Project description:The solvation shell is essential for the folding and function of proteins, but how it contributes to protein misfolding and aggregation has still to be elucidated. We show that the mobility of solvation shell H2O molecules influences the aggregation rate of the amyloid protein α-synuclein (αSyn), a protein associated with Parkinson's disease. When the mobility of H2O within the solvation shell is reduced by the presence of NaCl, αSyn aggregation rate increases. Conversely, in the presence CsI the mobility of the solvation shell is increased and αSyn aggregation is reduced. Changing the solvent from H2O to D2O leads to increased aggregation rates, indicating a solvent driven effect. We show the increased aggregation rate is not directly due to a change in the structural conformations of αSyn, it is also influenced by a reduction in both the H2O mobility and αSyn mobility. We propose that reduced mobility of αSyn contributes to increased aggregation by promoting intermolecular interactions.
Project description:The solvation shell is essential for the folding and function of proteins, but how it contributes to protein misfolding and aggregation has still to be elucidated. We show that the mobility of solvation shell H2 O molecules influences the aggregation rate of the amyloid protein α-synuclein (αSyn), a protein associated with Parkinson's disease. When the mobility of H2 O within the solvation shell is reduced by the presence of NaCl, αSyn aggregation rate increases. Conversely, in the presence CsI the mobility of the solvation shell is increased and αSyn aggregation is reduced. Changing the solvent from H2 O to D2 O leads to increased aggregation rates, indicating a solvent driven effect. We show the increased aggregation rate is not directly due to a change in the structural conformations of αSyn, it is also influenced by a reduction in both the H2 O mobility and αSyn mobility. We propose that reduced mobility of αSyn contributes to increased aggregation by promoting intermolecular interactions.
Project description:Galectin-9 (Gal-9) is a crucial immunoregulatory mediator in the central nervous system. Microglial activation and neuroinflammation play a key role in the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, it remains unknown whether Gal-9 is involved in the pathogenesis of PD. We found that MPP+ treatment promoted the expression of Gal-9 and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MIP-1α) in a concentration-dependent manner in BV2 cells. Gal-9 enhanced neurodegeneration and oxidative stress induced by MPP+ in SH-SY5Y cells and primary neurons. Importantly, deletion of Gal-9 or blockade of Tim-3 ameliorated microglial activation, reduced dopaminergic neuronal loss, and improved motor performance in an MPTP-induced mouse model of PD. These observations demonstrate a pathogenic role of the Gal-9/Tim-3 pathway in exacerbating microglial activation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the pathogenesis of PD.
Project description:In order to investigate the effect of Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) on p-α-synuclein in substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease (PD) model mice (C57BL/6), we profiled substantia nigra from wild-type (WT), AAV-α-synuclein (α-Syn), AKG and α-Syn-AKG in male mice by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq).
Project description:Mutations, duplication and triplication of α-synuclein genes are linked to familial Parkinson's disease (PD), and aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) in Lewy bodies (LB) is involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. The targeted overexpression of α-syn in the substantia nigra (SN) mediated by viral vectors may provide a better alternative to recapitulate the neurodegenerative features of PD. Therefore, we overexpressed human wild-type α-syn using rAAV2/1 vectors in the bilateral SN of mouse and examined the effects for up to 12 weeks. Delivery of rAAV-2/1-α-syn caused significant nigrostriatal degeneration including appearance of dystrophic striatal neurites, loss of nigral dopaminergic (DA) neurons and dissolving nigral neuron bodies in a time-dependent manner. In addition, the α-syn overexpressed mice also developed significant deficits in motor function at 12 weeks when the loss of DA neurons exceeded a threshold of 50%. To investigate the sensitivity to neurotoxins in mice overexpressing α-syn, we performed an MPTP treatment with the subacute regimen 8 weeks after rAAV injection. The impact of the combined genetic and environmental insults on DA neuronal loss, striatal dopamine depletion, dopamine turnover and motor dysfunction was markedly greater than that of either alone. Moreover, we observed increased phosphorylation (S129), accumulation and nuclear distribution of α-syn after the combined insults. In summary, these results reveal that the overexpressed α-syn induces progressive nigrostriatal degeneration and increases the susceptibility of DA neurons to MPTP. Therefore, the targeted overexpression of α-syn and the combination with environmental toxins may provide valuable models for understanding PD pathogenesis and developing related therapies.
