Structural Studies of Amyloid Proteins at the Molecular Level.

Dozens of proteins are known to convert to the aggregated amyloid state. These include fibrils associated with systemic and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, functional amyloid fibrils in microorganisms and animals, and many denatured proteins. Amyloid fibrils can be much more stable than other protein assemblies. In contrast to globular proteins, a single protein sequence can aggregate into several distinctly different amyloid structures, termed polymorphs, and a given polymorph can reproduce itself by seeding. Amyloid polymorphs may be the molecular basis of prion strains. Whereas the Protein Data Bank contains some 100,000 globular protein and 3,000 membrane protein structures, only a few dozen amyloid protein structures have been determined, and most of these are short segments of full amyloid-forming proteins. Regardless, these amyloid structures illuminate the architecture of the amyloid state, including its stability and its capacity for formation of polymorphs.

Identification of a Steric Zipper Motif in the Amyloidogenic Core of Human Cystatin C and Its Use for the Design of Self-Assembling Peptides.

Amyloid fibrils have been known for many years. Unfortunately, their fame stems from negative aspects related to amyloid diseases. Nevertheless, due to their properties, they can be used as interesting nanomaterials. Apart from their remarkable stability, amyloid fibrils may be regarded as a kind of a storage medium and as a source of active peptides. In many cases, their structure may guarantee a controlled and slow release of peptides in their active form; therefore, they can be used as a potential nanomaterial in drug delivery systems. In addition, amyloid fibrils display controllable stiffness, flexibility, and satisfactory mechanical strength. In addition, they can be modified and functionalized very easily. Understanding the structure and genesis of amyloid assemblies derived from a broad range of amyloidogenic proteins could help to better understand and use this unique material. One of the factors responsible for amyloid aggregation is the steric zipper. Here, we report the discovery of steric zipper-forming peptides in the sequence of the amyloidogenic protein, human cystatin C (HCC). The ability of short peptides derived from this fragment of HCC to form fibrillar structures with defined self-association characteristics and the factors influencing this aggregation are also presented in this paper.

Structure and Aggregation Mechanisms in Amyloids.

The aggregation of a polypeptide chain into amyloid fibrils and their accumulation and deposition into insoluble plaques and intracellular inclusions is the hallmark of several misfolding diseases known as amyloidoses. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases are some of the approximately 50 amyloid diseases described to date. The identification and characterization of the molecular species critical for amyloid formation and disease development have been the focus of intense scrutiny. Methods such as X-ray and electron diffraction, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (ssNMR) and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have been extensively used and they have contributed to shed a new light onto the structure of amyloid, revealing a multiplicity of polymorphic structures that generally fit the cross-ß amyloid motif. The development of rational therapeutic approaches against these debilitating and increasingly frequent misfolding diseases requires a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the amyloid cascade. Here, we review the current knowledge on amyloid fibril formation for several proteins and peptides from a kinetic and thermodynamic point of view, the structure of the molecular species involved in the amyloidogenic process, and the origin of their cytotoxicity.

Identification of two principal amyloid-driving segments in variable domains of Ig light chains in systemic light-chain amyloidosis.

Systemic light-chain amyloidosis (AL) is a human disease caused by overexpression of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains that form pathogenic amyloid fibrils. These amyloid fibrils deposit in tissues and cause organ failure. Proteins form amyloid fibrils when they partly or fully unfold and expose segments capable of stacking into ß-sheets that pair and thereby form a tight, dehydrated interface. These structures, termed steric zippers, constitute the spines of amyloid fibrils. Here, using a combination of computational (with ZipperDB and Boston University ALBase), mutational, biochemical, and protein structural analyses, we identified segments within the variable domains of Ig light chains that drive the assembly of amyloid fibrils in AL. We demonstrate that there are at least two such segments and that each one can drive amyloid fibril assembly independently of the other. Our analysis revealed that peptides derived from these segments form steric zippers featuring a typical dry interface with high-surface complementarity and occupy the same spatial location of the Greek-key immunoglobulin fold in both λ and κ variable domains. Of note, some predicted steric-zipper segments did not form amyloid fibrils or assembled into fibrils only when removed from the whole protein. We conclude that steric-zipper propensity must be experimentally validated and that the two segments identified here may represent therapeutic targets. In addition to elucidating the molecular pathogenesis of AL, these findings also provide an experimental approach for identifying segments that drive fibril formation in other amyloid diseases.

Asparagine and glutamine ladders promote cross-species prion conversion.

