| 1. |
- Fodera, Vito, et al.
(författare)
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Observation of the Early Structural Changes Leading to the Formation of Protein Superstructures
- 2014
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Ingår i: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1948-7185. ; 5:18, s. 3254-3258
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Formation of superstructures in protein aggregation processes has been indicated as a general pathway for several proteins, possibly playing a role in human pathologies. There is a severe lack of knowledge on the origin of such species in terms of both mechanisms of formation and structural features. We use equine lysozyme as a model protein, and by combining spectroscopic techniques and microscopy with X-ray fiber diffraction and ab initio modeling of Small Angle X-ray Scattering data, we isolate the partially unfolded state from which one of these superstructures (i.e., particulate) originates. We reveal the low-resolution structure of the unfolded state and its mechanism of formation, highlighting the physicochemical features and the possible pathway of formation of the particulate structure. Our findings provide a novel detailed knowledge of such a general and alternative aggregation pathway for proteins, this being crucial for a basic and broader understanding of the aggregation phenomena.
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| 2. |
- Kabedev, Aleksei, et al.
(författare)
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Stabilizing Mechanisms of β-Lactoglobulin in Amorphous Solid Dispersions of Indomethacin
- 2022
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Ingår i: Molecular Pharmaceutics. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1543-8384 .- 1543-8392. ; 19:11, s. 3922-3933
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proteins, and in particular whey proteins, have recently been introduced as a promising excipient class for stabilizing amorphous solid dispersions. However, despite the efficacy of the approach, the molecular mechanisms behind the stabilization of the drug in the amorphous form are not yet understood. To investigate these, we used experimental and computational techniques to study the impact of drug loading on the stability of protein-stabilized amorphous formulations. β-Lactoglobulin, a major component of whey, was chosen as a model protein and indomethacin as a model drug. Samples, prepared by either ball milling or spray drying, formed single-phase amorphous solid dispersions with one glass transition temperature at drug loadings lower than 40–50%; however, a second glass transition temperature appeared at drug loadings higher than 40–50%. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we found that a drug-rich phase occurred at a loading of 40–50% and higher, in agreement with the experimental data. The simulations revealed that the mechanisms of the indomethacin stabilization by β-lactoglobulin were a combination of (a) reduced mobility of the drug molecules in the first drug shell and (b) hydrogen-bond networks. These networks, formed mostly by glutamic and aspartic acids, are situated at the β-lactoglobulin surface, and dependent on the drug loading (>40%), propagated into the second and subsequent drug layers. The simulations indicate that the reduced mobility dominates at low (<40%) drug loadings, whereas hydrogen-bond networks dominate at loadings up to 75%. The computer simulation results agreed with the experimental physical stability data, which showed a significant stabilization effect up to a drug fraction of 70% under dry storage. However, under humid conditions, stabilization was only sufficient for drug loadings up to 50%, confirming the detrimental effect of humidity on the stability of protein-stabilized amorphous formulations.
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| 3. |
- Nors Perdersen, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Direct Correlation Between Ligand-Induced α-Synuclein Oligomers and Amyloid-like Fibril Growth.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322 .- 2045-2322. ; 5, s. 10422-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aggregation of proteins into amyloid deposits is the hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The suggestion that intermediate oligomeric species may be cytotoxic has led to intensified investigations of pre-fibrillar oligomers, which are complicated by their transient nature and low population. Here we investigate alpha-synuclein oligomers, enriched by a 2-pyridone molecule (FN075), and the conversion of oligomers into fibrils. As probed by leakage assays, the FN075 induced oligomers potently disrupt vesicles in vitro, suggesting a potential link to disease related degenerative activity. Fibrils formed in the presence and absence of FN075 are indistinguishable on microscopic and macroscopic levels. Using small angle X-ray scattering, we reveal that FN075 induced oligomers are similar, but not identical, to oligomers previously observed during alpha-synuclein fibrillation. Since the levels of FN075 induced oligomers correlate with the amounts of fibrils among different FN075:protein ratios, the oligomers appear to be on-pathway and modeling supports an 'oligomer stacking model' for alpha-synuclein fibril elongation.
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| 4. |
- Perdersen, Martin Nors, et al.
