scholarly journals Chiral Interface of Amyloid Beta (Aβ): Relevance to Protein Aging, Aggregation and Neurodegeneration

Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor V. Dyakin ◽  
Thomas M. Wisniewski ◽  
Abel Lajtha
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Beta ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Equilibrium Phase ◽  
Chiral Discrimination ◽  
Enzymatic Reactions ◽  
Aβ Peptide ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Functional Laterality ◽  
Protein Aging ◽  
Induced Aggregation

Biochirality is the subject of distinct branches of science, including biophysics, biochemistry, the stereochemistry of protein folding, neuroscience, brain functional laterality and bioinformatics. At the protein level, biochirality is closely associated with various post-translational modifications (PTMs) accompanied by the non-equilibrium phase transitions (PhTs NE). PTMs NE support the dynamic balance of the prevalent chirality of enzymes and their substrates. The stereoselective nature of most biochemical reactions is evident in the enzymatic (Enz) and spontaneous (Sp) PTMs (PTMs Enz and PTMs Sp) of proteins. Protein chirality, which embraces biophysics and biochemistry, is a subject of this review. In this broad field, we focus attention to the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide, known for its essential cellular functions and associations with neuropathology. The widely discussed amyloid cascade hypothesis (ACH) of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) states that disease pathogenesis is initiated by the oligomerization and subsequent aggregation of the Aβ peptide into plaques. The racemization-induced aggregation of protein and RNA have been extensively studied in the search for the contribution of spontaneous stochastic stereo-specific mechanisms that are common for both kinds of biomolecules. The failure of numerous Aβ drug-targeting therapies requires the reconsolidation of the ACH with the concept of PTMs Sp. The progress in methods of chiral discrimination can help overcome previous limitations in the understanding of AD pathogenesis. The primary target of attention becomes the network of stereospecific PTMs that affect the aggregation of many pathogenic agents, including Aβ. Extensive recent experimental results describe the truncated, isomerized and racemized forms of Aβ and the interplay between enzymatic and PTMs Sp. Currently, accumulated data suggest that non-enzymatic PTMs Sp occur in parallel to an existing metabolic network of enzymatic pathways, meaning that the presence and activity of enzymes does not prevent non-enzymatic reactions from occurring. PTMs Sp impact the functions of many proteins and peptides, including Aβ. This is in logical agreement with the silently accepted racemization hypothesis of protein aggregation (RHPA). Therefore, the ACH of AD should be complemented by the concept of PTMs Sp and RHPA.

Electrochemistry of Alzheimer Disease Amyloid Beta Peptides

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (33) ◽  
pp. 4066-4083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana-Maria Chiorcea-Paquim ◽  
Teodor Adrian Enache ◽  
Ana Maria Oliveira-Brett
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amyloid Beta ◽  
Biological Fluids ◽  
Electron Transfer Reaction ◽  
Random Coil ◽  
Sequence Length ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Aβ Peptide ◽  
Aβ Peptides ◽  
Α Helix

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a widespread form of dementia that is estimated to affect 44.4 million people worldwide. AD pathology is closely related to the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in fibrils and plagues, the small oligomeric intermediate species formed during the Aβ peptides aggregation presenting the highest neurotoxicity. This review discusses the recent advances on the Aβ peptides electrochemical characterization. The Aβ peptides oxidation at a glassy carbon electrode occurs in one or two steps, depending on the amino acid sequence, length and content. The first electron transfer reaction corresponds to the tyrosine Tyr10 amino acid residue oxidation, and the second to all three histidine (His6, His13 and His14) and one methionine (Met35) amino acid residues. The Aβ peptides aggregation and amyloid fibril formation are electrochemically detected via the electroactive amino acids oxidation peak currents decrease that occurs in a time dependent manner. The Aβ peptides redox behaviour is correlated with changes in the adsorption morphology from initially random coiled structures, corresponding to the Aβ peptide monomers in random coil or in α-helix conformations, to aggregates, protofibrils and two types of fibrils, corresponding to the Aβ peptides in a β-sheet configuration, observed by atomic force microscopy. Electrochemical studies of Aβ peptides aggregation, mediated by the interaction with metal ions, particularly zinc, copper and iron, and different methodologies concerning the detection of Aβ peptide biomarkers of AD in biological fluids, using electrochemical biosensors, are also discussed.

scholarly journals Ubiquitin-Like Modifiers: Emerging Regulators of Protozoan Parasites

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1403
Author(s):  
Maryia Karpiyevich ◽  
Katerina Artavanis-Tsakonas
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Parasitic Protozoa ◽  
Distinctive Features ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Enzymatic Machinery

Post-translational protein regulation allows for fine-tuning of cellular functions and involves a wide range of modifications, including ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modifiers (Ubls). The dynamic balance of Ubl conjugation and removal shapes the fates of target substrates, in turn modulating various cellular processes. The mechanistic aspects of Ubl pathways and their biological roles have been largely established in yeast, plants, and mammalian cells. However, these modifiers may be utilised differently in highly specialised and divergent organisms, such as parasitic protozoa. In this review, we explore how these parasites employ Ubls, in particular SUMO, NEDD8, ATG8, ATG12, URM1, and UFM1, to regulate their unconventional cellular physiology. We discuss emerging data that provide evidence of Ubl-mediated regulation of unique parasite-specific processes, as well as the distinctive features of Ubl pathways in parasitic protozoa. We also highlight the potential to leverage these essential regulators and their cognate enzymatic machinery for development of therapeutics to protect against the diseases caused by protozoan parasites.