Prion transmission between species is governed in part by primary sequence similarity between the infectious prion aggregate, PrPSc, and the cellular prion protein of the host, PrPC A puzzling feature of prion formation is that certain PrPC sequences, such as that of bank vole, can be converted by a remarkably broad array of different mammalian prions, whereas others, such as rabbit, show robust resistance to cross-species prion conversion. To examine the structural determinants that confer susceptibility or resistance to prion conversion, we systematically tested over 40 PrPC variants of susceptible and resistant PrPC sequences in a prion conversion assay. Five key residue positions markedly impacted prion conversion, four of which were in steric zipper segments where side chains from amino acids tightly interdigitate in a dry interface. Strikingly, all five residue substitutions modulating prion conversion involved the gain or loss of an asparagine or glutamine residue. For two of the four positions, Asn and Gln residues were not interchangeable, revealing a strict requirement for either an Asn or Gln residue. Bank voles have a high number of Asn and Gln residues and a high Asn:Gln ratio. These findings suggest that a high number of Asn and Gln residues at specific positions may stabilize ß-sheets and lower the energy barrier for cross-species prion transmission, potentially because of hydrogen bond networks from side chain amides forming extended Asn/Gln ladders. These data also suggest that multiple PrPC segments containing Asn/Gln residues may act in concert along a replicative interface to promote prion conversion.

Synthesis and physicochemical studies of amyloidogenic hexapeptides derived from human cystatin C.

Human cystatin C (hCC) is a low molecular mass protein that belongs to the cystatin superfamily. It is an inhibitor of extracellular cysteine proteinases, present in all human body fluids. At physiological conditions, hCC is a monomer, but it has a tendency to dimerization. Naturally occurring hCC mutant, with leucine in position 68 substituted by glutamine (L68Q), is directly involved in the formation of amyloid deposits, independently of other proteins. This process is the primary cause of hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathy, observed mainly in the Icelandic population. Oligomerization and fibrillization processes of hCC are not explained equally well, but it is proposed that domain swapping is involved in both of them. Research carried out on the fibrillization process led to new hypothesis about the existence of a steric zipper motif in amyloidogenic proteins. In the hCC sequence, there are 2 fragments which may play the role of a steric zipper: the loop L1 region and the C-terminal fragment. In this work, we focused on the first of these. Nine hexapeptides covering studied hCC fragment were synthesized, and their fibrillogenic potential was assessed using an array of biophysical methods. The obtained results showed that the studied hCC fragment has strong profibrillogenic propensities because it contains 2 fragments fulfilling the requirements for an effective steric zipper located next to each other, forming 1 super-steric zipper motif. This hCC fragment might therefore be responsible for the enhanced amyloidogenic properties of dimeric or partially unfolded hCC.

A proposed mechanism for the promotion of prion conversion involving a strictly conserved tyrosine residue in the ß2-α2 loop of PrPC.

The transmission of infectious prions into different host species requires compatible prion protein (PrP) primary structures, and even one heterologous residue at a pivotal position can block prion infection. Mapping the key amino acid positions that govern cross-species prion conversion has not yet been possible, although certain residue positions have been identified as restrictive, including residues in the ß2-α2 loop region of PrP. To further define how ß2-α2 residues impact conversion, we investigated residue substitutions in PrP(C) using an in vitro prion conversion assay. Within the ß2-α2 loop, a tyrosine residue at position 169 is strictly conserved among mammals, and transgenic mice expressing mouse PrP having the Y169G, S170N, and N174T substitutions resist prion infection. To better understand the structural requirements of specific residues for conversion initiated by mouse prions, we substituted a diverse array of amino acids at position 169 of PrP. We found that the substitution of glycine, leucine, or glutamine at position 169 reduced conversion by ∼ 75%. In contrast, replacing tyrosine 169 with either of the bulky, aromatic residues, phenylalanine or tryptophan, supported efficient prion conversion. We propose a model based on a requirement for tightly interdigitating complementary amino acid side chains within specific domains of adjacent PrP molecules, known as "steric zippers," to explain these results. Collectively, these studies suggest that an aromatic residue at position 169 supports efficient prion conversion.

In silico investigation of the structural stability as the origin of the pathogenicity of α-synuclein protofibrils.