(författare)
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Direct Correlation Between Ligand-Induced alpha-Synuclein Oligomers and Amyloid-like Fibril Growth
- 2015
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer. - 2045-2322. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aggregation of proteins into amyloid deposits is the hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The suggestion that intermediate oligomeric species may be cytotoxic has led to intensified investigations of pre-fibrillar oligomers, which are complicated by their transient nature and low population. Here we investigate alpha-synuclein oligomers, enriched by a 2-pyridone molecule (FN075), and the conversion of oligomers into fibrils. As probed by leakage assays, the FN075 induced oligomers potently disrupt vesicles in vitro, suggesting a potential link to disease related degenerative activity. Fibrils formed in the presence and absence of FN075 are indistinguishable on microscopic and macroscopic levels. Using small angle X-ray scattering, we reveal that FN075 induced oligomers are similar, but not identical, to oligomers previously observed during alpha-synuclein fibrillation. Since the levels of FN075 induced oligomers correlate with the amounts of fibrils among different FN075: protein ratios, the oligomers appear to be on-pathway and modeling supports an 'oligomer stacking model' for alpha-synuclein fibril elongation.
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| 5. |
- Solomon, Miriam, et al.
(författare)
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Recommendations for addressing the translational gap between experimental and clinical research on amyloid diseases
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Translational Medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1479-5876. ; 20:213, s. 1-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper is a report of recommendations for addressing translational challenges in amyloid disease research. They were developed during and following an international online workshop organized by the LINXS Institute of Advanced Neutron and X-Ray Science in March 2021. Key suggestions include improving cross-cultural communication between basic science and clinical research, increasing the influence of scientific societies and journals (vis-à-vis funding agencies and pharmaceutical companies), improving the dissemination of negative results, and strengthening the ethos of science.
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| 6. |
- Vetri, Valeria, et al.
(författare)
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Unlocked Concanavalin A Forms Amyloid-like Fibrils from Coagulation of Long-lived "Crinkled'' Intermediates
- 2013
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library Science. - 1932-6203. ; 8:7, s. e68912-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Understanding the early events during amyloid aggregation processes is crucial to single out the involved molecular mechanisms and for designing ad hoc strategies to prevent and reverse amyloidogenic disorders. Here, we show that, in conditions in which the protein is positively charged and its conformational flexibility is enhanced, Concanavalin A leads to fibril formation via a non-conventional aggregation pathway. Using a combination of light scattering, circular dichroism, small angle X-ray scattering, intrinsic (Tryptophan) and extrinsic (ANS) fluorescence and confocal and 2-photon fluorescence microscopy we characterize the aggregation process as a function of the temperature. We highlight a multi-step pathway with the formation of an on-pathway long-lived intermediate and a subsequent coagulation of such "crinkled'' precursors into amyloid-like fibrils. The process results in a temperature-dependent aggregation-coagulation pathway, with the late phase of coagulation determined by the interplay between hydrophobic and electrostatic forces. Our data provide evidence for the complex aggregation pathway for a protein with a highly flexible native conformation. We demonstrate the possibility to generate a long-lived intermediate whose proportion and occurrence are easily tunable by experimental parameters (i.e. temperature). As a consequence, in the case of aggregation processes developing through well-defined energy barriers, our results can open the way to new strategies to induce more stable in vitro on-pathway intermediate species through a minute change in the initial conformational flexibility of the protein. This will allow isolating and experimentally studying such transient species, often indicated as relevant in neurodegenerative diseases, both in terms of structural and cytotoxic properties.
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| 7. |
- Wang, Chao, 1986-, et al.
