1.
Regulation of Physiologic Actions of LRRK2: Focus on Autophagy.
Source
Department of Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass., USA.
Abstract
Background: Mutations in LRRK2 are associated with familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD). Subjects with PD caused by LRRK2 mutations show pleiotropic pathology that can involve inclusions containing α-synuclein, tau or neither protein. The mechanisms by which mutations in LRRK2 lead to this pleiotropic pathology remain unknown. Objectives: To investigate mechanisms by which LRRK2 might cause PD. Methods: We used systems biology to investigate the transcriptomes from human brains, human blood cells and Caenorhabditis elegans expressing wild-type LRRK2. The role of autophagy was tested in lines of C. elegans expressing LRRK2, V337M tau or both proteins. Neuronal function was measured by quantifying thrashing. Results: Genes regulating autophagy were coordinately regulated with LRRK2. C. elegans expressing V337M tau showed reduced thrashing, as has been noted previously. Coexpressing mutant LRRK2 (R1441C or G2019S) with V337M tau increased the motor deficits. Treating the lines of C. elegans with an mTOR inhibitor that enhances autophagic flux, ridaforolimus, increased the thrashing behavior to the same level as nontransgenic nematodes. Conclusion: These data support a role for LRRK2 in autophagy, raise the possibility that deficits in autophagy contribute to the pathophysiology of LRRK2, and point to a potential therapeutic approach addressing the pathophysiology of LRRK2 in PD.
Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Therapeutic effect of near infrared (NIR) light on Parkinson's disease models.
Source
Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W. Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects large numbers of people, particularly those of a more advanced age. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in PD, especially in the electron transport chain. This mitochondrial role allows the use of inhibitors of complex I and IV in PD models, and enhancers of complex IV activity, such as NIR light, to be used as possible therapy. PD models fall into two main categories; cell cultures and animal models. In cell cultures, primary neurons, mutant neuroblastoma cells, and cell cybrids have been studied in conjunction with NIR light. Primary neurons show protection or recovery of function and morphology by NIR light after toxic insult. Neuroblastoma cells, with a gene for mutant alpha-synuclein, show similar results. Cell cybrids, containing mtDNA from PD patients, show restoration of mitochondrial transport and complex I and IV assembly. Animal models include toxin-insulted mice, and alpha-synuclein transgenic mice. Functional recovery of the animals, chemical and histological evidence, and delayed disease progression show the potential of NIR light in treating Parkinson's disease.
- PMID:
- 22201916
- [PubMed - in process]
Meta-analysis of genetic and environmental Parkinson's disease models reveals a common role of mitochondrial protection pathways.
Source
Department of Medical Neurobiology (Physiology), IMRIC, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, 91120 Israel.
Abstract
Both genetic and environmental factors trigger risks of and protection from Parkinson's disease, the second most common neurodegenerative syndrome, but possible inter-relationships between these risk and protection processes were not yet explored. By examining gene expression changes in the brains of mice under multiple treatments that increase or attenuate PD symptoms we detected underlying disease and protection-associated genes and pathways. In search for potential links between these different genes and pathways, we conducted meta-analysis on 131 brain region transcriptomes from mice over-expressing native or mutated α-synuclein (SNCA) with or without the protective HSP70 chaperone, or exposed to the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), with or without the protective acetylcholinesterase (AChE-R) variant. All these models showed shared risk-inducible and protection-suppressible transcript modifications. Self-organized map (SOM) classification revealed risk- and protection-associated alterations in nuclear and mitochondrial metal ion-regulated transcripts, respectively; Gene Ontology based analysis validated these pathways. To complement this approach, and identify potential outcome damages, we further searched for shared functional enrichments in the lists of genes detected in young SNCA mutant or in old SNCA mutants and MPTP-exposed mice. This post-hoc functional analysis identified early-onset changes in Parkinsonian, immune and alternative splicing pathways which shifted into late-onset or exposure-associated NFkB-mediated neuro-inflammation. Our study suggests metal ions-mediated cross-talk between nuclear and mitochondrial pathways by both environmental and genetic risk and protective factors involved in Parkinson's disease, which eventually culminates in neuro-inflammation. Together, these findings offer new insights and novel targets for therapeutic interference with the gene-environment interactions underlying sporadic PD.
Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Subventricular Zone Under the Neuroinflammatory Stress and Parkinson's Disease.
Source
Department of Physiology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, 470-1192, Japan.
