate that Aβ42 monomers at the membrane bilayer are capable of self-assembling into aggregates at physiologically low concentrations, and the membrane in this aggregation process plays a role of a catalyst. We applied all-atom molecular dynamics to demonstrate that the interaction with the membrane surface dramatically changes the conformation of Aβ42 protein. As a result, the misfolded Aβ42 rapidly assembles into dimers, trimers and tetramers, so the on-surface aggregation is the mechanism by which amyloid oligomers are produced and spread.

scholarly journals Aβ42 fibril formation from predominantly oligomeric samples suggests a link between oligomer heterogeneity and fibril polymorphism

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 190179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Xue ◽  
Joyce Tran ◽  
Hongsu Wang ◽  
Giovanna Park ◽  
Frederick Hsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Green Tea ◽  
Epigallocatechin Gallate ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Lag Time ◽  
Aβ Oligomers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Aβ Aggregation

Amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers play a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Oligomers of different sizes, morphology and structures have been reported in both in vivo and in vitro studies, but there is a general lack of understanding about where to place these oligomers in the overall process of Aβ aggregation and fibrillization. Here, we show that Aβ42 spontaneously forms oligomers with a wide range of sizes in the same sample. These Aβ42 samples contain predominantly oligomers, and they quickly form fibrils upon incubation at 37°C. When fractionated using ultrafiltration filters, the samples enriched with smaller oligomers form fibrils at a faster rate than the samples enriched with larger oligomers, with both a shorter lag time and faster fibril growth rate. This observation is independent of Aβ42 batches and hexafluoroisopropanol treatment. Furthermore, the fibrils formed by the samples enriched with larger oligomers are more readily solubilized by epigallocatechin gallate, a main catechin component of green tea. These results suggest that the fibrils formed by larger oligomers may adopt a different structure from fibrils formed by smaller oligomers, pointing to a link between oligomer heterogeneity and fibril polymorphism.

scholarly journals β-Hairpin mimics containing a piperidine–pyrrolidine scaffold modulate the β-amyloid aggregation process preserving the monomer species

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 1295-1302 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Pellegrino ◽  
N. Tonali ◽  
E. Erba ◽  
J. Kaffy ◽  
M. Taverna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Peptide Aggregation ◽  
Aggregation Process ◽  
Amyloid Aggregation ◽  
Protein Protein Interactions ◽  
Β Amyloid

Acyclic β-hairpins designed on oligomeric and fibril structures of Aβ1–42 disrupt protein–protein interactions mediating amyloid β-peptide aggregation.

scholarly journals Squalamine and Its Derivatives Modulate the Aggregation of Amyloid-β and α-Synuclein and Suppress the Toxicity of Their Oligomers

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Limbocker ◽  
Roxine Staats ◽  
Sean Chia ◽  
Francesco S. Ruggeri ◽  
Benedetta Mannini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecules ◽  
Neuroblastoma Cells ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Human Neuroblastoma Cells ◽  
Human Neuroblastoma ◽  
Parkinson’S Diseases ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Opposing Effects

The aberrant aggregation of proteins is a key molecular event in the development and progression of a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders. We have shown previously that squalamine and trodusquemine, two natural products in the aminosterol class, can modulate the aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and of α-synuclein (αS), which are associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. In this work, we expand our previous analyses to two squalamine derivatives, des-squalamine and α-squalamine, obtaining further insights into the mechanism by which aminosterols modulate Aβ and αS aggregation. We then characterize the ability of these small molecules to alter the physicochemical properties of stabilized oligomeric species in vitro and to suppress the toxicity of these aggregates to varying degrees toward human neuroblastoma cells. We found that, despite the fact that these aminosterols exert opposing effects on Aβ and αS aggregation under the conditions that we tested, the modifications that they induced to the toxicity of oligomers were similar. Our results indicate that the suppression of toxicity is mediated by the displacement of toxic oligomeric species from cellular membranes by the aminosterols. This study, thus, provides evidence that aminosterols could be rationally optimized in drug discovery programs to target oligomer toxicity in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Tumor Reversion: Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition as a Critical Step in Managing the Tumor-Microenvironment Cross-Talk

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (32) ◽  
pp. 4705-4715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariano Bizzarri ◽  
Alessandra Cucina ◽  
Sara Proietti
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Cross Talk ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Pharmacological Intervention ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cancer Types ◽  
Mesenchymal Epithelial Transition

