scholarly journals The Structural Basis for SARM1 Inhibition, and Activation Under Energetic Stress

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Sporny ◽  
Julia Guez-Haddad ◽  
Tami Khazma ◽  
Avraham Yaron ◽  
Moshe Dessau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Catalytic Site ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Allosteric Site ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Peripheral Ring ◽  
Inhibitory Site ◽  
Cellular Metabolite ◽  
Tir Domains

AbstractSARM1 is a central executor of axonal degeneration (1). Mechanistically, SARM1 contains NADase activity, which, in response to nerve injury, depletes the key cellular metabolite, NAD+ (2–5). Interestingly, SARM1 knockout mouse models do not present any apparent physiological impairment. Yet, the lack of SARM1 protects against various neuropathies (6, 7), thereby highlighting SARM1 as a likely safe and effective drug target (8). However, the absence of a SARM1 structure, in its active or inhibited form, makes it impossible to understand the molecular basis of SARM1 inhibition, and its activation under stress conditions. In this study we present two cryo-EM maps of SARM1 (at 2.6 Å and 2.9 Å resolution). We show that the inhibited SARM1 homo-octamer assumes a packed conformation with well-ordered inner and peripheral rings. Here the catalytic TIR domains are held apart from each other and are unable to form dimers, which is a prerequisite for NADase activity. More importantly, after screening several cellular metabolites we discovered that the inactive conformation is stabilized by the binding of SARM1’s own substrate: NAD+. The NAD+ inhibitory allosteric site is located away from the NAD+ catalytic site of the TIR domain. Site-directed mutagenesis of the allosteric site leads to constitutive active SARM1. Based on our data we propose that a reduction of cellular NAD+ concentrations (an early indication of disease-associated and age-related neurodegeneration (9)) disassemble SARM1’s peripheral ring, which allows NADase activity. This leads to an energetic catastrophe and eventually cell death. The discovery of the allosteric inhibitory site opens the door for the development of effective drugs that will prevent SARM1 activation, rather than compete for binding to the NADase catalytic site.Brief descriptionIt is not known how NAD+ depletion brings about neurodegeneration. Here, we show that the intrinsic NADase activity of SARM1 is allosterically inhibited by physiological concentrations of NAD+. NAD+ stabilizes a compact, auto-inhibited conformation of the SARM1 octamer. Once NAD+ levels are depleted, the allosteric inhibition is released, enabling SARM1’s NADase activity, which eventually leads to energetic catastrophe and cell death.

scholarly journals Structural basis for SARM1 inhibition and activation under energetic stress

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Sporny ◽  
Julia Guez-Haddad ◽  
Tami Khazma ◽  
Avraham Yaron ◽  
Moshe Dessau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Axonal Degeneration ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Allosteric Site ◽  
Inactive Conformation ◽  
Catalytic Domains ◽  
Energetic Stress ◽  
Catalytic Sites ◽  
Peripheral Ring ◽  
Cellular Metabolite

SARM1, an executor of axonal degeneration, displays NADase activity that depletes the key cellular metabolite, NAD+, in response to nerve injury. The basis of SARM1 inhibition and its activation under stress conditions are still unknown. Here, we present cryo-EM maps of SARM1 at 2.9 and 2.7 Å resolutions. These indicate that SARM1 homo-octamer avoids premature activation by assuming a packed conformation, with ordered inner and peripheral rings, that prevents dimerization and activation of the catalytic domains. This inactive conformation is stabilized by binding of SARM1’s own substrate NAD+ in an allosteric location, away from the catalytic sites. This model was validated by mutagenesis of the allosteric site, which led to constitutively active SARM1. We propose that the reduction of cellular NAD+ concentration contributes to the disassembly of SARM1's peripheral ring, which allows formation of active NADase domain dimers, thereby further depleting NAD+ to cause an energetic catastrophe and cell death.

scholarly journals Structural basis for complement factor H–linked age-related macular degeneration

2007 ◽  
Vol 204 (10) ◽  
pp. 2277-2283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverly E. Prosser ◽  
Steven Johnson ◽  
Pietro Roversi ◽  
Andrew P. Herbert ◽  
Bärbel S. Blaum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Factor H ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Complement Factor ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Complement Regulator ◽  
Polymorphic Residue

