Increased glutaminyl cyclase activity in brains of Alzheimer's disease individuals.

Glutaminyl cyclases (QC) catalyze the formation of neurotoxic pGlu-modified amyloid-ß peptides found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Reports of several-fold increases in soluble QC (sQC) expression in the brain and peripheral circulation of AD individuals has prompted the development of QC inhibitors as potential AD therapeutics. There is, however, a lack of standardized quantitative data on QC expression in human tissues, precluding inter-laboratory comparison and validation. We tested the hypothesis that QC is elevated in AD tissues by quantifying levels of sQC protein and activity in post-mortem brain tissues from AD and age-matched control individuals. We found a modest but statistically significant increase in sQC protein, which paralleled a similar increase in enzyme activity. In plasma samples sourced from the Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle study we determined that QC activity was not different between the AD and control group, though a modest increase was observed in female AD individuals compared to controls. Plasma QC activity was further correlated with levels of circulating monocytes in AD individuals. These data provide quantitative evidence that alterations in QC expression are associated with AD pathology.

Quantification of metallothionein-III in brain tissues using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are crucial for metal ion homeostasis in mammalian cells. Specialized mass spectrometry methods have been developed to detect MTs in tissue extracts, though facile methods with scalable throughput are lacking. To improve analytical throughput and repeatability, we developed a standardised liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for robust determination of metallothionein-3 (MT3) that is amenable to microplate processing. This method uses standard protein digestion conditions with commercially available reagents and commonly practiced reversed-phase chromatography, detecting MT3 at low ng/mL levels in human brain tissue extracts. We found that trypsin digestion largely underestimated MT3 levels, whereas endopeptidase Lys-C yielded vastly higher signals with low replicate variance. The choice of target peptide was critical for accurate MT3 detection - a peptide in the α-domain yielded the most robust signals. We demonstrate the utility of this method by comparing the expression of MT3 in post-mortem brain tissues of a cohort of Alzheimer's disease (AD) individuals and age-matched controls.

Amyloidogenic processing of Alzheimer's disease ß-amyloid precursor protein induces cellular iron retention.

The proteolytic cleavage of ß-amyloid precursor protein (APP) to form the amyloid beta (Aß) peptide is related to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) because APP mutations that influence this processing either induce familial AD or mitigate the risk of AD. Yet Aß formation itself may not be pathogenic. APP promotes neuronal iron efflux by stabilizing the cell-surface presentation of ferroportin, the only iron export channel of cells. Mislocalization of APP can promote iron retention, thus we hypothesized that changes in endocytotic trafficking associated with altered APP processing could contribute to the neuronal iron elevation and oxidative burden that feature in AD pathology. Here, we demonstrate, using genetic and pharmacological approaches, that endocytotic amyloidogenic processing of APP impairs iron export by destabilizing ferroportin on the cell surface. Conversely, preferential non-amyloidogenic processing of APP at the cell surface promotes ferroportin stabilization to decrease intraneuronal iron. A new Aß-independent hypothesis emerges where the amyloidogenic processing of APP, combined with age-dependent iron elevation in the tissue, increases pro-oxidant iron burden in AD.

Zinc Transporter-3 Knockout Mice Demonstrate Age-Dependent Alterations in the Metalloproteome.

Metals are critical cellular elements that are involved in a variety of cellular processes, with recent literature demonstrating that zinc, and the synaptic zinc transporter (ZnT3), are specifically involved in learning and memory and may also be key players in age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Whilst the cellular content and location of metals is critical, recent data has demonstrated that the metalation state of proteins is a determinant of protein function and potential toxicity. As we have previously reported that ZnT3 knockout (KO) mice have deficits in total zinc levels at both 3 and 6 months of age, we were interested in whether there might be changes in the metalloproteomic profile in these animals. To do this, we utilised size exclusion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS) and examined hippocampal homogenates from ZnT3 KO and age-matched wild-type mice at 3, 6 and 18 months of age. Our data suggest that there are alterations in specific metal binding proteins, for zinc, copper and iron all being modulated in the ZnT3 KO mice compared to wild-type (WT). These data suggest that ZnT3 KO mice may have impairments in the levels or localisation of multiple transition metals, and that copper- and iron-dependent cellular pathways may also be impacted in these mice.