Project description:Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the formation of Lewy body in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is a major component of Lewy body. Autophagy eliminates damaged organelles and abnormal aggregated proteins. Thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) is a redox regulating protein and plays roles in protecting dopaminergic neurons against neurotoxicity induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). However, the relationship between Trx-1 and α-syn in PD is still unknown. In the present study, the movement disorder and dopaminergic neurotoxicity in MPTP-treated mice were improved by Trx-1 overexpression and were aggravated by Trx-1 knockdown in the SNpc in mice. The expression of α-syn was increased in the SNpc of MPTP-treated mice, which was inhibited by Trx-1 overexpression and was exacerbated in Trx-1 knockdown mice. Autophagosomes was increased under electron microscope after MPTP treatment, which were recovered in Trx-1 overexpressing mice and were further increased in Trx-1 knockdown in the SNpc in mice. The expressions of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN)-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), Parkin, LC3 II and p62 were increased by MPTP, which were blocked in Trx-1 overexpressing mice and were further increased in Trx-1 knockdown mice. Cathepsin D was decreased by MPTP, which was restored in Trx-1 overexpressing mice and was further decreased in Trx-1 knockdown mice. The mRFP-GFP-LC3 green fluorescent dots were increased by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and further increased in Trx-1 siRNA transfected PC12 cells, while mRFP-GFP-LC3 red fluorescent dots were increased in Trx-1 overexpressing cells. These results indicate that Trx-1 may eliminate α-syn in PD mice through potentiating autophagy-lysosome pathway.
Project description:Parkinson's disease (PD) is an incurable movement disorder characterized by dopaminergic cell loss, neuroinflammation, and α-synuclein pathology. Herein, we investigated the therapeutic effects of necrosulfonamide (NSA), a specific inhibitor of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), in a subacute 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD. MLKL is an executor of necroptosis, a programmed cell death pathway that causes inflammation. Repeated administration of NSA resulted in the recovery of impaired motor performance and dopaminergic degeneration. Furthermore, NSA inhibited the phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, and oligomerization of MLKL, all of which are associated with MLKL cell death-inducing activity in dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra (SN). NSA also inhibited microglial activation and reactive astrogliosis as well as the MPTP-induced expression of proinflammatory molecules such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cystatin F. Furthermore, NSA inhibited α-synuclein oligomerization and phosphorylation in the SN of MPTP-treated mice by inhibiting the activity of glycogen synthase kinase 3β and matrix metalloproteinase-3. In conclusion, NSA has anti-necroptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-synucleinopathic effects on PD pathology. Therefore, NSA is a potential therapeutic candidate for PD.
Project description:The Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites are key pathological hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Single-point mutations associated with familial PD cause α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation, leading to the formation of Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. Recent studies suggest α-Syn nucleates through liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form amyloid aggregates in a condensate pathway. How PD-associated mutations affect α-Syn LLPS and its correlation with amyloid aggregation remains incompletely understood. Here, we examined the effects of five mutations identified in PD, A30P, E46K, H50Q, A53T, and A53E, on the phase separation of α-Syn. All other α-Syn mutants behave LLPS similarly to wild-type (WT) α-Syn, except that the E46K mutation substantially promotes the formation of α-Syn condensates. The mutant α-Syn droplets fuse to WT α-Syn droplets and recruit α-Syn monomers into their droplets. Our studies showed that α-Syn A30P, E46K, H50Q, and A53T mutations accelerated the formation of amyloid aggregates in the condensates. In contrast, the α-Syn A53E mutant retarded the aggregation during the liquid-to-solid phase transition. Finally, we observed that WT and mutant α-Syn formed condensates in the cells, whereas the E46K mutation apparently promoted the formation of condensates. These findings reveal that familial PD-associated mutations have divergent effects on α-Syn LLPS and amyloid aggregation in the phase-separated condensates, providing new insights into the pathogenesis of PD-associated α-Syn mutations.