SIRT4 interacts with OPA1 and regulates mitochondrial quality control and mitophagy.

The stress-responsive mitochondrial sirtuin SIRT4 controls cellular energy metabolism in a NAD+-dependent manner and is implicated in cellular senescence and aging. Here we reveal a novel function of SIRT4 in mitochondrial morphology/quality control and regulation of mitophagy. We report that moderate overexpression of SIRT4, but not its enzymatically inactive mutant H161Y, sensitized cells to mitochondrial stress. CCCP-triggered dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential resulted in increased mitochondrial ROS levels and autophagic flux, but surprisingly led to increased mitochondrial mass and decreased Parkin-regulated mitophagy. The anti-respiratory effect of elevated SIRT4 was accompanied by increased levels of the inner-membrane bound long form of the GTPase OPA1 (L-OPA1) that promotes mitochondrial fusion and thereby counteracts fission and mitophagy. Consistent with this, upregulation of endogenous SIRT4 expression in fibroblast models of senescence either by transfection with miR-15b inhibitors or by ionizing radiation increased L-OPA1 levels and mitochondrial fusion in a SIRT4-dependent manner. We further demonstrate that SIRT4 interacts physically with OPA1 in co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Overall, we propose that the SIRT4-OPA1 axis is causally linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and altered mitochondrial dynamics that translates into aging-associated decreased mitophagy based on an unbalanced mitochondrial fusion/fission cycle.

Secondary structural alterations in glucoamylase as an influence of protein aggregation.

Glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3) from Aspergillus niger possesses 31% α-helix, 36% ß structure and rest aperiodic structure. A transition of glucoamylase structure in the presence of varying concentrations of glyoxal (GO) and trifluoroethanol (TFE) was studied by using multi-methodological approaches. At 20% GO, glucoamylase exists as molten globule state as evident by high tryptophan and ANS fluorescence, retention of secondary structure and loss of native tertiary structure. This state precedes the onset of the aggregation process and maximum is achieved at the highest concentration i.e. at 90% of GO. In parallel study TFE, on increasing concentration up to 25% induces secondary structure transformation leading to accumulation of intermolecular ß sheets, altered tryptophan environment, high ANS and ThT fluorescence resulting in the formation of glucoamylase aggregates. Isothermal titration calorimetric curve is sigmoidal, indicating the weak binding of GO/TFE and glucoamylase. TEM studies showed that glucoamylase exists as globular and amorphous aggregates at 90% glyoxal and 25% TFE respectively. Further, TFE at 70% causes inhibition of enzyme aggregates; the majority of secondary structures observed at this concentration are α helices. Alpha helices being the main key player relocates glucoamylase native environment as evident by CD, FTIR and TEM. Hence induction of ß sheet promotes protein aggregation and α helices inhibits protein aggregation.

Aggregation of intrinsically disordered fibrinogen as the influence of backbone conformation.

Fib having intrinsically disordered αC domains is involved in coagulation cascade and thrombosis. Fib molecules forms prefibrillar oligomers at 30%, and associate in 40 and 50% TFE to proceed α to ß transition, suggesting the formation of an intermolecular ß-structure. AFM images confirmed the nature of Fib aggregates at 40 and 50% TFE to be prefibrillar and fibrillar respectively. These aggregates possess high thioflavin T fluorescence with a shifted Congo red absorbance. Kinetics of Fib aggregation data at 50% TFE supports nucleation-dependent polymerization mechanism. At 60 and 70% TFE, no aggregation was observed. The inhibition of protein aggregation appears due to weakening of the hydrophobic interactions that were initially stabilizing the intermolecular ß-sheet structure in the protein aggregation. The loss of hydrophobic contacts seems to favor the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds over intermolecular hydrogen bonds leading to helix formation. To conclude, protein aggregation is accompanied by the formation of ß-sheet conformation, and induction of non-native helical segments in the protein inhibits aggregation. The discrepancy of the secondary structures on aggregation is proposed to stem from the disparity in the nature of the hydrogen bonds and packing of hydrophobic residues of the side chains in the ß-sheet and α-helix conformation.

Anesthetic 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol induces amyloidogenesis and cytotoxicity in human serum albumin.

