scholarly journals The English (H6R) Mutation of the Alzheimer’s Disease Amyloid-β Peptide Modulates Its Zinc-Induced Aggregation

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 961
Author(s):  
Sergey P. Radko ◽  
Svetlana A. Khmeleva ◽  
Dmitry N. Kaluzhny ◽  
Olga I. Kechko ◽  
Yana Y. Kiseleva ◽  
...  

The coordination of zinc ions by histidine residues of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) plays a critical role in the zinc-induced Aβ aggregation implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. The histidine to arginine substitution at position 6 of the Aβ sequence (H6R, English mutation) leads to an early onset of AD. Herein, we studied the effects of zinc ions on the aggregation of the Aβ42 peptide and its isoform carrying the H6R mutation (H6R-Aβ42) by circular dichroism spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, turbidimetric and sedimentation methods, and bis-ANS and thioflavin T fluorescence assays. Zinc ions triggered the occurrence of amorphous aggregates for both Aβ42 and H6R-Aβ42 peptides but with distinct optical properties. The structural difference of the formed Aβ42 and H6R-Aβ42 zinc-induced amorphous aggregates was also supported by the results of the bis-ANS assay. Moreover, while the Aβ42 peptide demonstrated an increase in the random coil and β-sheet content upon complexing with zinc ions, the H6R-Aβ42 peptide showed no appreciable structural changes under the same conditions. These observations were ascribed to the impact of H6R mutation on a mode of zinc/peptide binding. The presented findings further advance the understanding of the pathological role of the H6R mutation and the role of H6 residue in the zinc-induced Aβ aggregation.

2004 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feda E. A. Ali ◽  
Kevin J. Barnham ◽  
Colin J. Barrow ◽  
Frances Separovic

The most common form of dementia in old age is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The presence in the brain of senile plaque is the major pathological marker of AD. The plaques are primarily composed of aggregated amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). Aβ is a 40–42 amino acid peptide that is a proteolytic product derived from the β-amyloid precursor protein. The function of Aβ and the exact mechanism of Aβ aggregation and neurotoxicity are unclear. However, metal coordination by Aβ plays an important role in inducing aggregation and the generation of reactive oxygen species, which appears to be at least partially responsible for Aβ neurotoxicity. In this review we examine the role of copper and zinc ions in Aβ neurotoxicity, especially with regards to the generation of free radicals. We discuss the role of copper or zinc ions in oxidative damage and Aβ conformational changes and the relationship of these metals to AD.


2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 1321-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma C. Phillips ◽  
Cara L. Croft ◽  
Ksenia Kurbatskaya ◽  
Michael J. O’Neill ◽  
Michael L. Hutton ◽  
...  

Increased production of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) and altered processing of tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with synaptic dysfunction, neuronal death and cognitive and behavioural deficits. Neuroinflammation is also a prominent feature of AD brain and considerable evidence indicates that inflammatory events play a significant role in modulating the progression of AD. The role of microglia in AD inflammation has long been acknowledged. Substantial evidence now demonstrates that astrocyte-mediated inflammatory responses also influence pathology development, synapse health and neurodegeneration in AD. Several anti-inflammatory therapies targeting astrocytes show significant benefit in models of disease, particularly with respect to tau-associated neurodegeneration. However, the effectiveness of these approaches is complex, since modulating inflammatory pathways often has opposing effects on the development of tau and amyloid pathology, and is dependent on the precise phenotype and activities of astrocytes in different cellular environments. An increased understanding of interactions between astrocytes and neurons under different conditions is required for the development of safe and effective astrocyte-based therapies for AD and related neurodegenerative diseases.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah R Ball ◽  
Julius S P Adamson ◽  
Michael A Sullivan ◽  
Manuela R Zimmermann ◽  
Victor Lo ◽  
...  

AbstractThe amyloid-β peptide, the main protein component of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease, plays a key role in the neurotoxicity associated with the condition through the formation of small toxic oligomer species which mediate the disruption of calcium and glutamate homeostasis. The lack of therapeutic benefit associated with removal of mature amyloid-β fibrils has focused attention on the toxic oligomeric species formed during the process of fibril assembly. Here, we present the design and synthesis of a family of perphenazine-macrocyle conjugates. We find that two-armed perphenazine-cyclam conjugates divert the monomeric form of the amyloid-β peptide away from the amyloidogenic pathway into amorphous aggregates that are not toxic to differentiated SH-SY5Y cells in vitro. This strategy prevents the formation of damaging amyloid oligomers. Kinetic analysis of the effects of these compounds on the assembly pathway, together with NMR spectroscopy, identifies rapid monomer sequestration as the underlying neuroprotective mechanism. The ability to specifically target the monomeric form of amyloid-β allows for further understanding of the impact of the multiple species formed between peptide biogenesis and plaque deposition. The modular, three-dimensional structure of these compounds provides a starting point for the design of more potent modulators of this amyloid-forming peptide, and can be adapted to probe the protein self-assembly pathways associated with other proteinopathies.Significance statementThe aggregation pathway of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in Alzheimer’s disease is complex and involves multiple different species. An inability to isolate and study the impact of distinct Aβ species has undermined efforts to develop effective therapies. To address this issue, we have developed a series of molecules that specifically sequester the monomeric form of the highly aggregation-prone Aβ42 peptide. Interaction with these molecules diverts Aβ42 from the amyloidogenic pathway and prevents formation of toxic oligomeric species. We use kinetic analysis and NMR spectroscopy to identify rapid monomer sequestration as the underlying neuroprotective mechanism. Future rational development of these molecules and characterisation of their interactions with Aβ will delineate the impact of different Aβ oligomers on neurobiology and pathology.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiaki Yamada ◽  
Juliet Akkaoui ◽  
Anny Ho ◽  
Carolina Duarte ◽  
Richard Deth ◽  
...  