Amyloid-ß Peptide Aß3pE-42 Induces Lipid Peroxidation, Membrane Permeabilization, and Calcium Influx in Neurons.

Pyroglutamate-modified amyloid-ß (pE-Aß) is a highly neurotoxic amyloid-ß (Aß) isoform and is enriched in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer disease compared with healthy aged controls. Pyroglutamate formation increases the rate of Aß oligomerization and alters the interactions of Aß with Cu(2+) and lipids; however, a link between these properties and the toxicity of pE-Aß peptides has not been established. We report here that Aß3pE-42 has an enhanced capacity to cause lipid peroxidation in primary cortical mouse neurons compared with the full-length isoform (Aß(1-42)). In contrast, Aß(1-42) caused a significant elevation in cytosolic reactive oxygen species, whereas Aß3pE-42 did not. We also report that Aß3pE-42 preferentially associates with neuronal membranes and triggers Ca(2+) influx that can be partially blocked by the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801. Aß3pE-42 further caused a loss of plasma membrane integrity and remained bound to neurons at significantly higher levels than Aß(1-42) over extended incubations. Pyroglutamate formation was additionally found to increase the relative efficiency of Aß-dityrosine oligomer formation mediated by copper-redox cycling.

Hfe Permease and Haemophilus influenzae Manganese Homeostasis.

Haemophilus influenzae is a commensal of the human upper respiratory tract that can infect diverse host niches due, at least in part, to its ability to withstand both endogenous and host-mediated oxidative stresses. Here, we show that hfeA, a gene previously linked to iron import, is essential for H. influenzae manganese recruitment via the HfeBCD transporter. Structural analyses show that metal binding in HfeA uses a unique mechanism that involves substantial rotation of the C-terminal lobe of the protein. Disruption of hfeA reduced H. influenzae manganese acquisition and was associated with decreased growth under aerobic conditions, impaired manganese-superoxide dismutase activity, reduced survival in macrophages, and changes in biofilm production in the presence of superoxide. Collectively, this work shows that HfeA contributes to H. influenzae manganese acquisition and virulence attributes. High conservation of the hfeABCD permease in Haemophilus species suggests that it may serve similar roles in other pathogenic Pasteurellaceae.

Characterization of the spatial distribution of metals and profile of metalloprotein complexes in a mouse model of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury.

Metal dyshomeostasis is a well-established consequence of neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injury. While the significance of metals continues to be uncovered in many neurological disorders, their implication in repetitive mild traumatic brain injury remains uncharted. To address this gap, we characterized the spatial distribution of metal levels (iron, zinc, and copper) using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, the profile of metal-binding proteins via size exclusion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and the expression of the major iron storing protein ferritin via western blotting. Using a mouse model of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury, 3-month-old male and female C57Bl6 mice received one or five impacts (48 h apart). At 1 month following 5× TBI (traumatic brain injury), iron and ferritin levels were significantly elevated in the contralateral cortex. There was a trend toward increased iron levels in the entire contralateral hemisphere and a reduction in contralateral cortical iron-binding proteins following 1× TBI. No major changes in zinc levels were seen in both hemispheres following 5× or 1× TBI, although there was a reduction in ipsilateral zinc-binding proteins following 5× TBI and a contralateral increase in zinc-binding proteins following 1× TBI. Copper levels were significantly increased in both hemispheres following 5× TBI, without changes in copper-binding proteins. This study shows for the first time that repetitive mild TBI (r-mTBI) leads to metal dyshomeostasis, highlighting its potential involvement in promoting neurodegeneration, which provides a rationale for examining the benefit of metal-targeting drugs, which have shown promising results in neurodegenerative conditions and single TBI, but have yet to be tested following r-mTBI.