Abstract
This review summarizes the effects of neuroinflammatory stress on the subventricular zone (SVZ), where new neurons are constitutively produced in the adult brain, especially focusing on the relation with Parkinson's disease (PD), because the SVZ is under the control of dopaminergic afferents from the substantia nigra (SN). In Lewy bodies-positive-PD, microglia is known to phagocytoze aggregated α-synuclein, resulting in the release of inflammatory cytokines. The neurogenesis in the SVZ should be affected in PD brain by the neuroinflammatory process. The administration of lipopolysaccaharide is available as an alternative model for microglia-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons and also the impairment of stem cell maintenance. Therefore, the research on the neuroinflammatory process in the SVZ gives us a hint to prevent the outbreak of PD or at least slow the disease process.
CSPα knockout causes neurodegeneration by impairing SNAP-25 function.
Source
1] Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA [2] Department of Neuroscience and Molecular Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Abstract
At a synapse, the synaptic vesicle protein cysteine-string protein-α (CSPα) functions as a co-chaperone for the SNARE protein SNAP-25. Knockout (KO) of CSPα causes fulminant neurodegeneration that is rescued by α-synucleinoverexpression. The CSPα KO decreases SNAP-25 levels and impairs SNARE-complex assembly; only the latter but not the former is reversed by α-synuclein. Thus, the question arises whether the CSPα KO phenotype is due to decreased SNAP-25 function that then causes neurodegeneration, or due to the dysfunction of multiple as-yet uncharacterized CSPα targets. Here, we demonstrate that decreasing SNAP-25 levels in CSPα KO mice by either KO or knockdown of SNAP-25 aggravated their phenotype. Conversely, increasing SNAP-25 levels by overexpression rescued their phenotype. Inactive SNAP-25 mutants were unable to rescue, showing that the rescue was specific. Under all conditions, the neurodegenerative phenotype precisely correlated with SNARE-complex assembly, indicating that impaired SNARE-complex assembly due to decreased SNAP-25 levels is the ultimate correlate of neurodegeneration. Our findings suggest that the neurodegeneration in CSPα KO mice is primarily produced by defective SNAP-25 function, which causes neurodegeneration by impairing SNARE-complex assembly.
Progressive neurodegenerative and behavioural changes induced by AAV-mediated overexpression of α-synuclein in midbrain dopamine neurons.
Source
Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Department of Experimental Medical Sciences, Lund University, BMC A11, Lund 22184, Sweden.
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterised by the progressive loss of nigral dopamine neurons and the presence of synucleinopathy. Overexpression of α-synuclein in vivo using viral vectors has opened interesting possibilities to model PD-like pathology in rodents. However, the attempts made so far have failed to show a consistent behavioural phenotype and pronounced dopamine neurodegeneration. Using a more efficient adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector construct, which includes a WPRE enhancer element and uses the neuron-specific synapsin-1 promoter to drive the expression of human wild-type α-synuclein, we have now been able to achieve increased levels of α-synuclein in the transduced midbrain dopamine neurons sufficient to induce profound deficits in motor function, accompanied by reduced expression of proteins involved in dopamine neurotransmission and a time-dependent loss of nigral dopamine neurons, that develop progressively over 2-4months after vector injection. As in human PD, nigral cell loss was preceded by degenerative changes in striatal axons and terminals, and the appearance of α-synuclein positive inclusions in dystrophic axons and dendrites, supporting the idea that α-synuclein-induced pathology hits the axons and terminals first and later progresses to involve also the cell bodies. The time-course of changes seen in the AAV-α-synuclein treated animals defines distinct stages of disease progression that matches the pre-symptomatic, early symptomatic, and advanced stages seen in PD patients. This model provides new interesting possibilities for studies of stage-specific pathologic mechanisms and identification of targets for disease-modifying therapeutic interventions linked to early or late stages of the disease.
Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.
α-Synuclein potentiates interleukin-1β-induced CXCL10 expression in human A172 astrocytoma cells.
Source
Department of Pharmacology/Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK 74107, United States.