Nearly 50 million people worldwide suffer from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which causes severe loss of central vision. A single-nucleotide polymorphism in the gene for the complement regulator factor H (FH), which causes a Tyr-to-His substitution at position 402, is linked to ∼50% of attributable risks for AMD. We present the crystal structure of the region of FH containing the polymorphic amino acid His402 in complex with an analogue of the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) that localize the complement regulator on the cell surface. The structure demonstrates direct coordination of ligand by the disease-associated polymorphic residue, providing a molecular explanation of the genetic observation. This glycan-binding site occupies the center of an extended interaction groove on the regulator's surface, implying multivalent binding of sulfated GAGs. This finding is confirmed by structure-based site-directed mutagenesis, nuclear magnetic resonance–monitored binding experiments performed for both H402 and Y402 variants with this and another model GAG, and analysis of an extended GAG–FH complex.

Oxidative Stress, Ocular Disease and Diabetes Retinopathy

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (40) ◽  
pp. 4726-4741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orathai Tangvarasittichai ◽  
Surapon Tangvarasittichai
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Protein Modification ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Corneal Dystrophy ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Ocular Diseases ◽  
Retinal Light Damage ◽  
Age Related

Background: Oxidative stress is caused by free radicals or oxidant productions, including lipid peroxidation, protein modification, DNA damage and apoptosis or cell death and results in cellular degeneration and neurodegeneration from damage to macromolecules. Results: Accumulation of the DNA damage (8HOdG) products and the end products of LPO (including aldehyde, diene, triene conjugates and Schiff’s bases) were noted in the research studies. Significantly higher levels of these products in comparison with the controls were observed. Oxidative stress induced changes to ocular cells and tissues. Typical changes include ECM accumulation, cell dysfunction, cell death, advanced senescence, disarrangement or rearrangement of the cytoskeleton and released inflammatory cytokines. It is involved in ocular diseases, including keratoconus, Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy, and granular corneal dystrophy type 2, cataract, age-related macular degeneration, primary open-angle glaucoma, retinal light damage, and retinopathy of prematurity. These ocular diseases are the cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Conclusions: Oxidative stress, inflammation and autophagy are implicated in biochemical and morphological changes in these ocular tissues. The development of therapy is a major target for the management care of these ocular diseases.

scholarly journals Structural basis of the stereoselective formation of the spirooxindole ring in the biosynthesis of citrinadins

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiwen Liu ◽  
Fanglong Zhao ◽  
Boyang Zhao ◽  
Jie Yang ◽  
Joseph Ferrara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Organic Synthesis ◽  
Indole Alkaloids ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Computational Studies ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Evolutionary Branch ◽  
Catalytic Mechanisms

AbstractPrenylated indole alkaloids featuring spirooxindole rings possess a 3R or 3S carbon stereocenter, which determines the bioactivities of these compounds. Despite the stereoselective advantages of spirooxindole biosynthesis compared with those of organic synthesis, the biocatalytic mechanism for controlling the 3R or 3S-spirooxindole formation has been elusive. Here, we report an oxygenase/semipinacolase CtdE that specifies the 3S-spirooxindole construction in the biosynthesis of 21R-citrinadin A. High-resolution X-ray crystal structures of CtdE with the substrate and cofactor, together with site-directed mutagenesis and computational studies, illustrate the catalytic mechanisms for the possible β-face epoxidation followed by a regioselective collapse of the epoxide intermediate, which triggers semipinacol rearrangement to form the 3S-spirooxindole. Comparing CtdE with PhqK, which catalyzes the formation of the 3R-spirooxindole, we reveal an evolutionary branch of CtdE in specific 3S spirocyclization. Our study provides deeper insights into the stereoselective catalytic machinery, which is important for the biocatalysis design to synthesize spirooxindole pharmaceuticals.

scholarly journals Age influences susceptibility of brain capillary endothelial cells to La Crosse virus infection and cell death