The Caenorhabditis elegans A beta 1-42 model of Alzheimer disease predominantly expresses A beta 3-42.

Transgenic expression of human amyloid beta (A beta) peptide in body wall muscle cells of Caenorhabditis elegans has been used to better understand aspects of Alzheimer disease (AD). In human aging and AD, A beta undergoes post-translational changes including covalent modifications, truncations, and oligomerization. Amino truncated A beta is increasingly recognized as potentially contributing to AD pathogenesis. Here we describe surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry mass spectrometry of A beta peptide in established transgenic C. elegans lines. Surprisingly, the A beta being expressed is not full-length 1-42 (amino acids) as expected but rather a 3-42 truncation product. In vitro analysis demonstrates that A beta(3-42) self-aggregates like A beta(1-42), but more rapidly, and forms fibrillar structures. Similarly, A beta(3-42) is also the more potent initiator of A beta(1-40) aggregation. Seeded aggregation via A beta(3-42) is further enhanced via co-incubation with the transition metal Cu(II). Although unexpected, the C. elegans model of A beta expression can now be co-opted to study the proteotoxic effects and processing of A beta(3-42).

Marked Age-Related Changes in Brain Iron Homeostasis in Amyloid Protein Precursor Knockout Mice.

Proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) into the Aß peptide has been an extensively researched mechanism for Alzheimer's disease, but the normal function of the protein is less understood. APP functions to regulate neuronal iron content by stabilizing the surface presentation of ferroportin-the only iron exporter channel of cells. The present study aims to quantify the contribution of APP to brain and peripheral iron by examining the lifetime impact on brain and liver iron levels in APP knockout mice. Consistent with previous reports, we found that wild-type mice exhibited an age-dependent increase in iron and ferritin in the brain, while no age-dependent changes were observed in the liver. APP ablation resulted in an exaggeration of age-dependent iron accumulation in the brain and liver in mice that was assessed at 8, 12, 18, and 22 months of age. Brain ferroportin levels were decreased in APP knockout mice, consistent with a mechanistic role for APP in stabilizing this iron export protein in the brain. Iron elevation in the brain and liver of APP knockout mice correlated with decreased transferrin receptor 1 and increased ferritin protein levels. However, no age-dependent increase in brain ferritin iron saturation was observed in APP-KO mice despite similar protein expression levels potentially explaining the vulnerability of APP-KO mice to parkinsonism and traumatic brain sequelae. Our results support a crucial role of APP in regulating brain and peripheral iron, and show that APP may act to oppose brain iron elevation during aging.

The influence of the ethane-1,2-diamine ligand on the activity of a monofunctional platinum complex.

The continued use of platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs in the clinic mandates the need for further investigation of the biological activity of structural analogues of the clinically approved complexes. Of interest are monofunctional platinum(II) complexes, which bear only one labile ligand, for which it is believed that each complex binds to DNA only once. Pyriplatin ([PtCl(NH3)2(py)]+) and enpyriplatin ([PtCl(en)(py)]+) are both monofunctional platinum(II) complexes that bear a pyridine ligand and a labile chlorido ligand, differing in their cis­ammine and ethane-1,2-diamine (en) ligands respectively. Despite their similar structure, the complexes exhibit dramatically different cytotoxicities. In this study, we synthesized and characterized both complexes in terms of their cytotoxicity, lipophilicity, DNA binding and cellular accumulation. There was no significant difference between the lipophilicities of the complexes and both complexes exhibited monofunctional type binding, but it was the temporal accumulation profiles of the two complexes which differed greatly. The complexes were further analyzed with size exclusion chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS) to determine the platination state of the proteins. Consistent with the accumulation studies, pyriplatin bound to proteins in far greater amounts than enpyriplatin, and this study also revealed some different protein targets between the bifunctional cisplatin and monofunctional pyriplatin. This study highlights the need for more sophisticated techniques, such as SEC-ICP-MS, to determine not only how much of a platinum complex accumulates in cells, but also the speciation and metabolites of platinum anticancer drugs.