α-Synuclein is a presynaptic neuronal protein. The fibril form of α-synuclein is a major constituent of the intraneuronal inclusion called Lewy body, a characteristic hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Recent ssNMR and cryo-EM experiments of wild-type α-synuclein fibrils have shown polymorphism and observed two major polymorphs, rod and twister. To associate the cytotoxicity of α-synuclein fibrils with their structural features, it is essential to understand the origins of their structural stability. In this study, we performed molecular dynamics simulations of the two major polymorphs of wild-type α-synuclein fibrils. The predominance of specific fibril polymorphs was rationalized in terms of relative structural stability in aqueous environments, which was attributed to the cooperative contributions of various stabilizing features. The results of the simulations indicated that highly stable structures in aqueous environments could be maintained by the cooperation of compact sidechain packing in the hydrophobic core, backbone geometry of the maximal ß-sheet content wrapping the hydrophobic core, and solvent-exposed sidechains with large fluctuations maximizing the solvation entropy. The paired structure of the two protofilaments provides additional stability, especially at the interface region, by forming steric zipper interactions and hiding the hydrophobic residues from exposure to water. The sidechain interaction analyses and pulling simulations showed that the rod polymorph has stronger sidechain interactions and exhibits higher dissociation energy than the twister polymorph. It is expected that our study will provide a basis for understanding the pathogenic behaviors of diverse amyloid strains in terms of their structural properties.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

General Principles Underpinning Amyloid Structure.

Amyloid fibrils are a pathologically and functionally relevant state of protein folding, which is generally accessible to polypeptide chains and differs fundamentally from the globular state in terms of molecular symmetry, long-range conformational order, and supramolecular scale. Although amyloid structures are challenging to study, recent developments in techniques such as cryo-EM, solid-state NMR, and AFM have led to an explosion of information about the molecular and supramolecular organization of these assemblies. With these rapid advances, it is now possible to assess the prevalence and significance of proposed general structural features in the context of a diverse body of high-resolution models, and develop a unified view of the principles that control amyloid formation and give rise to their unique properties. Here, we show that, despite system-specific differences, there is a remarkable degree of commonality in both the structural motifs that amyloids adopt and the underlying principles responsible for them. We argue that the inherent geometric differences between amyloids and globular proteins shift the balance of stabilizing forces, predisposing amyloids to distinct molecular interaction motifs with a particular tendency for massive, lattice-like networks of mutually supporting interactions. This general property unites previously characterized structural features such as steric and polar zippers, and contributes to the long-range molecular order that gives amyloids many of their unique properties. The shared features of amyloid structures support the existence of shared structure-activity principles that explain their self-assembly, function, and pathogenesis, and instill hope in efforts to develop broad-spectrum modifiers of amyloid function and pathology.

A New Function for Amyloid-Like Interactions: Cross-Beta Aggregates of Adhesins form Cell-to-Cell Bonds.

Amyloid structures assemble through a repeating type of bonding called "cross-ß", in which identical sequences in many protein molecules form ß-sheets that interdigitate through side chain interactions. We review the structural characteristics of such bonds. Single cell force microscopy (SCFM) shows that yeast expressing Als5 adhesin from Candida albicans demonstrate the empirical characteristics of cross-ß interactions. These properties include affinity for amyloid-binding dyes, birefringence, critical concentration dependence, repeating structure, and inhibition by anti-amyloid agents. We present a model for how cross-ß bonds form in trans between two adhering cells. These characteristics also apply to other fungal adhesins, so the mechanism appears to be an example of a new type of cell-cell adhesion.

The Structural Basis of Amyloid Strains in Alzheimer's Disease.

Amyloid fibrils represent one of the defining features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). They are made up of protofilaments composed of amyloid ß (Aß) peptides that are held together with extraordinary stability by a network of tight steric zippers and axial hydrogen bonds. This review explores the hypothesis that the peptide conformation within a protofilament represents the physical embodiment of a "strain" of AD. Evidence suggests that within a single strain the fold of individual peptides is invariant. However, the fibrils are capable of structural polymorphism that includes variation in the arrangement of protofilaments into fibrils, the pitch of the resultant fibrils, and the higher-order organization of the plaques into which they aggregate. These intrastrain polymorphisms are separated by low energy barriers, allowing multiple configurations to coexist within a single preparation or tissue. Clinical presentation of different strains may be determined by variation in the way different protofilament structures generate the relevant toxic species, be they monomers, oligomers, or higher-order structures. Evidence reviewed here is consistent with a model in which disease progression is concomitant with a gradual, progressive annealing of amyloid fibrils from benign, loosely packed structures into dense neurotoxic aggregates. This model challenges the commonly held hypothesis that oligomers of Aß peptides are the only active proximate species in neurodegeneration. However, the data do not implicate fibrils themselves. Rather, they cast suspicion on larger-scale supramolecular aggregates as toxic agents. Electron tomography of amyloid plaques in situ strongly suggests that the formation of amyloid aggregates results in perturbation of the cellular membrane integrity, warranting further investigation of this as a potential mode of neurotoxicity. If dense supramolecular amyloid aggregates prove to be important agents of neurodegeneration in AD, this model may also have relevance to other forms of amyloidoses.