Abstract
Neuroinflammation and neuronal degeneration observed in Parkinson's disease (PD) has been attributed in part to glial-mediated events. Increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines and abnormal accumulation of the neuronal protein, α-synuclein in the brain are also characteristic of PD. While increasing evidence suggests that astrocytes contribute to neuroinflammation and dopaminergic neuronal degeneration associated with PD, there remains much to learn about these astroglial-mediated events. Therefore, we investigated the in vitro effects of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and α-synuclein on astroglial expression of interferon-γ inducible protein-10 (CXCL10), a proinflammatory and neurotoxic chemokine. IL-1β-induced CXCL10 protein expression was potentiated by co-exposure to α-synuclein. α-Synuclein did not significantly affect IL-1β-induced CXCL10 mRNA expression, but did mediate increased CXCL10 mRNA stability, which may explain, in part, the increased levels of secreted CXCL10 protein. Future investigations are warranted to more fully define the mechanism by which α-synuclein enhances IL-1β-induced astroglial CXCL10 expression. These findings highlight the importance of α-synuclein in modulating inflammatory events in astroglia. These events may be particularly relevant to the pathology of CNS disorders involving α-synuclein accumulation, including PD and HIV-1 associated dementia.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Analysis of striatal transcriptome in mice overexpressing human wild-typealpha-synuclein supports synaptic dysfunction and suggests mechanisms of neuroprotection for striatal neurons.
Abstract
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Alpha synuclein (SNCA) has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases (synucleinopathies) that include Parkinson's disease (PD). Although the primary neurodegeneration in PD involves nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, more extensive yet regionally selective neurodegeneration is observed in other synucleinopathies. Furthermore, SNCA is ubiquitously expressed in neurons and numerous neuronal systems are dysfunctional in PD. Therefore it is of interest to understand how overexpression of SNCA affects neuronal function in regions not directly targeted for neurodegeneration in PD.
RESULTS:
The present study investigated the consequences of SNCA overexpression on cellular processes and functions in the striatum of mice overexpressing wild-type, human SNCA under the Thy1 promoter (Thy1-aSyn mice) by transcriptome analysis. The analysis revealed alterations in multiple biological processes in the striatum of Thy1-aSyn mice, including synaptic plasticity, signaling, transcription, apoptosis, and neurogenesis.
CONCLUSION:
The results support a key role for SNCA in synaptic function and revealed an apoptotic signature in Thy1-aSyn mice, which together with specific alterations of neuroprotective genes suggest the activation of adaptive compensatory mechanisms that may protect striatal neurons in conditions of neuronal overexpression of SNCA.
Redistribution of DAT/α-Synuclein Complexes Visualized by "In Situ" Proximity Ligation Assay in Transgenic Mice Modelling Early Parkinson's Disease.
Source
Division of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies and National Institute of Neuroscience-Italy, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein, the major component of Lewy bodies, is thought to play a central role in the onset of synaptic dysfunctions in Parkinson's disease (PD). In particular, α-synuclein may affect dopaminergic neuron function as it interacts with a key protein modulating dopamine (DA) content at the synapse: the DA transporter (DAT). Indeed, recent evidence from our "in vitro" studies showed that α-synuclein aggregation decreases the expression and membrane trafficking of the DAT as the DAT is retained into α-synuclein-immunopositive inclusions. This notwithstanding, "in vivo" studies on PD animal models investigating whether DAT distribution is altered by the pathological overexpression and aggregation of α-synuclein are missing. By using the proximity ligation assay, a technique which allows the "in situ" visualization of protein-protein interactions, we studied the occurrence of alterations in the distribution of DAT/α-synuclein complexes in the SYN120 transgenic mouse model, showing insoluble α-synuclein aggregates into dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal system, reduced striatal DA levels and an altered distribution of synaptic proteins in the striatum. We found that DAT/α-synuclein complexes were markedly redistributed in the striatum and substantia nigra of SYN120 mice. These alterations were accompanied by a significant increase of DAT striatal levels in transgenic animals when compared to wild type littermates. Our data indicate that, in the early pathogenesis of PD, α-synuclein acts as a fine modulator of the dopaminergic synapse by regulating the subcellular distribution of key proteins such as the DAT.
A novel obesity model: synphilin-1-induced hyperphagia and obesity in mice.
Source
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract
AIMS:
The pathogenesis of obesity remains incompletely understood and the exploration of the role of novel proteins in obesity may provide important insights into its causes and treatments. Here, we report a previously unidentified role for synphilin-1 in the control of food intake and body weight. Synphilin-1, a cytoplasmic protein, was initially identified as an interaction partner of alpha-synuclein, and has implications in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis related to protein aggregation.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS:
To study the in vivo role of synphilin-1, we characterized a human synphilin-1 transgenic mouse (SP1) by assessing synphilin-1 expression, plasma parameters, food intake and spontaneous activity to determine the major behavioral changes and their consequences in the development of the obesity phenotype.