Trifluoroethanol (TFE) mimics the membrane environments as it simulates the hydrophobic environment and better stabilizes the secondary structures in peptides owing to its hydrophobicity and hydrogen bond-forming properties. Its dielectric constant approximates that of the interior of proteins and is one-third of that of water. Human serum albumin (HSA) is a biological transporter. The effect of TFE on HSA gives the clue about the conformational changes taking place in HSA on transport of ligands across the biological membranes. At 25% (v/v) and 60% (v/v) TFE, HSA exhibits non-native ß-sheet, altered tryptophan fluorescence, exposed hydrophobic clusters, increased thioflavin T fluorescence and prominent red shifted Congo red absorbance, and large hydrodynamic radii suggesting the aggregate formation. Isothermal titration calorimetric results indicate weak binding of TFE and HSA. This suggests that solvent-mediated effects dominate the interaction of TFE and HSA. TEM confirmed prefibrillar at 25% (v/v) and fibrillar aggregates at 60% (v/v) TFE. Comet assay of prefibrillar aggregates showed DNA damage causing cell necrosis hence confirming cytotoxic nature. On increasing concentration of TFE to 80% (v/v), HSA showed retention of native-like secondary structure, increased Trp and ANS fluorescence, a transition from ß-sheet to α-helix. Thus, TFE at high concentration possess anti- aggregating potency.

Protein folding, misfolding, aggregation and their implications in human diseases: discovering therapeutic ways to amyloid-associated diseases.

Protein folding is a very complex process, and recognition of the molecular mechanisms responsible for protein folding is one of the demanding queries in biochemistry. Protein molecules have a fixed propensity either to misfold or unable to sustain their precisely folded states, under assured conditions. Taking into account that the protein misfolding and aggregation are central in the pathogenesis of protein conformational disorders, a therapy focussed to the root of the disease should target to restrain and/or undo the conformational alterations that lead to the development of the pathological protein conformer. In future, an understanding of the causes of protein aggregation and genetic and environmental vulnerability features of an exact individual may offer an enhanced prospect for a successful therapeutic intrusion. Dealing with these and related problems not only provides great prospects for involvement with numerous, presently fatal diseases but will also ultimately disclose the basically essential association between proteostasis and prolonged existence.

Molten globule of hemoglobin proceeds into aggregates and advanced glycated end products.

Conformational alterations of bovine hemoglobin (Hb) upon sequential addition of glyoxal over a range of 0-90% v/v were investigated. At 20% v/v glyoxal, molten globule (MG) state of Hb was observed by altered tryptophan fluorescence, high ANS binding, existence of intact heme, native-like secondary structure as depicted by far-UV circular dichroism (CD) and ATR-FTIR spectra as well as loss in tertiary structure as confirmed by near-UV CD spectra. In addition, size exclusion chromatography analysis depicted that MG state at 20% v/v glyoxal corresponded to expanded pre-dissociated dimers. Aggregates of Hb were detected at 70% v/v glyoxal. These aggregates of Hb had altered tryptophan environment, low ANS binding, exposed heme, increased ß-sheet secondary structure, loss in tertiary structure, enhanced thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence and red shifted Congo Red (CR) absorbance. On incubating Hb with 30% v/v glyoxal for 0-20 days, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were detected on day 20. These AGEs were characterised by enhanced tryptophan fluorescence at 450 nm, exposure of heme, increase in intermolecular ß-sheets, enhanced ThT fluorescence and red shift in CR absorbance. Comet assay revealed aggregates and AGEs to be genotoxic in nature. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the amorphous structure of aggregates and branched fibrils of AGEs. The transformation of α-helix to ß-sheet usually alters the normal protein to amyloidogenic resulting in a variety of protein conformational disorders such as diabetes, prion and Huntington's.

Detection and analysis of protofibrils and fibrils of hemoglobin: implications for the pathogenesis and cure of heme loss related maladies.

TFE induces structural alterations of proteins similar to the lipid environment of biological membranes, implicating these studies worthy of analyzing protein conformation in membranes such as red blood cells (RBCs). Heme loss occurs on rupturing of RBCs as found in diseases namely haemophilia, haemolytic anaemia, diabetes mellitus. TFE can be implied in discovering therapeutic targets, as it mimics the biological membrane environment. A global transition of hemoglobin (Hb) in presence of TFE was studied by using multi-methodological approach. The presence of partially folded state of Hb at 15% v/v TFE was confirmed by altered tryptophan environment, and retention of native-like secondary and tertiary structure. Molten globule state was observed at 20% v/v TFE as detected by increase tryptophan and high ANS fluorescence, slight alterations in Soret band relative to native. TFE on increasing concentration induced protofibrils at 25% v/v and fibrils at 45% v/v as depicted by altered tryptophan environment, heme loss, increase in non-native ß-sheet secondary and tertiary structure, large hydrodynamic radii of heme-protein, high ANS, thioflavin T fluorescence and shift in Congo Red absorbance. Comet assay showed that protofibrils are cytotoxic to lymphocytes. SEM and XRD confirmed these aggregates to be fibrillar in nature.

