| 1. |
- Berntsson, Elina, et al.
(författare)
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Lithium ions display weak interaction with amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides and have minor effects on their aggregation
- 2021
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Ingår i: Acta Biochimica Polonica. - : Polskie Towarzystwo Biochemiczne (Polish Biochemical Society). - 0001-527X .- 1734-154X. ; 68:2, s. 169-179
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an incurable disease and the main cause of age-related dementia worldwide, despite decades of research. Treatment of AD with lithium (Li) has shown promising results, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. The pathological hallmark of AD brains is deposition of amyloid plaques, consisting mainly of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides aggregated into amyloid fibrils. The plaques contain also metal ions of e.g. Cu, Fe, and Zn, and such ions are known to interact with Aβ peptides and modulate their aggregation and toxicity. The interactions between Aβ peptides and Li+ions have however not been well investigated. Here, we use a range of biophysical techniques to characterize in vitro interactions between Aβ peptides and Li+ions. We show that Li+ions display weak and non-specific interactions with Aβ peptides, and have minor effects on Aβ aggregation. These results indicate that possible beneficial effects of Li on AD pathology are not likely caused by direct interactions between Aβ peptides and Li+ions.
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| 2. |
- Österlund, Nicklas, et al.
(författare)
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Amyloid-β oligomers are captured by the DNAJB6 chaperone : Direct detection of interactions that can prevent primary nucleation
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 295:24, s. 8135-8144
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A human molecular chaperone protein, DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member B6 (DNAJB6), efficiently inhibits amyloid aggregation. This inhibition depends on a unique motif with conserved serine and threonine (S/T) residues that have a high capacity for hydrogen bonding. Global analysis of kinetics data has previously shown that DNAJB6 especially inhibits the primary nucleation pathways. These observations indicated that DNAJB6 achieves this remarkably effective and sub-stoichiometric inhibition by interacting not with the monomeric unfolded conformations of the amyloid-? symbol (A?) peptide but with aggregated species. However, these pre-nucleation oligomeric aggregates are transient and difficult to study experimentally. Here, we employed a native MS-based approach to directly detect oligomeric forms of A? formed in solution. We found that WT DNAJB6 considerably reduces the signals from the various forms of A? (1?40) oligomers, whereas a mutational DNAJB6 variant in which the S/T residues have been substituted with alanines does not. We also detected signals that appeared to represent DNAJB6 dimers and trimers to which varying amounts of A? are bound. These data provide direct experimental evidence that it is the oligomeric forms of A? that are captured by DNAJB6 in a manner which depends on the S/T residues. We conclude that, in agreement with the previously observed decrease in primary nucleation rate, strong binding of A? oligomers to DNAJB6 inhibits the formation of amyloid nuclei.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Abelein, Axel, et al.
(författare)
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Transient small molecule interactions kinetically modulate amyloid beta peptide self-assembly
- 2012
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Ingår i: FEBS Letters. - : Wiley. - 0014-5793 .- 1873-3468. ; 586:22, s. 3991-3995
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Small organic molecules, like Congo red and lacmoid, have been shown to modulate the self-assembly of the amyloid beta peptide (A beta). Here, we show that A beta forms NMR invisible non-toxic co-aggregates together with lacmoid as well as Congo red. We find that the interaction involves two distinct kinetic processes and at every given time point only a small fraction of A beta is in the co-aggregate. These weak transient interactions kinetically redirect the aggregation prone A beta from self-assembling into amyloid fibrils. These findings suggest that even such weak binders might be effective as therapeutics against pathogenic protein aggregation.
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| 5. |
- Berntsson, Elina, 1993-, et al.