RESULTS:
Expression of human synphilin-1 in brain neurons in SP1 mice resulted in increased food intake, body weight and body fat. SP1 mice also displayed hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia and impaired glucose tolerance. Pair-feeding SP1 mice to amounts consumed by non-transgenic mice prevented the increased body weight, adiposity, hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia demonstrating that these were all the consequences of increased food intake. Transgenic expression of synphilin-1 was enriched in hypothalamic nuclei involved in feeding control, and fasting-induced elevated endogenous synphilin-1 levels at these sites, suggesting that synphilin-1 is an important player in the hypothalamic energy balance regulatory system.
CONCLUSION:
These studies identify a novel function of synphilin-1 in controlling food intake and body weight, and may provide a unique obesity model for future studies of obesity pathogenesis and therapeutics.International Journal of Obesity advance online publication, 13 December 2011; doi:10.1038/ijo.2011.235.
[Role of genetics in the etiology of synucleinopathies].
Source
Grupo de Investigación BIOMICS, Departamento de Biología Celular A, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados (CIEA) Lucio Lascaray, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, España.
Abstract
The protein family known as synucleins is composed of α-, β- and γ-synuclein. The most widely studied is the α-synuclein protein due to its participation in essential processes of the central nervous system. Neurotoxicity of this protein is related to the presence of multiplications (duplications and triplications) and point mutations in the gene sequence of the α-synuclein gene (SNCA), differential expression of its isoforms and variations in post-transductional modifications. Neurotoxicity is also related to cytoplasmic inclusions known as Lewy bodies (LBs) and Lewy neurites (LNs), which are also present in α-synucleinopathies. In general, the β-synuclein protein, codified by the SNCB gene, acts as a regulator of processes triggered by α-synuclein and its function is altered by variations in the gene sequence, while γ-synuclein, codified by the SNCG gene, seems to play a major role in certain tumoral processes.
Copyright © 2011 SEGG. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.
Different 8-hydroxyquinolines protect models of TDP-43, α-synuclein, and polyglutamine proteotoxicity through distinct mechanisms.
Source
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, United States;
Abstract
No current therapies target the underlying cellular pathologies of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Model organisms provide a platform for discovering compounds that protect against the toxic, misfolded proteins that initiate these diseases. One such protein, TDP-43, is implicated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. In yeast, TDP-43 expression is toxic and genetic modifiers first discovered in yeast have proven to modulate TDP-43 toxicity in both neurons and humans. Here, we describe a phenotypic screen for small molecules that reverse TDP-43 toxicity in yeast. One group of hit compounds were 8-hydroxyquinolines (8-OHQ), a class of clinically relevant bioactive metal chelators related to clioquinol. Surprisingly, in otherwise wild-type yeast cells, different 8-OHQs had selectivity for rescuing the distinct toxicities caused by the expression of TDP-43, α-synuclein, or polyglutamine proteins. In fact, each 8-OHQ synergized with the other, clearly establishing that they function in different ways. Comparative growth and molecular analyses also revealed that 8-OHQs have distinct metal chelation and ionophore activities. The diverse bioactivity of 8-OHQs indicates that altering different aspects of metal homeostasis and/or metalloprotein activity elicits distinct protective mechanisms against several neurotoxic proteins. Indeed, phase II clinical trials of an 8-OHQ has produced encouraging results in modifying Alzheimer's disease. Our unbiased identification of 8-OHQs in a yeast TDP-43 toxicity model suggests that tailoring 8-OHQ activity to a particular neurodegenerative disease may be a viable therapeutic strategy.
Modulating protein activity and cellular function by methionine residue oxidation.
Source
Institute of Cell Biology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China, zjcui@bnu.edu.cn.
Abstract
The sulfur-containing amino acid residue methionine (Met) in a peptide/protein is readily oxidized to methionine sulfoxide [Met(O)] by reactive oxygen species both in vitro and in vivo. Methionine residue oxidation by oxidants is found in an accumulating number of important proteins. Met sulfoxidation activates calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and the large conductance calcium-activated potassium channels, delays inactivation of the Shaker potassium channel ShC/B and L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels. Sulfoxidation at critical Met residues inhibits fibrillation of atherosclerosis-related apolipoproteins and multiple neurodegenerative disease-related proteins, such as amyloid beta, α-synuclein, prion, and others. Methionine residue oxidation is also correlated with marked changes in cellular activities. Controlled key methionine residue oxidation may be used as an oxi-genetics tool to dissect specific protein function in situ.