Equilibrium studies of cellulase aggregates in presence of ascorbic and boric acid.

The aggregate formation of cellulase was detected at 300 and 10 mM ascorbic and boric acid respectively. These aggregates showed reduced enzyme activity, loss in near-UV signal, decrease tryptophan and ANS fluorescence. They possess increase in non-native ß-sheet structure as evident from far-UV CD and FTIR spectra, large hydrodynamic radii, increase thioflavin T fluorescence and shift in Congo red. Cellulase at 90 mM ascorbic acid exists as molten globule with retention of secondary structure, altered tryptophan environment, high ANS binding and loss in tertiary structure. Ascorbic acid acts as an antioxidant up to 90 mM and beyond this as a pro-oxidant.

Conformational transitions provoked by organic solvents in chicken egg ovalbumin: mimicking the local environment.

Glycoprotein ovalbumin is an important protein to study helix/sheet transitions as it possess almost equal amount of α-helix and ß-sheet. Conformational changes on ovalbumin at various concentrations of glyoxal, ethylene glycol (EG) and polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400) were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy, 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid and thioflavin T assay. A partially folded state of ovalbumin at 50 % v/v glyoxal was detected that preceded the onset of the aggregation process at the maximum concentration (90 % v/v) of this aldehyde. Aggregates of ovalbumin in the presence EG and PEG-400 were deduced at 70 and 80 % v/v respectively. Maximum aggregation of ovalbumin was observed at 80 % v/v PEG-400, followed by 70 % v/v EG and 90 % v/v glyoxal. Our study confirms that protein aggregation is influenced by the chemistry of organic solvent used thus follows an order of solvent effectiveness (PEG > EG > glyoxal) in inducing the transition. These results provide valuable information on the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of some conformational diseases. The α-helix to ß-sheet conversion is a diagnostic feature of protein aggregation and has been considered as a general characteristic of amyloid fibrillogenesis in vitro.

Trifluoroethanol and acetonitrile induced formation of the molten globule states and aggregates of cellulase.

A systematic investigation on the effects of trifluoroethanol and acetonitrile at various concentrations on cellulase (EC 3.2.1.4) was studied by enzyme assay, intrinsic fluorescence, ANS binding, circular dichroism and ATR-Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy. The results show the presence of molten globule states at 3% (v/v) TFE and 80% (v/v) ACN. Cellulase aggregates at 25% (v/v) TFE and 90% (v/v) ACN, as detected by decrease in intrinsic and ANS fluorescence, loss in tertiary structure and enzyme activity, increase non-native ß-sheet structure as evident from far-UV CD and FTIR spectra, increase in Thioflavin T fluorescence and shift in Congo red assay.

Existence of different structural intermediates and aggregates on the folding pathway of ovalbumin.

Structural modifications of ovalbumin in presence of different concentration of guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn HCl) and glucose were investigated by using intrinsic fluorescence, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, circular dichroism and 8-anilino-1-naphthalene-sulphonic acid, to confirm that partially folded intermediates of ovalbumin lead to aggregation. The two partially folded intermediates of ovalbumin were observed one at 1 M Gdn HCl and another in the presence of 20 mM glucose at 3 M Gdn HCl. Both intermediates exist as compact states with altered intrinsic fluorescence, prominent ß-sheet secondary structure and enhanced ANS binding. Ovalbumin in the presence of glucose required more concentration of Gdn HCl (3 M) to exist as an intermediate state than control (1 M). Such alpha-helix/beta-sheet transition of proteins is a crucial step in amyloidogenic diseases and represents an internal rearrangement of local contacts in an already folded protein. Further, incubation for 24 h resulted in the formation of aggregates as detected by thioflavin T-assay. On further increasing the concentration of glucose to 50 mM and incubation time for various days resulted in the formation of molten globule state of ovalbumin at 6th day. Later on, at 10th day advanced glycated end products were observed.