| 1. |
- Berntsson, Elina, et al.
(författare)
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Characterization of Uranyl (UO22+) Ion Binding to Amyloid Beta (Aβ) Peptides : Effects on Aβ Structure and Aggregation
- 2023
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Ingår i: ACS Chemical Neuroscience. - 1948-7193. ; 14:15, s. 2618-2633
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Uranium (U) is naturally present in ambient air, water, and soil, and depleted uranium (DU) is released into the environment via industrial and military activities. While the radiological damage from U is rather well understood, less is known about the chemical damage mechanisms, which dominate in DU. Heavy metal exposure is associated with numerous health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent age-related cause of dementia. The pathological hallmark of AD is the deposition of amyloid plaques, consisting mainly of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides aggregated into amyloid fibrils in the brain. However, the toxic species in AD are likely oligomeric Aβ aggregates. Exposure to heavy metals such as Cd, Hg, Mn, and Pb is known to increase Aβ production, and these metals bind to Aβ peptides and modulate their aggregation. The possible effects of U in AD pathology have been sparsely studied. Here, we use biophysical techniques to study in vitro interactions between Aβ peptides and uranyl ions, UO22+, of DU. We show for the first time that uranyl ions bind to Aβ peptides with affinities in the micromolar range, induce structural changes in Aβ monomers and oligomers, and inhibit Aβ fibrillization. This suggests a possible link between AD and U exposure, which could be further explored by cell, animal, and epidemiological studies. General toxic mechanisms of uranyl ions could be modulation of protein folding, misfolding, and aggregation.
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| 2. |
- Gielnik, Maciej, et al.
(författare)
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Prion Protein Octarepeat Domain Forms Transient β-Sheet Structures upon Residue-Specific Binding to Cu(II) and Zn(II) Ions
- 2023
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Ingår i: Biochemistry. - 0006-2960 .- 1520-4995. ; 62:11, s. 1689-1705
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Misfolding of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) is associated with the development of fatal neurodegenerative diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Metal ions appear to play a crucial role in PrPC misfolding. PrPC is a combined Cu(II) and Zn(II) metal-binding protein, where the main metal-binding site is located in the octarepeat (OR) region. Thus, the biological function of PrPC may involve the transport of divalent metal ions across membranes or buffering concentrations of divalent metal ions in the synaptic cleft. Recent studies have shown that an excess of Cu(II) ions can result in PrPC instability, oligomerization, and/or neuroinflammation. Here, we have used biophysical methods to characterize Cu(II) and Zn(II) binding to the isolated OR region of PrPC. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy data suggest that the OR domain binds up to four Cu(II) ions or two Zn(II) ions. Binding of the first metal ion results in a structural transition from the polyproline II helix to the β-turn structure, while the binding of additional metal ions induces the formation of β-sheet structures. Fluorescence spectroscopy data indicate that the OR region can bind both Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions at neutral pH, but under acidic conditions, it binds only Cu(II) ions. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that binding of either metal ion to the OR region results in the formation of β-hairpin structures. As the formation of β-sheet structures can be a first step toward amyloid formation, we propose that high concentrations of either Cu(II) or Zn(II) ions may have a pro-amyloid effect in TSE diseases.
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| 3. |
- Gielnik, Maciej, et al.
(författare)
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The engineered peptide construct NCAM1-Aβ inhibits fibrillization of the human prion protein (PrP)
- 2022
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Ingår i: Acta Biochimica Polonica. - : Polskie Towarzystwo Biochemiczne (Polish Biochemical Society). - 0001-527X .- 1734-154X. ; 69:1, s. 257-261
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In prion diseases, the prion protein (PrP) becomes misfolded and forms fibrillar aggregates that are responsible for prion infectivity and pathology. So far, no drug or treatment procedures have been approved for prion disease treatment. We have previously shown that engineered cell-penetrating peptide constructs can reduce the amount of prion aggregates in infected cells. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this effect is unknown. Here, we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging to show that the amyloid aggregation and fibrillization of the human PrP protein can be inhibited by equimolar amounts of the 25 residues long engineered peptide construct NCAM1-Aβ.
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| 4. |
- Gielnik, Maciej, et al.
(författare)
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Zn(II) binding causes interdomain changes in the structure and flexibility of the human prion protein
- 2021
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) is a mainly alpha-helical 208-residue protein located in the pre- and postsynaptic membranes. For unknown reasons, PrP(C) can undergo a structural transition into a toxic, beta-sheet rich scrapie isoform (PrPSc) that is responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Metal ions seem to play an important role in the structural conversion. PrP(C) binds Zn(II) ions and may be involved in metal ion transport and zinc homeostasis. Here, we use multiple biophysical techniques including optical and NMR spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and small angle X-ray scattering to characterize interactions between human PrP(C) and Zn(II) ions. Binding of a single Zn(II) ion to the PrP(C) N-terminal domain via four His residues from the octarepeat region induces a structural transition in the C-terminal alpha-helices 2 and 3, promotes interaction between the N-terminal and C-terminal domains, reduces the folded protein size, and modifies the internal structural dynamics. As our results suggest that PrP(C) can bind Zn(II) under physiological conditions, these effects could be important for the physiological function of PrP(C).
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