Hypokinesia and reduced dopamine levels in zebrafish lacking β- and γ1-synucleins.
Source
University of Pittsburgh, United States.
Abstract
α-Synuclein is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. However, the normal functions of synucleins and how these relate to disease pathogenesis are uncertain. We characterized endogenous zebrafish synucleins in order to develop tractable models to elucidate the physiological roles of synucleins, in neurons in vivo. Three zebrafish genes, sncb, sncg1 and sncg2 (encoding β-, γ1- and γ2-synucleins respectively) showed extensive phylogenetic conservation with respect to their human paralogues. A zebrafish α-synuclein orthologue was not found. Abundant 1.45kb sncb and 2.7kb sncg1 mRNAs were detected in the CNS from early development through adulthood and showed overlapping but distinct expression patterns. Both transcripts were detected in catecholaminergic neurons throughout the CNS. Zebrafish lacking β-, γ1- or both synucleins during early development showed normal CNS and body morphology, but exhibited decreased spontaneous motor activity that resolved as gene expression recovered. Zebrafish lacking both β- and γ1-synucleins were more severely hypokinetic than animals lacking one or othersynuclein, and showed delayed differentiation of dopaminergic neurons and reduced dopamine levels. Phenotypic abnormalities resulting from loss of endogenous zebrafish synucleins were rescued by expression of human α-synuclein. These data demonstrate that synucleins have essential phylogenetically-conserved neuronal functions that regulate dopamine homeostasis and spontaneous motor behavior. Zebrafish models will allow further elucidation of the molecular physiology and pathophysiology of synucleins in vivo.
Effect of melatonin on α-synuclein self-assembly and cytotoxicity.
Source
Department of Neurology and Neurobiology and Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan.
Abstract
α-Synuclein (αS) assembly has been implicated as a critical step in the development of Lewy body diseases such as Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Melatonin (Mel), a secretory product of the pineal gland, is known to have beneficial effects such as an antioxidant function and neuroprotection. To elucidate whether Mel has an antiassembly effect, here we used circular dichroism spectroscopy, photoinduced crosslinking of unmodified proteins, thioflavin S fluorescence, size exclusion chromatography, electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy to examine the effects of Mel on the αS assembly. We also examined the effects of Mel on αS-induced cytotoxicity by assaying 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide metabolism in αS-treated, primary neuronal cells. Initial studies revealed that Mel blocked αS fibril formation as well as destabilizing preformed αS fibrils. Subsequent evaluation of the assembly-stage specificity of the effect showed that Mel was able to inhibit protofibril formation, oligomerization, and secondary structure transitions. Importantly, Mel decreased αS-induced cytotoxicity. These data suggest a mechanism of action for Mel, inhibition of assembly of toxic polymers and protection of neurons from their effect.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Isorhynchophylline, a natural alkaloid, promotes the degradation of alpha-synuclein in neuronal cells via inducing autophagy.
Source
School of Chinese Medicine; Hong Kong Baptist University; Hong Kong.
Abstract
Accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) in the brain is a pathogenic feature and also a causative factor of Parkinson disease. Isorhynchophylline (IsoRhy) is a major tetracyclic oxindole alkaloid isolated from the Chinese herbal medicine Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.)Jacks (Gouteng in Chinese), which has been used for the treatment of neurological diseases in East Asia for centuries. Here we report a novel function of IsoRhy as a neuronal autophagy inducer. IsoRhy induced autophagy in different neuronal cell lines, including N2a, SH-SY5Y and PC12 cells, and also in primary cortical neurons. Furthermore, IsoRhy induced autophagy in the fat bodies of Drosophila. IsoRhy promoted clearance of wild-type, A53T and A30P α-syn monomers, α-syn oligomers and α-syn/synphilin-1 aggresomes in neuronal cells via the autophagy-lysosome pathway. More importantly, IsoRhy was able to decrease the expression levels of wild-type and A53T α-syn protein in differentiated human dopaminergic neurons. Notably, IsoRhy-induced autophagy was independent of the mTOR pathway but dependent on the function of Beclin 1. Taken together, data from this study raise the possibility that oxindole alkaloid derivatives may serve as a means to stimulate autophagy in neuronal cells, thereby exerting preventive and therapeutic values against neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson disease by reducing pathogenic protein aggregates in neurons.