Subcellular compartmentalisation of copper, iron, manganese, and zinc in the Parkinson's disease brain.

Elevated iron and decreased copper levels are cardinal features of the degenerating substantia nigra pars compacta in the Parkinson's disease brain. Both of these redox-active metals, and fellow transition metals manganese and zinc, are found at high concentrations within the midbrain and participate in a range of unique biological reactions. We examined the total metal content and cellular compartmentalisation of manganese, iron, copper and zinc in the degenerating substantia nigra, disease-affected but non-degenerating fusiform gyrus, and unaffected occipital cortex in the post mortem Parkinson's disease brain compared with age-matched controls. An expected increase in iron and a decrease in copper concentration was isolated to the soluble cellular fraction, encompassing both interstitial and cytosolic metals and metal-binding proteins, rather than the membrane-associated or insoluble fractions. Manganese and zinc levels did not differ between experimental groups. Altered Fe and Cu levels were unrelated to Braak pathological staging in our cases of late-stage (Braak stage V and VI) disease. The data supports our hypothesis that regional alterations in Fe and Cu, and in proteins that utilise these metals, contribute to the regional selectively of neuronal vulnerability in this disorder.

Rapid generation of dityrosine cross-linked Aß oligomers via Cu-redox cycling.

There is a great interest in the role of free radicals and oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease and for the role of transition metals in the generation of oligomers of Aß peptides. In the literature, there are a multitude of varying methods that can be used to create soluble oligomers of Aß, however, the processes that create these oligomers are often stochastic by nature and thus reproducibility is an issue. Here we report a simple and reproducible method for the production of radically derived dityrosine cross-linked oligomers of Aß, through reaction with copper and ascorbic acid.

Pyroglutamate-Aß: role in the natural history of Alzheimer's disease.

The accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aß) peptides is believed to be a central contributor to the neurodegeneration typically seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. Aß extracted from AD brains invariably possesses extensive truncations, yielding peptides of differing N- and C-terminal composition. Whilst Aß is often abundant in the brains of cognitively normal elderly people, the brains of AD patients are highly enriched for N-terminally truncated Aß bearing the pyroglutamate modification. Pyroglutamate-Aß (pE-Aß) has a higher propensity for oligomerisation and aggregation than full-length Aß, potentially seeding the accumulation of neurotoxic Aß oligomers and amyloid deposits. In addition, pE-Aß has increased resistance to clearance by peptidases, causing these peptides to persist in biological fluids and tissues. The extensive deposition of pE-Aß in human AD brain is under-represented in many transgenic mouse models of AD, reflecting major differences in the production and processing of Aß peptides in these models compared to the human disease state.

Sequestration of copper from beta-amyloid promotes selective lysis by cyclen-hybrid cleavage agents.

Decelerated degradation of beta-amyloid (Abeta) and its interaction with synaptic copper may be pathogenic in Alzheimer disease. Recently, Co(III)-cyclen tagged to an aromatic recognition motif was shown to degrade Abeta in vitro. Here, we report that apocyclen attached to selective Abeta recognition motifs (KLVFF or curcumin) can capture copper bound to Abeta and use the Cu(II) in place of Co(III) to become proteolytically active. The resultant complexes interfere with Abeta aggregation, degrade Abeta into fragments, preventing H2O2 formation and toxicity in neuronal cell culture. Because Abeta binds Cu in amyloid plaques, apocyclen-tagged targeting molecules may be a promising approach to the selective degradation of Abeta in Alzheimer disease. The principle of copper capture could generalize to other amyloidoses where copper is implicated.