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Basu ◽  
Vinod Nair ◽  
Clayton W. Winkler ◽  
Tyson A. Woods ◽  
Iain D. C. Fraser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
La Crosse Virus ◽  
Brain Capillary ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Capillary Endothelial Cells ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Background A key factor in the development of viral encephalitis is a virus crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We have previously shown that age-related susceptibility of mice to the La Crosse virus (LACV), the leading cause of pediatric arbovirus encephalitis in the USA, was associated with the ability of the virus to cross the BBB. LACV infection in weanling mice (aged around 3 weeks) results in vascular leakage in the olfactory bulb/tract (OB/OT) region of the brain, which is not observed in adult mice aged > 6–8 weeks. Thus, we studied age-specific differences in the response of brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) to LACV infection. Methods To examine mechanisms of LACV-induced BBB breakdown and infection of the CNS, we analyzed BCECs directly isolated from weanling and adult mice as well as established a model where these cells were infected in vitro and cultured for a short period to determine susceptibility to virus infection and cell death. Additionally, we utilized correlative light electron microscopy (CLEM) to examine whether changes in cell morphology and function were also observed in BCECs in vivo. Results BCECs from weanling, but not adult mice, had detectable infection after several days in culture when taken ex vivo from infected mice suggesting that these cells could be infected in vitro. Further analysis of BCECs from uninfected mice, infected in vitro, showed that weanling BCECs were more susceptible to virus infection than adult BCECs, with higher levels of infected cells, released virus as well as cytopathic effects (CPE) and cell death. Although direct LACV infection is not detected in the weanling BCECs, CLEM analysis of brain tissue from weanling mice indicated that LACV infection induced significant cerebrovascular damage which allowed virus-sized particles to enter the brain parenchyma. Conclusions These findings indicate that BCECs isolated from adult and weanling mice have differential viral load, infectivity, and susceptibility to LACV. These age-related differences in susceptibility may strongly influence LACV-induced BBB leakage and neurovascular damage allowing virus invasion of the CNS and the development of neurological disease.

scholarly journals Implication of ferroptosis in aging

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Mazhar ◽  
Ahmad Ud Din ◽  
Hamid Ali ◽  
Guoqiang Yang ◽  
Wei Ren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Accelerated Aging ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Toxic Chemicals ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Regulated Cell Death ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Conventional Cell

AbstractLife is indeed continuously going through the irreversible and inevitable process of aging. The rate of aging process depends on various factors and varies individually. These factors include various environmental stimuli including exposure to toxic chemicals, psychological stress whereas suffering with various illnesses specially the chronic diseases serve as endogenous triggers. The basic underlying mechanism for all kinds of stresses is now known to be manifested as production of excessive ROS, exhaustion of ROS neutralizing antioxidant enzymes and proteins leading to imbalance in oxidation and antioxidant processes with subsequent oxidative stress induced inflammation affecting the cells, tissues, organs and the whole body. All these factors lead to conventional cell death either through necrosis, apoptosis, or autophagy. Currently, a newly identified mechanism of iron dependent regulated cell death called ferroptosis, is of special interest for its implication in pathogenesis of various diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, cancers, and various other age-related disorders (ARD). In ferroptosis, the cell death occur neither by conventional apoptosis, necrosis nor by autophagy, rather dysregulated iron in the cell mediates excessive lipid peroxidation of accumulated lethal lipids. It is not surprising to assume its role in aging as previous research have identified some solid cues on the subject. In this review, we will highlight the factual evidences to support the possible role and implication of ferroptosis in aging in order to declare the need to identify and explore the interventions to prevent excessive ferroptosis leading to accelerated aging and associated liabilities of aging.

scholarly journals Structural basis for the functional properties of the P2X7 receptor for extracellular ATP

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin-Hua Jiang ◽  
Emily A. Caseley ◽  
Steve P. Muench ◽  
Sébastien Roger
Keyword(s):  
Functional Properties ◽  
P2x7 Receptor ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
P2x Receptor ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Structure Characteristic ◽  
Purinergic Signalling ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Important Mediator ◽  
Receptor Family