BackgroundAmong different types of sphingolipids produced by human cells, the possible engagement of ceramide species in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has attracted recent attention. While ceramides are primarily generated by de novo synthesis in mammalian cells, only a limited number of bacterial species, produce ceramides, including phosphoglycerol dihydroceramide (PGDHC) that is produced by the key periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. Emerging evidence indicates that virulence factors produced by P. gingivalis, such as lipopolysaccharide and gingipain, may be engaged in the initiation and/or progression of AD. However, the potential role of PGDHC in the pathogenesis of AD remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of PGDHC on hallmark findings in AD.Material and MethodsCHO-7WD10 and SH-SY-5Y cells were exposed to PGDHC and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from P. gingivalis. Soluble Aβ42 peptide, amyloid precursor protein (APP), phosphorylated tau and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors were quantified using ELISA and Western blot assays. ResultsOur results indicate that P. gingivalis (Pg)-derived PGDHC, but not Pg-LPS, upregulated secretion of soluble Aβ42 peptide and expression of APP in CHO-7WD10 cells. Furthermore, hyperphosphorylation of tau protein was observed in SH-SY-5Y cells in response to PGDHC lipid. In contrast, Pg-LPS had little, or no significant effect on the tau phosphorylation induced in SH-SY-5Y cells. However, both PGDHC and Pg-LPS contributed to the senescence of SH-SY5Y cells as indicated by the production of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) markers, including beta-galactosidase, cathepsin B (CtsB), and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, and IL-6. Additionally, PGDHC diminished expression of the senescence-protection marker sirtuin-1 in SH-SY-5Y cells.ConclusionsAltogether, our results indicate that P. gingivalis-derived PGDHC ceramide promotes amyloidogenesis and hyperphosphorylation, as well as the production of SASP factors. Thus, PGDHC may represent a novel class of bacterial-derived virulence factors for AD associated with periodontitis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Langzhou Liu ◽  
Huayi Gao ◽  
Alexey Zaikin ◽  
Shangbin Chen

The accumulation of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) in the brain is hypothesized to be the major factor driving Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Mounting evidence suggests that astrocytes are the primary target of Aβ neurotoxicity. Aβ is known to interfere with multiple calcium fluxes, thus disrupting the calcium homeostasis regulation of astrocytes, which are likely to produce calcium oscillations. Ca2+ dyshomeostasis has been observed to precede the appearance of clinical symptoms of AD; however, it is experimentally very difficult to investigate the interactions of many mechanisms. Given that Ca2+ disruption is ubiquitously involved in AD progression, it is likely that focusing on Ca2+ dysregulation may serve as a potential therapeutic approach to preventing or treating AD, while current hypotheses concerning AD have so far failed to yield curable therapies. For this purpose, we derive and investigate a concise mathematical model for Aβ-mediated multi-pathway astrocytic intracellular Ca2+ dynamics. This model accounts for how Aβ affects various fluxes contributions through voltage-gated calcium channels, Aβ-formed channels and ryanodine receptors. Bifurcation analysis of Aβ level, which reflected the corresponding progression of the disease, revealed that Aβ significantly induced the increasing [Ca2+]i and frequency of calcium oscillations. The influence of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production (IP3) is also investigated in the presence of Aβ as well as the impact of changes in resting membrane potential. In turn, the Ca2+ flux can be considerably changed by exerting specific interventions, such as ion channel blockers or receptor antagonists. By doing so, a “combination therapy” targeting multiple pathways simultaneously has finally been demonstrated to be more effective. This study helps to better understand the effect of Aβ, and our findings provide new insight into the treatment of AD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly C. Hunsberger ◽  
Priyanka D. Pinky ◽  
Warren Smith ◽  
Vishnu Suppiramaniam ◽  
Miranda N. Reed

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia affecting almost 50 million people worldwide. The ε4 allele of Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the strongest known genetic risk factor for late-onset AD cases, with homozygous APOE4 carriers being approximately 15-times more likely to develop the disease. With 25% of the population being APOE4 carriers, understanding the role of this allele in AD pathogenesis and pathophysiology is crucial. Though the exact mechanism by which ε4 allele increases the risk for AD is unknown, the processes mediated by APOE, including cholesterol transport, synapse formation, modulation of neurite outgrowth, synaptic plasticity, destabilization of microtubules, and β-amyloid clearance, suggest potential therapeutic targets. This review will summarize the impact of APOE on neurons and neuronal signaling, the interactions between APOE and AD pathology, and the association with memory decline. We will then describe current treatments targeting APOE4, complications associated with the current therapies, and suggestions for future areas of research and treatment.


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