SNCA Triplication Parkinson's Patient's iPSC-derived DA Neurons Accumulate α-Synuclein and Are Susceptible to Oxidative Stress.
Source
Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is an incurable age-related neurodegenerative disorder affecting both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Although common, the etiology of PD remains poorly understood. Genetic studies infer that the disease results from a complex interaction between genetics and environment and there is growing evidence that PD may represent a constellation of diseases with overlapping yet distinct underlying mechanisms. Novel clinical approaches will require a better understanding of the mechanisms at work within an individual as well as methods to identify the specific array of mechanisms that have contributed to the disease. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) strategies provide an opportunity to directly study the affected neuronal subtypes in a given patient. Here we report the generation of iPSC-derived midbrain dopaminergic neurons from a patient with a triplication in the α-synuclein gene (SNCA). We observed that the iPSCs readily differentiated into functional neurons. Importantly, the PD-affected line exhibited disease-related phenotypes in culture: accumulation of α-synuclein, inherent overexpression of markers of oxidative stress, and sensitivity to peroxide induced oxidative stress. These findings show that the dominantly-acting PD mutation is intrinsically capable of perturbing normal cell function in culture and confirm that these features reflect, at least in part, a cell autonomous disease process that is independent of exposure to the entire complexity of the diseased brain.
Cross-functional E3 ligases Parkin and C-terminus Hsp70-interacting protein in neurodegenerative disorders.
Source
Functional genomics laboratory, Center for Medical Engineering, SBST Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, TN, India Department of Neurology, Adjunct faculty, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Abstract
J. Neurochem. (2012) 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07588.x ABSTRACT: The study of neurodegenerative disorders has had a major impact on our understanding of more fundamental mechanisms underlying neurobiology. Breakthroughs in the genetics of Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's diseases (PD) has resulted in new knowledge in the areas of axonal transport, energy metabolism, protein trafficking/clearance and synaptic physiology. The major neurodegenerative diseases have in common a regional or network pathology associated with abnormal protein accumulation(s) and various degrees of motor or cognitive decline. In AD, β-amyloids are deposited in extracellular diffuse and compacted plaques as well as intracellularly. There is a major contribution to the disease by the co-existence of an intraneuronal tauopathy. Additionally, PD-like Lewy Bodies (LBs) bearing aggregated α-synuclein is present in 40-60% of all AD cases, especially involving amygdala. Amyloid deposits can be degraded or cleared by several mechanisms, including immune-mediated and transcytosis across the blood-brain barrier. Another avenue for disposal involves the lysosome pathway via autophagy. Enzymatic pathways include insulin degradative enzyme and neprilysin. Finally, the co-operative actions of C-terminus Hsp70 interacting protein (CHIP) and Parkin, components of a multiprotein E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, may be a portal to proteasome-mediated degradation. Mutations in the Parkin gene are the most common genetic link to autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease. Parkin catalyzes the post-translational modification of proteins with polyubiquitin, targeting them to the 26S proteasome. Parkin reduces intracellular Aβ(1-42) peptide levels, counteracts its effects on cell death, and reverses its effect to inhibit the proteasome. Additionally, Parkin has intrinsic cytoprotective activity to promote proteasome function and defend against oxidative stress to mitochondria. Parkin and CHIP are also active in amyloid clearance and cytoprotection in vivo. Parkin has cross-functionality in additional neurodegenerative diseases, for instance, to eliminate polyglutamine-expanded proteins, reducing their aggregation and toxicity and reinstate proteasome function. The dual actions of CHIP (molecular co-chaperone and E3 ligase) and Parkin (as E3-ubiquitin ligase and anti-oxidant) may also play a role in suppressing inflammatory reactions in animal models of neurodegeneration. In this review, we focus on the significance of CHIP and Parkin as inducers of amyloid clearance, as cytoprotectants and in the suppression of reactive inflammation. A case is made for more effort to explore whether neurodegeneration associated with proteinopathies can be arrested at early stages by promoting their mutual action.
© 2011 The Authors. Journal of Neurochemistry © 2011 International Society for Neurochemistry.
Membrane proteins in four acts: Function precedes structure determination.