Engineered non-fluorescent Affibody molecules facilitate studies of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide in monomeric form: Low pH was found to reduce Aβ/Cu(II) binding affinity

2013 ◽  
Vol 120 ◽  
pp. 18-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Lindgren ◽  
Patrik Segerfeldt ◽  
Sabrina B. Sholts ◽  
Astrid Gräslund ◽  
Amelie Eriksson Karlström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Affinity ◽  
Amyloid Beta ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Aβ Peptide ◽  
Monomeric Form ◽  
Affibody Molecules

On the propagation of the OH radical produced by Cu-amyloid beta peptide model complexes. Insight from molecular modelling

Metallomics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1765-1780
Author(s):  
Federica Arrigoni ◽  
Fabio Rizza ◽  
Renata Tisi ◽  
Luca De Gioia ◽  
Giuseppe Zampella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Beta ◽  
Molecular Modelling ◽  
Amyloid Beta Peptide ◽  
Side Chains ◽  
Oh Radical ◽  
Ros Production ◽  
Aβ Peptide ◽  
Model Complexes ◽  
Beta Peptide ◽  
Amyloid Aβ

Alzheimer's disease involves an anomalous interaction of copper with the amyloid Aβ peptide, inducing ROS production. The propagation of the OH radical toward Aβ side chains is investigated by molecular modelling.

scholarly journals RhoGDIα-dependent balance between RhoA and RhoC is a key regulator of cancer cell tumorigenesis

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 3263-3275 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. T. Giang Ho ◽  
Audrey Stultiens ◽  
Johanne Dubail ◽  
Charles M. Lapière ◽  
Betty V. Nusgens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Interfering Rna

RhoGTPases are key signaling molecules regulating main cellular functions such as migration, proliferation, survival, and gene expression through interactions with various effectors. Within the RhoA-related subclass, RhoA and RhoC contribute to several steps of tumor growth, and the regulation of their expression affects cancer progression. Our aim is to investigate their respective contributions to the acquisition of an invasive phenotype by using models of reduced or forced expression. The silencing of RhoC, but not of RhoA, increased the expression of genes encoding tumor suppressors, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug–activated gene 1 (NAG-1), and decreased migration and the anchorage-independent growth in vitro. In vivo, RhoC small interfering RNA (siRhoC) impaired tumor growth. Of interest, the simultaneous knockdown of RhoC and NAG-1 repressed most of the siRhoC-related effects, demonstrating the central role of NAG-1. In addition of being induced by RhoC silencing, NAG-1 was also largely up-regulated in cells overexpressing RhoA. The silencing of RhoGDP dissociation inhibitor α (RhoGDIα) and the overexpression of a RhoA mutant unable to bind RhoGDIα suggested that the effect of RhoC silencing is indirect and results from the up-regulation of the RhoA level through competition for RhoGDIα. This study demonstrates the dynamic balance inside the RhoGTPase network and illustrates its biological relevance in cancer progression.

scholarly journals The nickel-chelator dimethylglyoxime inhibits human amyloid beta peptide in vitro aggregation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane L. Benoit ◽  
Robert J. Maier
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Amyloid Beta ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Titration Calorimetry ◽  
Aβ Peptides ◽  
Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Induced Aggregation

AbstractOne of the hallmarks of the most common neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is the extracellular deposition and aggregation of Amyloid Beta (Aβ)-peptides in the brain. Previous studies have shown that select metal ions, most specifically copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) ions, have a synergistic effect on the aggregation of Aβ-peptides. In the present study, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine the metal content of a commercial recombinant human Aβ40 peptide. Cu and Zn were among the metals detected; unexpectedly, nickel (Ni) was one of the most abundant elements. Using a fluorescence-based assay, we found that Aβ40 peptide in vitro aggregation was enhanced by addition of Zn2+ and Ni2+, and Ni2+-induced aggregation was facilitated by acidic conditions. Nickel binding to Aβ40 peptide was confirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry. Addition of the Ni-specific chelator dimethylglyoxime (DMG) inhibited Aβ40 aggregation in absence of added metal, as well as in presence of Cu2+ and Ni2+, but not in presence of Zn2+. Finally, mass spectrometry analysis revealed that DMG can coordinate Cu or Ni, but not Fe, Se or Zn. Taken together, our results indicate that Ni2+ ions enhance, whereas nickel chelation inhibits, Aβ peptide in vitro aggregation. Hence, DMG-mediated Ni-chelation constitutes a promising approach towards inhibiting or slowing down Aβ40 aggregation.

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