Tumour reversion represents a promising field of investigation. The occurrence of cancer reversion both in vitro and in vivo has been ascertained by an increasing number of reports. The reverting process may be triggered in a wide range of different cancer types by both molecular and physical cues. This process encompasses mandatorily a change in the cell-stroma interactions, leading to profound modification in tissue architecture. Indeed, cancer reversion may be obtained by only resetting the overall burden of biophysical cues acting on the cell-stroma system, thus indicating that conformational changes induced by cell shape and cytoskeleton remodelling trigger downstream the cascade of molecular events required for phenotypic reversion. Ultimately, epigenetic regulation of gene expression (chiefly involving presenilin-1 and translationally controlled tumour protein) and modulation of a few critical biochemical pathways trigger the mesenchymal-epithelial transition, deemed to be a stable cancer reversion. As cancer can be successfully ‘reprogrammed’ by modifying the dynamical cross-talk with its microenvironment thus the cell-stroma interactions must be recognized as targets for pharmacological intervention. Yet, understanding cancer reversion remains challenging and refinement in modelling such processes in vitro as well as in vivo is urgently warranted. This new approach bears huge implications, from both a theoretical and clinical perspective, as it may facilitate the design of a novel anticancer strategy focused on mimicking or activating the tumour reversion pathway.

scholarly journals Pressure effects on lipids and bio-membrane assemblies

IUCrJ ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 470-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Brooks
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Lipid Membranes ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Pressure Effects ◽  
Protein Assemblies ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Structure And Dynamics ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Recent Developments

Membranes are amongst the most important biological structures; they maintain the fundamental integrity of cells, compartmentalize regions within them and play an active role in a wide range of cellular processes. Pressure can play a key role in probing the structure and dynamics of membrane assemblies, and is also critical to the biology and adaptation of deep-sea organisms. This article presents an overview of the effect of pressure on the mesostructure of lipid membranes, bilayer organization and lipid–protein assemblies. It also summarizes recent developments in high-pressure structural instrumentation suitable for experiments on membranes.

An Aβ42 variant that inhibits intra- and extracellular amyloid aggregation and enhances cell viability

2018 ◽  
Vol 475 (19) ◽  
pp. 3087-3103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ofek Oren ◽  
Victor Banerjee ◽  
Ran Taube ◽  
Niv Papo
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Fibrils ◽  
Neuronal Cells ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Neuronal Cell ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Cell Cytotoxicity ◽  
Amyloid Aggregation ◽  
Molar Ratios

Aggregation and accumulation of the 42-residue amyloid β peptide (Aβ42) in the extracellular matrix and within neuronal cells is considered a major cause of neuronal cell cytotoxicity and death in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Therefore, molecules that bind to Aβ42 and prevent its aggregation are therapeutically promising as AD treatment. Here, we show that a non-self-aggregating Aβ42 variant carrying two surface mutations, F19S and L34P (Aβ42DM), inhibits wild-type Aβ42 aggregation and significantly reduces Aβ42-mediated cell cytotoxicity. In addition, Aβ42DM inhibits the uptake and internalization of extracellularly added pre-formed Aβ42 aggregates into cells. This was the case in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells co-expressing Aβ42 and Aβ42DM or following pre-treatment of cells with extracellular soluble forms of the two peptides, even at high Aβ42 to Aβ42DM molar ratios. In cells, Aβ42DM associates with Aβ42, while in vitro, the two soluble recombinant peptides exhibit nano-molar binding affinity. Importantly, Aβ42DM potently suppresses Aβ42 amyloid aggregation in vitro, as demonstrated by thioflavin T fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy for detecting amyloid fibrils. Overall, we present a new approach for inhibiting Aβ42 fibril formation both within and outside cells. Accordingly, Aβ42DM should be evaluated in vivo for potential use as a therapeutic lead for treating AD.