AbstractThe P2X7 receptor, originally known as the P2Z receptor due to its distinctive functional properties, has a structure characteristic of the ATP-gated ion channel P2X receptor family. The P2X7 receptor is an important mediator of ATP-induced purinergic signalling and is involved the pathogenesis of numerous conditions as well as in the regulation of diverse physiological functions. Functional characterisations, in conjunction with site-directed mutagenesis, molecular modelling, and, recently, structural determination, have provided significant insights into the structure–function relationships of the P2X7 receptor. This review discusses the current understanding of the structural basis for the functional properties of the P2X7 receptor.

scholarly journals Structural basis for distinct inflammasome complex assembly by human NLRP1 and CARD8

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Gong ◽  
Kim Robinson ◽  
Chenrui Xu ◽  
Phuong Thao Huynh ◽  
Kelvin Han Chung Chong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Inner Core ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Cultured Human Cells ◽  
Structural Insight ◽  
Sensor Proteins ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractNod-like receptor (NLR) proteins activate pyroptotic cell death and IL-1 driven inflammation by assembling and activating the inflammasome complex. Closely related sensor proteins NLRP1 and CARD8 undergo unique auto-proteolysis-dependent activation and are implicated in auto-inflammatory diseases; however, their mechanisms of activation are not understood. Here we report the structural basis of how the activating domains (FIINDUPA-CARD) of NLRP1 and CARD8 self-oligomerize to assemble distinct inflammasome complexes. Recombinant FIINDUPA-CARD of NLRP1 forms a two-layered filament, with an inner core of oligomerized CARD surrounded by an outer ring of FIINDUPA. Biochemically, self-assembled NLRP1-CARD filaments are sufficient to drive ASC speck formation in cultured human cells—a process that is greatly enhanced by NLRP1-FIINDUPA which forms oligomers in vitro. The cryo-EM structures of NLRP1-CARD and CARD8-CARD filaments, solved here at 3.7 Å, uncover unique structural features that enable NLRP1 and CARD8 to discriminate between ASC and pro-caspase-1. In summary, our findings provide structural insight into the mechanisms of activation for human NLRP1 and CARD8 and reveal how highly specific signaling can be achieved by heterotypic CARD interactions within the inflammasome complexes.

Lipofuscin causes atypical necroptosis through lysosomal membrane permeabilization

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (47) ◽  
pp. e2100122118
Author(s):  
Chendong Pan ◽  
Kalpita Banerjee ◽  
Guillermo L. Lehmann ◽  
Dena Almeida ◽  
Katherine A. Hajjar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Physicochemical Characteristics ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Toxic Waste ◽  
Pharmacological Intervention ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Human Disorders ◽  
Lipofuscin Granules

Lipofuscin granules enclose mixtures of cross-linked proteins and lipids in proportions that depend on the tissue analyzed. Retinal lipofuscin is unique in that it contains mostly lipids with very little proteins. However, retinal lipofuscin also presents biological and physicochemical characteristics indistinguishable from conventional granules, including indigestibility, tendency to cause lysosome swelling that results in rupture or defective functions, and ability to trigger NLRP3 inflammation, a symptom of low-level disruption of lysosomes. In addition, like conventional lipofuscins, it appears as an autofluorescent pigment, considered toxic waste, and a biomarker of aging. Ocular lipofuscin accumulates in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), whereby it interferes with the support of the neuroretina. RPE cell death is the primary cause of blindness in the most prevalent incurable genetic and age-related human disorders, Stargardt disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), respectively. Although retinal lipofuscin is directly linked to the cell death of the RPE in Stargardt, the extent to which it contributes to AMD is a matter of debate. Nonetheless, the number of AMD clinical trials that target lipofuscin formation speaks for the potential relevance for AMD as well. Here, we show that retinal lipofuscin triggers an atypical necroptotic cascade, amenable to pharmacological intervention. This pathway is distinct from canonic necroptosis and is instead dependent on the destabilization of lysosomes. We also provide evidence that necroptosis is activated in aged human retinas with AMD. Overall, this cytotoxicity mechanism may offer therapeutic targets and markers for genetic and age-related diseases associated with lipofuscin buildups.

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