(författare)
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Proinflammatory and amyloidogenic S100A9 induced by traumatic brain injury in mouse model
- 2019
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Ingår i: Neuroscience Letters. - : ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD. - 0304-3940 .- 1872-7972. ; 699, s. 199-205
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a significant risk factor for development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The S100A9-driven amyloid-neuroinflammatory cascade occurring during primary and secondary TBI events can serve as a mechanistic link between TBI and Alzheimer's as demonstrated recently in the human brain tissues. Here by using immunohistochemistry in the controlled cortical impact TBI mouse model we have found pro-inflammatory S100A9 in the brain tissues of all mice on the first and third post- TBI days, while 70% of mice did not show any S100A9 presence on seventh post-TBI day similar to controls. This indicates that defensive mechanisms effectively cleared S100A9 in these mouse brain tissues during post-TBI recovery. By using sequential immunohistochemistry we have shown that S100A9 was produced by both neuronal and microglial cells. However, A beta peptide deposits characteristic for Alzheimer's disease were not detected in any post-TBI animals. On the first and third post-TBI days S100A9 was found to aggregate intracellularly into amyloid oligomers, similar to what was previously observed in human TBI tissues. Complementary, by using Rayleigh scatting, intrinsic fluorescence and atomic force microscopy we demonstrated that in vitro S100A9 self- assembles into amyloid oligomers within minutes. Its amyloid aggregation is highly dependent on changes of environmental conditions such as variation of calcium levels, pH, temperature and reduction/oxidation, which might be relevant to perturbation of cellular and tissues homeostasis under TBI. Present results demonstrate that S100A9 induction mechanisms in TBI are similar in mice and humans, emphasizing that S100A9 is an important marker of brain injury and therefore can be a potential therapeutic target.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Zhuo, Xuezhi, et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of stabilization mechanisms in β-lactoglobulin-based amorphous solid dispersions by experimental and computational approaches
- 2024
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Ingår i: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. - : Elsevier. - 0928-0987 .- 1879-0720. ; 192
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Our previous work shows that β-lactoglobulin-stabilized amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) loaded with 70 % indomethacin remains stable for more than 12 months. The stability is probably due to hydrogen bond networks spread throughout the ASD, facilitated by the indomethacin which has both hydrogen donors and acceptors. To investigate the stabilization mechanisms further, here we tested five other drug molecules, including two without any hydrogen bond donors. A combination of experimental techniques (differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray power diffraction) and molecular dynamics simulations was used to find the maximum drug loadings for ASDs with furosemide, griseofulvin, ibuprofen, ketoconazole and rifaximin. This approach revealed the underlying stabilization factors and the capacity of computer simulations to predict ASD stability. We searched the ASD models for crystalline patterns, and analyzed diffusivity of the drug molecules and hydrogen bond formation. ASDs loaded with rifaximin and ketoconazole remained stable for at least 12 months, even at 90 % drug loading, whereas stable drug loadings for furosemide, griseofulvin and ibuprofen were at a maximum of 70, 50 and 40 %, respectively. Steric confinement and hydrogen bonding to the proteins were the most important stabilization mechanisms at low drug loadings (≤ 40 %). Inter-drug hydrogen bond networks (including those with induced donors), ionic interactions, and a high Tg of the drug molecule were additional factors stabilizing the ASDs at drug loading greater than 40 %.
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| 10. |
- Zhuo, Xuezhi, et al.
(författare)
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Mechanisms of Drug Solubility Enhancement Induced by β-Lactoglobulin-Based Amorphous Solid Dispersions
- 2023
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Ingår i: Molecular Pharmaceutics. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1543-8384 .- 1543-8392. ; 20:10, s. 5206-5213
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Protein-based amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) have emerged as a promising approach for enhancing solubility in comparison to crystalline drugs. The dissolution behavior of protein-based amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) was investigated in various pH media. ASDs of four poorly soluble model drugs with acidic ( furosemide and indomethacin), basic (carvedilol), and neutral (celecoxib) properties were prepared by spray drying at 30 wt % drug loading with the protein ss-lactoglobulin (BLG). The effect of spray-dried BLG (SD-BLG) solubility and protein binding ability with dissolved drugs in solution were investigated to retrieve the mechanisms governing the improvement of drug solubility from the BLG-based ASDs. Powder dissolution results showed that all ASDs obtained a higher maximum concentration (C-max) compared to the respective pure crystalline drugs. It was found that the solubility increase of the drugs from the ASDs was to a large extent dependent on the solubility of the pure SD-BLG at the investigated pH values (low solubility at pH near the isoelectric point (pI) of BLG). Furthermore, drug-protein interactions in a solution were observed, in particular at pH values where the drugs were neutral. These drug-protein interactions also resulted, to some extent, in the stabilization of the drug in supersaturation.
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