(författare)
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Residue-specific binding of Ni(II) ions influences the structure and aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides
- 2023
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia worldwide. AD brains display deposits of insoluble amyloid plaques consisting mainly of aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, and Aβ oligomers are likely a toxic species in AD pathology. AD patients display altered metal homeostasis, and AD plaques show elevated concentrations of metals such as Cu, Fe, and Zn. Yet, the metal chemistry in AD pathology remains unclear. Ni(II) ions are known to interact with Aβ peptides, but the nature and effects of such interactions are unknown. Here, we use numerous biophysical methods-mainly spectroscopy and imaging techniques-to characterize Aβ/Ni(II) interactions in vitro, for different Aβ variants: Aβ(1-40), Aβ(1-40)(H6A, H13A, H14A), Aβ(4-40), and Aβ(1-42). We show for the first time that Ni(II) ions display specific binding to the N-terminal segment of full-length Aβ monomers. Equimolar amounts of Ni(II) ions retard Aβ aggregation and direct it towards non-structured aggregates. The His6, His13, and His14 residues are implicated as binding ligands, and the Ni(II)·Aβ binding affinity is in the low µM range. The redox-active Ni(II) ions induce formation of dityrosine cross-links via redox chemistry, thereby creating covalent Aβ dimers. In aqueous buffer Ni(II) ions promote formation of beta sheet structure in Aβ monomers, while in a membrane-mimicking environment (SDS micelles) coil-coil helix interactions appear to be induced. For SDS-stabilized Aβ oligomers, Ni(II) ions direct the oligomers towards larger sizes and more diverse (heterogeneous) populations. All of these structural rearrangements may be relevant for the Aβ aggregation processes that are involved in AD brain pathology.
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| 6. |
- Österlund, Nicklas, 1992-
(författare)
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Capturing transient peptide assemblies associated with Alzheimer's disease : Native mass spectrometry studies of amyloid-β oligomerization
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Correct folding of proteins is essential for maintaining a functional living cell. Misfolding and aggregation of proteins, where non-native intermolecular interactions form large and highly ordered amyloid aggregates with low free energy, is hence associated with multiple diseases. One example is Alzheimer’s disease (AD) where the Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide aggregates into amyloid fibrils, which deposit as neuritic plaques in the brains of AD patients. Nucleation of amyloid fibrils takes place via formation of smaller pre-nucleation clusters, so-called oligomers, which are considered to be especially toxic and are therefore potentially important in AD pathology. Detailed mechanistic molecular knowledge of Aβ aggregation is important for design of AD treatments that target these processes. The oligomeric species are however challenging to study experimentally due to their low abundance and high polydispersity. Aβ oligomers are in this thesis studied under controlled in vitro conditions using bottom-up biophysics. Highly pure recombinant Aβ peptides are studied, primarily using native ion-mobility mass spectrometry, to monitor the spontaneous formation of oligomers in aqueous solution. Mass spectrometry is capable of resolving individual oligomeric states, while ion mobility provides low-resolution structure information. This is complemented with other biophysical techniques, as well as theoretical modeling. The oligomers are also studied upon modulating intrinsic factors, such as peptide length and sequence, or extrinsic factors, such as the chemical environment. Interactions with two important biological interaction partners are studied: chaperone proteins and cell membranes. We show how Aβ oligomers assemble, and form extended structures which may be linked to continued growth into amyloid fibrils. We also show how different amyloid chaperone proteins interact with growing aggregates, which modifies and delays the aggregation process. These interactions are shown to depend on specific sequence-motifs in the chaperones and client peptides. Membrane-mimicking micelles are on the other hand able to stabilize globular compact forms of the Aβ oligomers and to inhibit the formation of extended structures which nucleate into amyloid fibrils. This may contribute to enrichment of toxic species in vivo. Interactions with membrane-mimicking systems are shown to be highly dependent on both the Aβ peptide isoform and the properties of the membrane environment, such as headgroup charges. It is also demonstrated how addition of a designed small peptide construct can inhibit formation of Aβ oligomers in the membrane environment.
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| 7. |
- Abelein, Axel, et al.
