Investigation of RNA Synthesis Using 5-Bromouridine Labelling and Immunoprecipitation

When steady state RNA levels are compared between two conditions, it is not possible to distinguish whether changes are caused by alterations in ...

Aarhus University

Oligomeric species of various proteins are linked to the pathogenesis of different neurodegenerative disorders. Consequently, there is intense focus on the discovery of novel inhibitors, e.g. small molecules and antibodies, to inhibit the formation and block the toxicity of oligomers. In Parkinson disease, the protein α-synuclein (αSN) forms cytotoxic oligomers. The flavonoid epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has previously been shown to redirect the aggregation of αSN monomers and remodel αSN amyloid fibrils into disordered oligomers. Here, we dissect EGCG's mechanism of action. EGCG inhibits the ability of preformed oligomers to permeabilize vesicles and induce cytotoxicity in a rat brain cell line. However, EGCG does not affect oligomer size distribution or secondary structure. Rather, EGCG immobilizes the C-terminal region and moderately reduces the degree of binding of oligomers to membranes. We interpret our data to mean that the oligomer acts by destabilizing the membrane rather than by direct pore formation. This suggests that reduction (but not complete abolition) of the membrane affinity of the oligomer is sufficient to prevent cytotoxicity. 

How epigallocatechin gallate can inhibit α-synuclein oligomer toxicity in vitro.

S100 proteins are calcium-dependent regulators of homeostatic processes. Upon cellular response to stress, and notably during tumorigenesis, they relocalize to the extracellular environment where they induce pro-inflammatory signals by activating the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), thereby facilitating tumor growth and metastasis. Despite its importance in sustaining inflammation, the structural basis for RAGE-S100 crosstalk is still unknown. Here we report two crystal structures of the RAGE:S100A6 complex encompassing a full-length RAGE ectodomain. The structures, in combination with a comprehensive interaction analysis, suggest that the primary S100A6 binding site is formed by the RAGE C1 domain. Complex formation with S100A6 induces a unique dimeric conformation of RAGE that appears suited for signal transduction and intracellular effector recruitment. Intriguingly, S100A6 adopts a dimeric conformation radically different from all known S100 dimers. We discuss the physiological relevance of this non-canonical homodimeric form in vivo.

The Structure of the RAGE:S100A6 Complex Reveals a Unique Mode of Homodimerization for S100 Proteins.

Variations in the α-synuclein-encoding SNCA gene represent the greatest genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), and duplications/triplications of SNCA cause autosomal dominant familial PD. These facts closely link brain levels of α-synuclein with the risk of PD, and make lowering α-synuclein levels a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PD and related synucleinopathies. In this paper, we corroborate previous findings on the ability of overexpressed Polo-like kinase 2 (PLK-2) to decrease cellular α-synuclein, but demonstrate that the process is independent of PLK-2 phosphorylating S129 in α-synuclein because a similar reduction is achieved with the non-phosphorable S129A mutant α-synuclein. Using a specific PLK-2 inhibitor (compound 37), we demonstrate that endogenous PLK-2 phosphorylates S129 only in some cells, but increases α-synuclein protein levels in all tested cell cultures and brain slices. PLK-2 is found to regulate the transcription of α-synuclein mRNA from both the endogenous mouse SNCA gene and transgenic vectors that only contain the open reading frame. Moreover, we are the first to show that regulation of α-synuclein by PLK-2 is of physiological importance since 10days' inhibition of endogenous PLK-2 in wt C57BL/6 mice increases endogenous α-synuclein protein levels. Our findings collectively demonstrate that PLK-2 regulates α-synuclein levels by a previously undescribed transcription-based mechanism. This mechanism is active in cells and brain tissue, opening up for alternative strategies for modulating α-synuclein levels and thereby for the possibility of modifying disease progression in synucleinopaties.

Polo-like kinase 2 modulates α-synuclein protein levels by regulating its mRNA production.

Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy comprise a group of neurodegenerative diseases termed synucleinopathies. Synucleinopathie are, characterized by presence of inclusion bodies in degenerating brain cells which contain aggregated α-synuclein phosphorylated on Ser129. Although the inflammation-associated serine-threonine kinase, PKR (EIF2AK2), promotes cellular protection against infection, we demonstrate a pro-degenerative role of activated PKR in an α-synuclein-dependent cell model of multiple system atrophy, where inhibition and silencing of PKR decrease cellular degeneration. In vitro phosphorylation demonstrates that PKR can directly bind and phosphorylate monomeric and filamenteous α-synuclein on Ser129. Inhibition and knockdown of PKR reduce Ser129 phosphorylation in different models (SH-SY5Y ASYN cells, OLN-AS7 cells, primary mouse hippocampal neurons, and acute brain slices), while overexpression of constitutively active PKR increases Ser129 α-syn phosphorylation. Treatment with pre-formed α-synuclein fibrils, proteostatic stress-promoting MG-132 and known PKR activators, herpes simplex virus-1-∆ICP34.5 and LPS, as well as PKR inducer, IFN-β-1b, lead to increased levels of phosphorylated Ser129 α-synuclein that is completely blocked by simultaneous PKR inhibition. These results reveal a direct link between PKR and the phosphorylation and toxicity of α-synuclein, and they support that neuroinflammatory processes play a role in modulating the pathogenicity of α-synuclein.

Inflammation kinase PKR phosphorylates α-synuclein and causes α-synuclein-dependent cell death.

Aggregation of α-synuclein is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. We here investigate the relationship between cytosolic Ca and α-synuclein aggregation. Analyses of cell lines and primary culture models of α-synuclein cytopathology reveal an early phase with reduced cytosolic Ca levels followed by a later Ca increase. Aggregated but not monomeric α-synuclein binds to and activates SERCA , and proximity ligation assays confirm this interaction in cells. The SERCA inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) normalises both the initial reduction and the later increase in cytosolic Ca CPA protects the cells against α-synuclein-aggregate stress and improves viability in cell models and in  Proximity ligation assays also reveal an increased interaction between α-synuclein aggregates and SERCA in human brains affected by dementia with Lewy bodies. We conclude that α-synuclein aggregates bind SERCA and stimulate its activity. Reducing SERCA activity is neuroprotective, indicating that SERCA and down-stream processes may be therapeutic targets for treating α-synucleinopathies.

Cristine Betzer

DANDRITE - Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience,
Dept. of Biomedicine,
DANDRITE - Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Dept. of Biomedicine

Aarhus University

Investigation of RNA Synthesis Using 5-Bromouridine Labelling and Immunoprecipitation

Cristine Betzer

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Aarhus University

Investigation of RNA Synthesis Using 5-Bromouridine Labelling and Immunoprecipitation

DANDRITE - Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience,
Dept. of Biomedicine,
DANDRITE - Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Dept. of Biomedicine