Karyopherins and condensates.

Several aggregation-prone RNA-binding proteins, including FUS, EWS, TAF15, hnRNP A1, hnRNP A2, and TDP-43, are mutated in neurodegenerative diseases. The nuclear-cytoplasmic distribution of these proteins is controlled by proteins in the karyopherin family of nuclear transport factors (Kaps). Recent studies have shown that Kaps not only transport these proteins but also inhibit their self-association/aggregation, acting as molecular chaperones. This chaperone activity is impaired for disease-causing mutants of the RNA-binding proteins. Here, we review physical data on the mechanisms of self-association of several disease-associated RNA-binding proteins, through liquid-liquid phase separation and amyloid fiber formation. In each case, we relate these data to biophysical, biochemical, and cell biological data on the inhibition of self-association by Kaps. Our analyses suggest that Kaps may be effective chaperones because they contain large surfaces with diverse physical properties that enable them to engage multiple different regions of their cargo proteins, blocking self-association.

Cryo-Electron Microscopy Uncovers Key Residues within the Core of Alpha-Synuclein Fibrils.

Recent expeditious advances in the determination of the 3-D structure of fibrils of alpha-synuclein, the intrinsically disordered protein associated with the neurodegenerative Parkinson's disease (PD), have identified amino acid contacts that form the fibril's inter-protofilament interface. The residues that constitute this "steric zipper" interface determine the morphology of the fibrils as well as toxicity of the oligomeric building units or "kernels" which lead to the formation of the protofilaments. The zipper interface houses key amino acid residues involved in familial PD that can be targeted by drug design.

Crystal structures of amyloidogenic segments of human transthyretin.

Amyloid diseases are characterized by the deposition of proteins in the form of amyloid fibrils, in organs that eventually fail. The development of effective drug candidates follows from the understanding of the molecular processes that lead to protein aggregation. Here, we study amyloidogenic segments of transthyretin (TTR). TTR is a transporter of thyroxine and retinol in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. When mutated and/or as a result of aging, TTR aggregates into amyloid fibrils that accumulate in organs such as the heart. Recently, we reported two amyloidogenic segments that drive amyloid aggregation. Here, we report the crystal structure of another six amyloidogenic segments of TTR. We found that the segments from the C-terminal region of TTR form in-register steric-zippers with highly-interdigitated, wet interfaces, whereas the ß-strand B from the N-terminal region of TTR forms an out-of-register assembly, previously associated with oligomeric formation. Our results contribute fundamental information for understanding the mechanism of aggregation of TTR.

Preparation of Crystalline Samples of Amyloid Fibrils and Oligomers.

The molecular structures of amyloid fibers and oligomers are required in order to understand and control their formation. Yet, their partially disordered and polymorphic nature hinders structural analyses. Fortunately, short segments from amyloid proteins, which exhibit similar biophysical properties to the full-length proteins, also form fibrils and oligomers and their atomic structures can be determined. Here we describe experimental procedures used to assess fiber-forming capabilities of amyloid peptide segments and their crystallization.

Amyloid cascade in Alzheimer's disease: Recent advances in medicinal chemistry.

Alzheimer's disease is of major concern all over the world due to a number of factors including (i) an aging population (ii) increasing life span and (iii) lack of effective pharmacotherapy options. The past decade has seen intense research in discovering disease-modifying multitargeting small molecules as therapeutic options. The pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease is attributed to a number of factors such as the cholinergic dysfunction, amyloid/tau toxicity and oxidative stress/mitochondrial dysfunction. In recent years, targeting the amyloid cascade has emerged as an attractive strategy to discover novel neurotherapeutics. Formation of beta-amyloid species, with different degrees of solubility and neurotoxicity is associated with the gradual decline in cognition leading to dementia. The two commonly used approaches to prevent beta-amyloid accumulation in the brain include (i) development of beta-secretase inhibitors and (ii) designing direct inhibitors of beta-amyloid (self-induced) aggregation. This review highlights the amyloid cascade hypothesis and the key chemical features required to design small molecules that inhibit lower and higher order beta-amyloid aggregates. Several recent examples of small synthetic molecules with disease-modifying properties were considered and their molecular docking studies were conducted using either a dimer or steric-zipper assembly of beta-amyloid. These investigations provide a mechanistic understanding on the structural requirements needed to design novel small molecules with anti-amyloid aggregation properties. Significantly, this work also demonstrates that the structural requirements to prevent aggregation of various amyloid species differs considerably, which explains the fact that many small molecules do not exhibit similar inhibition profile toward diverse amyloid species such as dimers, trimers, tetramers, oligomers, protofibrils and fibrils.