Amyloidogenic metal-binding proteins: new investigative pathways

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1299-1303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Davies ◽  
Sarah N. Fontaine ◽  
Dima Moualla ◽  
Xiaoyan Wang ◽  
Josephine A. Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Precursor Protein ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Prion Protein ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Normal Function ◽  
Amyloidogenic Proteins ◽  
Logical Reason ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
Β Amyloid

Neurodegenerative diseases remain perplexing and problematic for modern research. Those associated with amyloidogenic proteins have often been lumped together simply because those proteins aggregate. However, research has identified a more logical reason to group some of these diseases together. The associated proteins not only aggregate, but also bind copper. The APP (amyloid precursor protein) binds copper in an N-terminal region. Binding of copper has been suggested to influence generation of β-amyloid from the protein. PrP (prion protein) binds copper, and this appears to be necessary for its normal function and might also reduce its probability of conversion into an infectious prion. α-Synuclein, a protein associated with Parkinson's disease, also binds copper, but, in this case, it potentially increases the rate at which the protein aggregates. The similarities between these proteins, in terms of metal binding, has allowed us to investigate them using similar approaches. In the present review, we discuss some of these approaches.

scholarly journals Implications of Metal Binding and Asparagine Deamidation for Amyloid Formation

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 2449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Sadakane ◽  
Masahiro Kawahara
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Prion Diseases ◽  
Amyloid Formation ◽  
Amyloidogenic Proteins ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Asparagine Deamidation ◽  
Β Amyloid

Increasing evidence suggests that amyloid formation, i.e., self-assembly of proteins and the resulting conformational changes, is linked with the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, prion diseases, and Lewy body diseases. Among the factors that accelerate or inhibit oligomerization, we focus here on two non-genetic and common characteristics of many amyloidogenic proteins: metal binding and asparagine deamidation. Both reflect the aging process and occur in most amyloidogenic proteins. All of the amyloidogenic proteins, such as Alzheimer’s β-amyloid protein, prion protein, and α-synuclein, are metal-binding proteins and are involved in the regulation of metal homeostasis. It is widely accepted that these proteins are susceptible to non-enzymatic posttranslational modifications, and many asparagine residues of these proteins are deamidated. Moreover, these two factors can combine because asparagine residues can bind metals. We review the current understanding of these two common properties and their implications in the pathogenesis of these neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Amyloids: Regulators of Metal Homeostasis in the Synapse

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Kawahara ◽  
Midori Kato-Negishi ◽  
Ken-ichiro Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Lewy Body Disease ◽  
Metal Homeostasis ◽  
Amyloidogenic Proteins ◽  
Neurodegenerative Process ◽  
Amyloid Oligomers ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
Regulatory Functions

Conformational changes in amyloidogenic proteins, such as β-amyloid protein, prion proteins, and α-synuclein, play a critical role in the pathogenesis of numerous neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, prion disease, and Lewy body disease. The disease-associated proteins possess several common characteristics, including the ability to form amyloid oligomers with β-pleated sheet structure, as well as cytotoxicity, although they differ in amino acid sequence. Interestingly, these amyloidogenic proteins all possess the ability to bind trace metals, can regulate metal homeostasis, and are co-localized at the synapse, where metals are abundantly present. In this review, we discuss the physiological roles of these amyloidogenic proteins in metal homeostasis, and we propose hypothetical models of their pathogenetic role in the neurodegenerative process as the loss of normal metal regulatory functions of amyloidogenic proteins. Notably, these amyloidogenic proteins have the capacity to form Ca2+-permeable pores in membranes, suggestive of a toxic gain of function. Therefore, we focus on their potential role in the disruption of Ca2+ homeostasis in amyloid-associated neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Transmissible Endosomal Intoxication: A Balance between Exosomes and Lysosomes at the Basis of Intercellular Amyloid Propagation

Biomedicines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
Anaïs Bécot ◽  
Charlotte Volgers ◽  
Guillaume van Niel
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Precursor Protein ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Multivesicular Body ◽  
Precursor Protein ◽  
Aβ Peptides ◽  
Amyloid Aβ ◽  
Β Amyloid ◽  
Novel Concept ◽  
The Brain

In Alzheimer′s disease (AD), endolysosomal dysfunctions are amongst the earliest cellular features to appear. Each organelle of the endolysosomal system, from the multivesicular body (MVB) to the lysosome, contributes to the homeostasis of amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleavage products including β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides. Hence, this review will attempt to disentangle how changes in the endolysosomal system cumulate to the generation of toxic amyloid species and hamper their degradation. We highlight that the formation of MVBs and the generation of amyloid species are closely linked and describe how the molecular machineries acting at MVBs determine the generation and sorting of APP cleavage products towards their degradation or release in association with exosomes. In particular, we will focus on AD-related distortions of the endolysomal system that divert it from its degradative function to favour the release of exosomes and associated amyloid species. We propose here that such an imbalance transposed at the brain scale poses a novel concept of transmissible endosomal intoxication (TEI). This TEI would initiate a self-perpetuating transmission of endosomal dysfunction between cells that would support the propagation of amyloid species in neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial fission is a critical modulator of mutant APP-induced neural toxicity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Y. Shields ◽  
Huihui Li ◽  
Kevin Nguyen ◽  
Hwajin Kim ◽  
Zak Doric ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Precursor Protein ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Mitochondrial Fission ◽  
Precursor Protein ◽  
Cultured Neurons ◽  
Potential Mechanism ◽  
Normal Functions ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
Neural Toxicity