(författare)
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Formation of dynamic soluble surfactant-induced amyloid β peptide aggregation intermediates
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 288:32, s. 23518-23528
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Intermediate amyloidogenic states along the amyloid β peptide (Aβ) aggregation pathway have been shown to be linked to neurotoxicity. To shed more light on the different structures that may arise during Aβ aggregation, we here investigate surfactant-induced Aβ aggregation. This process leads to co-aggregates featuring a β-structure motif that is characteristic for mature amyloid-like structures. Surfactants induce secondary structure in Aβ in a concentration-dependent manner, from predominantly random coil at low surfactant concentration, via β-structure to the fully formed α-helical state at high surfactant concentration. The β-rich state is the most aggregation-prone as monitored by thioflavin T fluorescence. Small angle x-ray scattering reveals initial globular structures of surfactant-Aβ co-aggregated oligomers and formation of elongated fibrils during a slow aggregation process. Alongside this slow (minutes to hours time scale) fibrillation process, much faster dynamic exchange (k(ex) ∼1100 s(-1)) takes place between free and co-aggregate-bound peptide. The two hydrophobic segments of the peptide are directly involved in the chemical exchange and interact with the hydrophobic part of the co-aggregates. Our findings suggest a model for surfactant-induced aggregation where free peptide and surfactant initially co-aggregate to dynamic globular oligomers and eventually form elongated fibrils. When interacting with β-structure promoting substances, such as surfactants, Aβ is kinetically driven toward an aggregation-prone state.
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| 8. |
- Abelein, Axel, et al.
(författare)
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Hydrophobicity and conformational change as mechanistic determinants for nonspecific modulators of amyloid β self-assembly
- 2012
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Ingår i: Biochemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0006-2960 .- 1520-4995. ; 51:1, s. 126-137
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The link between many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and the aberrant folding and aggregation of proteins has prompted a comprehensive search for small organic molecules that have the potential to inhibit such processes. Although many compounds have been reported to affect the formation of amyloid fibrils and/or other types of protein aggregates, the mechanisms by which they act are not well understood. A large number of compounds appear to act in a nonspecific way affecting several different amyloidogenic proteins. We describe here a detailed study of the mechanism of action of one representative compound, lacmoid, in the context of the inhibition of the aggregation of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) associated with Alzheimer's disease. We show that lacmoid binds Aβ(1-40) in a surfactant-like manner and counteracts the formation of all types of Aβ(1-40) and Aβ(1-42) aggregates. On the basis of these and previous findings, we are able to rationalize the molecular mechanisms of action of nonspecific modulators of protein self-assembly in terms of hydrophobic attraction and the conformational preferences of the polypeptide.
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| 9. |
- Abelein, Axel, et al.
(författare)
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The hairpin conformation of the amyloid beta peptide is an important structural motif along the aggregation pathway
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0949-8257 .- 1432-1327. ; 19:4-5, s. 623-634
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The amyloid beta (A beta) peptides are 39-42 residue-long peptides found in the senile plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. These peptides self-aggregate in aqueous solution, going from soluble and mainly unstructured monomers to insoluble ordered fibrils. The aggregation process(es) are strongly influenced by environmental conditions. Several lines of evidence indicate that the neurotoxic species are the intermediate oligomeric states appearing along the aggregation pathways. This minireview summarizes recent findings, mainly based on solution and solid-state NMR experiments and electron microscopy, which investigate the molecular structures and characteristics of the A beta peptides at different stages along the aggregation pathways. We conclude that a hairpin-like conformation constitutes a common motif for the A beta peptides in most of the described structures. There are certain variations in different hairpin conformations, for example regarding H-bonding partners, which could be one reason for the molecular heterogeneity observed in the aggregated systems. Interacting hairpins are the building blocks of the insoluble fibrils, again with variations in how hairpins are organized in the cross-section of the fibril, perpendicular to the fibril axis. The secondary structure propensities can be seen already in peptide monomers in solution. Unfortunately, detailed structural information about the intermediate oligomeric states is presently not available. In the review, special attention is given to metal ion interactions, particularly the binding constants and ligand structures of A beta complexes with Cu(II) and Zn(II), since these ions affect the aggregation process(es) and are considered to be involved in the molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathology.
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| 10. |
- 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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