Source
Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, Hall of Structural Biology, 240 Hockmeyer Hall, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1354, USA.
Abstract
Studies on four membrane protein systems, which combine information derived from crystal structures and biophysical studies have emphasized, as a precursor to crystallization, demonstration of functional activity. These assays have relied on sensitive spectrophotometric, electrophysiological, and microbiological assays of activity to select purification procedures that lead to functional complexes and with greater likelihood to successful crystallization: (I), Hetero-oligomeric proteins involved in electron transport/proton translocation. (1) Crystal structures of the eight subunit hetero-oligomeric trans-membrane dimeric cytochrome b(6)f complex were obtained from cyanobacteria using a protocol that allowed an analysis of the structure and function of internal lipids at specific intra-membrane, intra-protein sites. Proteolysis and monomerization that inactivated the complex and prevented crystallization was minimized through the use of filamentous cyanobacterial strains that seem to have a different set of membrane-active proteases. (2) An NADPH-quinone oxido-reductase isolated from cyanobacteria contains an expanded set of 17 monotopic and polytopic hetero-subunits. (II) β-Barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs). High resolution structures of the vitamin B(12) binding protein, BtuB, solved in meso and in surfo, provide the best example of the differences in such structures that were anticipated in the first application of the lipid cubic phase to membrane proteins [1]. A structure of the complex of BtuB with the colicin E3 and E2 receptor binding domain established a "fishing pole" model for outer membrane receptorfunction in cellular import of nuclease colicins. (III) A modified faster purification procedure contributed to significantly improved resolution (1.83Å) of the universal porin, OmpF, the first membrane protein for which meaningful 3D crystals have been obtained [2]. A crystal structure of the N-terminal translocation domain of colicin E3 complexed to OmpF established the role of OmpF as an import channel for colicin nuclease cytotoxins. (IV) α-Synuclein, associated with the etiology of Parkinson's Disease, is an example of a protein, which is soluble and disordered in solution, but which can assume an ordered predominantly α-helical conformation upon binding to membranes. When subjected in its membrane-bound form to a trans-membrane electrical potential, α-synuclein can form voltage-gated ion channels. Summary of methods to assay functions/activities: (i) sensitive spectrophotometric assay to measure electron transfer activities; (ii) hydrophobic chromatography to deplete lipids, allowing reconstitution with specific lipids for studies on lipid-protein interactions; (iii) microbiological screen to assay high affinity binding of colicin receptor domains to Escherichia coli outer membrane receptors; (iv) electrophysiology/channel analysis (a) to select channel-occluding ligands for co-crystallization with ion channels of OmpF, and (b) to provide a unique description of voltage-gated ion channels of α-synuclein.
Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.
α-Synuclein oligomers oppose long-term potentiation and impair memory through a calcineurin-dependent mechanism: relevance to human synucleopathic diseases.
Source
Departments of Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA Departments of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
Abstract
J. Neurochem. (2011) 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07576.x ABSTRACT: Intracellular deposition of fibrillar aggregates of α-synuclein (αSyn) characterizes neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies. However, recent evidence indicates that small αSyn oligomeric aggregates that precede fibril formation may be the most neurotoxic species and can be found extracellularly. This new evidence has changed the view of pathological αSyn aggregation from a self-contained cellular phenomenon to an extracellular event and prompted investigation of the putative effects of extracellular αSyn oligomers. In this study, we report that extracellular application of αSyn oligomers detrimentally impacts neuronal welfare and memory function. We found that oligomeric αSyn increased intracellular Ca(2+) levels, induced calcineurin (CaN) activity, decreased cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) transcriptional activity and resulted in calcineurin-dependent death of human neuroblastoma cells. Similarly, CaN induction and CREB inhibition were observed when αSyn oligomers were applied to organotypic brain slices, which opposed hippocampal long-term potentiation. Furthermore, αSyn oligomers induced CaN, inhibited CREB and evoked memory impairments in mice that received acute intracerebroventricular injections. Notably, all these events were reversed by pharmacological inhibition of CaN. Moreover, we found decreased active CaN and reduced levels of phosphorylated CREB in autopsy brain tissue from patients affected by dementia with Lewy bodies, which is characterized by deposition of αSyn aggregates and progressive cognitive decline. These results indicate that exogenously applied αSyn oligomers impact neuronal function and produce memory deficits through mechanisms that involve CaN activation.
No comments:
Post a Comment