ABSTRACTAlterations in mitochondrial fission may contribute to the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, we understand very little about the normal functions of fission, or how fission disruption may interact with AD-associated proteins to modulate pathogenesis. Here we show that loss of the central mitochondrial fission protein dynamin-related 1 (Drp1) in CA1 and other forebrain neurons markedly worsens the learning and memory of mice expressing mutant human amyloid-precursor protein (hAPP) in neurons. In cultured neurons, Drp1KO and hAPP converge to produce mitochondrial Ca2+ (mitoCa2+) overload, despite decreasing mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs) and cytosolic Ca2+. This mitoCa2+ overload occurs independently of ATP levels. These findings reveal a potential mechanism by which mitochondrial fission protects against hAPP-driven pathology.

scholarly journals Natural and Synthetic Derivatives of Hydroxycinnamic Acid Modulating the Pathological Transformation of Amyloidogenic Proteins

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (20) ◽  
pp. 4647
Author(s):  
Vladimir I. Muronetz ◽  
Kseniya Barinova ◽  
Sofia Kudryavtseva ◽  
Maria Medvedeva ◽  
Aleksandra Melnikova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Modeling ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Prion Protein ◽  
Hydroxycinnamic Acid ◽  
Benzoic Acid Derivatives ◽  
Amyloidogenic Proteins ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Synthetic Derivatives ◽  
Derivatives Of ◽  
Natural And Synthetic

This review presents the main properties of hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA) derivatives and their potential application as agents for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. It is partially focused on the successful use of these compounds as inhibitors of amyloidogenic transformation of proteins. Firstly, the prerequisites for the emergence of interest in HCA derivatives, including natural compounds, are described. A separate section is devoted to synthesis and properties of HCA derivatives. Then, the results of molecular modeling of HCA derivatives with prion protein as well as with α-synuclein fibrils are summarized, followed by detailed analysis of the experiments on the effect of natural and synthetic HCA derivatives, as well as structurally similar phenylacetic and benzoic acid derivatives, on the pathological transformation of prion protein and α-synuclein. The ability of HCA derivatives to prevent amyloid transformation of some amyloidogenic proteins, and their presence not only in food products but also as natural metabolites in human blood and tissues, makes them promising for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases of amyloid nature.

Metallic prions

2004 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 193-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R Brown
Keyword(s):  
Prion Protein ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Normal Function ◽  
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Normal Brain ◽  
Copper Binding ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathies ◽  
The Brain

Prion diseases, also referred to as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, are characterized by the deposition of an abnormal isoform of the prion protein in the brain. However, this aggregated, fibrillar, amyloid protein, termed PrPSc, is an altered conformer of a normal brain glycoprotein, PrPc. Understanding the nature of the normal cellular isoform of the prion protein is considered essential to understanding the conversion process that generates PrPSc. To this end much work has focused on elucidation of the normal function and activity of PrPc. Substantial evidence supports the notion that PrPc is a copper-binding protein. In conversion to the abnormal isoform, this Cu-binding activity is lost. Instead, there are some suggestions that the protein might bind other metals such as Mn or Zn. PrPc functions currently under investigation include the possibility that the protein is involved in signal transduction, cell adhesion, Cu transport and resistance to oxidative stress. Of these possibilities, only a role in Cu transport and its action as an antioxidant take into consideration PrPc's Cu-binding capacity. There are also more published data supporting these two functions. There is strong evidence that during the course of prion disease, there is a loss of function of the prion protein. This manifests as a change in metal balance in the brain and other organs and substantial oxidative damage throughout the brain. Thus prions and metals have become tightly linked in the quest to understand the nature of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

RNA-Binding Proteins and Translation in Neurodegenerative Disease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent E. Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Fused In Sarcoma ◽  
Specific Mrnas ◽  
Ataxia Syndrome ◽  
Research Frontiers

Both RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and translation are increasingly implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases, but their specific roles in promoting disease are not yet fully defined. This chapter critically evaluates the evidence that altered translation of specific mRNAs mediated by RNA-binding proteins plays an important role in driving specific neurodegenerative diseases. First, diseases are discussed where a causal role for RNA-binding proteins in disease appears solid, but whether this involves altered translation is less clear. The main foci here are TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma (FUS) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Subsequently, diseases are presented where altered translation is believed to contribute, but involvement of RNA-binding proteins is less clear. These include Huntington’s and other repeat expansion disorders such as fragile X tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), where repeat-induced non-AUG-initiated (RAN) translation is a focus. The potential contribution of both canonical and non-canonical RBPs to altered translation in Parkinson’s disease is discussed. The chapter closes by proposing key research frontiers for the field to explore and outlining methodological advances that could help to address them.

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