Beta-amyloid oligomers: recent developments

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilmante Borutaite ◽  
Ramune Morkuniene ◽  
Gintaras Valincius
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Neuronal Loss ◽  
Beta Amyloid ◽  
Amyloid Oligomers ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Β Amyloid

AbstractRecent studies point to a critical role of soluble β-amyloid oligomers in the pathogenesis of one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease (AD). Beta-amyloid peptides are cleavage products of a ubiquitously expressed protein, the amyloid precursor protein. Early studies suggested that accumulation of extracellular β-amyloid aggregates are the most toxic species causing synaptic dysfunction and neuronal loss in particular regions of the brain (neurobiological features underlying cognitive decline of the AD patients). In recent years, a shift of pardigm occurred, and now there is accumulating evidence that soluble oligomeric forms of the peptide are the most toxic to neuronal cells. In this review, we discuss recent findings on the toxic effects of amyloid-β oligomers, their physico-chemical properties and the possible pathways of their formation in vitro and in vivo.

scholarly journals Plant dehydrins — Tissue location, structure and function

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Rorat
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Membranes ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Lipid Vesicles ◽  
Structural Type ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Cellular Dehydration ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractDehydrins (DHNs) are part of a large group of highly hydrophilic proteins known as LEA (Late Embryogenesis Abundant). They were originally identified as group II of the LEA proteins. The distinctive feature of all DHNs is a conserved, lysine-rich 15-amino acid domain, EKKGIMDKIKEKLPG, named the K-segment. It is usually present near the C-terminus. Other typical dehydrin features are: a track of Ser residues (the S-segment); a consensus motif, T/VDEYGNP (the Y-segment), located near the N-terminus; and less conserved regions, usually rich in polar amino acids (the Φ-segments). They do not display a well-defined secondary structure. The number and order of the Y-, S-and K-segments define different DHN sub-classes: YnSKn, YnKn, SKn, Kn and KnS. Dehydrins are distributed in a wide range of organisms including the higher plants, algae, yeast and cyanobacteria. They accumulate late in embryogenesis, and in nearly all the vegetative tissues during normal growth conditions and in response to stress leading to cellular dehydration (e.g. drought, low temperature and salinity). DHNs are localized in different cell compartments, such as the cytosol, nucleus, mitochondria, vacuole, and the vicinity of the plasma membrane; however, they are primarily localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus. The precise function of dehydrins has not been established yet, but in vitro experiments revealed that some DHNs (YSKn-type) bind to lipid vesicles that contain acidic phospholipids, and others (KnS) were shown to bind metals and have the ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals [Asghar, R. et al. Protoplasma 177 (1994) 87–94], protect lipid membranes against peroxidation or display cryoprotective activity towards freezing-sensitive enzymes. The SKn-and K-type seem to be directly involved in cold acclimation processes. The main question arising from the in vitro findings is whether each DHN structural type could possess a specific function and tissue distribution. Much recent in vitro data clearly indicates that dehydrins belonging to different subclasses exhibit distinct functions.

Aβ42 oligomers, but not fibrils, simultaneously bind to and cause damage to ganglioside-containing lipid membranes

2011 ◽  
Vol 439 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Williams ◽  
Benjamin R. G. Johnson ◽  
Brigita Urbanc ◽  
A. Toby A. Jenkins ◽  
Simon D. A. Connell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Membranes ◽  
Senile Plaques ◽  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
Membrane Disruption ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Aβ Amyloid

Aβ (amyloid-β peptide) assembles to form amyloid fibres that accumulate in senile plaques associated with AD (Alzheimer's disease). The major constituent, a 42-residue Aβ, has the propensity to assemble and form soluble and potentially cytotoxic oligomers, as well as ordered stable amyloid fibres. It is widely believed that the cytotoxicity is a result of the formation of transient soluble oligomers. This observed toxicity may be associated with the ability of oligomers to associate with and cause permeation of lipid membranes. In the present study, we have investigated the ability of oligomeric and fibrillar Aβ42 to simultaneously associate with and affect the integrity of biomimetic membranes in vitro. Surface plasmon field-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy reveals that the binding of the freshly dissolved oligomeric 42-residue peptide binds with a two-step association with the lipid bilayer, and causes disruption of the membrane resulting in leakage from vesicles. In contrast, fibrils bind with a 2-fold reduced avidity, and their addition results in approximately 2-fold less fluorophore leakage compared with oligomeric Aβ. Binding of the oligomers may be, in part, mediated by the GM1 ganglioside receptors as there is a 1.8-fold increase in oligomeric Aβ binding and a 2-fold increase in permeation compared with when GM1 is not present. Atomic force microscopy reveals the formation of defects and holes in response to oligomeric Aβ, but not preformed fibrillar Aβ. The results of the present study indicate that significant membrane disruption arises from association of low-molecular-mass Aβ and this may be mediated by mechanical damage to the membranes by Aβ aggregation. This membrane disruption may play a key role in the mechanism of Aβ-related cell toxicity in AD.

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