Article
Cell Biology
Abigail K. Elias, Mark R. Wilson, John A. Carver, Ian F. Musgrave
Summary: Clusterin plays an important role in preventing the formation of SEVI amyloid fibrils, dissociating them, and mitigating their enhancement of HIV infection in semen.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Enhui Wang, Ningbo Wang, Yue Zou, Muhammad Fahim, Yongtao Zhou, Hui Yang, Yan Liu, Hongyu Li
Summary: The study found that mulberry fruit extract could alleviate AD-like symptoms by activating the insulin signal pathway in C. elegans, leading to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It also extended the lifespan of the worms, suggesting the potential of mulberry in AD treatment.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yui Nakata, Yuuto Kitazaki, Hitomi Kanaoka, Erika Shingen, Rina Uehara, Kunihiro Hongo, Yasushi Kawata, Tomohiro Mizobata
Summary: The molecular chaperones HdeA and HdeB help protect client proteins from acid denaturation in E. coli. Both proteins can form fibrils at low pH, but the fibrils can be resolubilized at neutral pH. However, extended incubation at low pH can lead to the formation of irreversible fibrils. The secondary structure of HdeB fibrils remained alpha helical regardless of the conditions under which the fibrils were formed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Khairun Nisaa, Anat Ben-Zvi
Summary: Muscle proteostasis is regulated by the myogenic transcription factor MyoD. This study demonstrates that MyoD can modulate chaperone expression in terminally differentiated muscle cells, indicating its role in muscle maintenance.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Kerry C. Ryan, Zahra Ashkavand, Shaarika Sarasija, Jocelyn T. Laboy, Rohan Samarakoon, Kenneth R. Norman
Summary: Metabolic dysfunction and protein aggregation are common characteristics in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Mutations in presenilin genes can lead to familial Alzheimer's disease, while loss of SEL-12/presenilin results in hyperactivation of the mTORC1 pathway. This hyperactivation exacerbates proteostasis defects and neuronal dysfunction in sel-12 mutants, highlighting the critical role of presenilin in promoting neuronal health.
Article
Neurosciences
Huiying Wang, Yuandong Yue, Haifeng Zhao, Hao Wu, Kai Jiang, Shuang Li, Meihua Zhao, Feng Lin
Summary: The study demonstrated that CHF11 has significant neuroprotective effects on A beta 1-42 transgenic nematodes, reducing toxic protein deposition and ROS production.
NEUROTOXICITY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
WenFeng Shi, HaoXue Zheng, Jing Ming, BiSheng Huang, YuJie Guo, Yan Cao
Summary: The study reveals that Folium Nelumbinis extract has potential neuroprotective effects and can simultaneously target amyloid-beta and acetylcholinesterase, effectively delaying disease progression. The screening of individual components further elucidates the underlying mechanisms. These findings are of great significance in promoting health and preventing Alzheimer's disease.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aikaterini E. I. Rizou, Georgia I. Nasi, Yiorgos Paikopoulos, Dimitra S. Bezantakou, Konstantina D. Vraila, Panagiotis M. Spatharas, Virginia D. Dimaki, Nikos C. Papandreou, Fotini N. Lamari, Niki Chondrogianni, Vassiliki A. Iconomidou
Summary: Today, Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains incurable and its main pathological hallmark is the accumulation of abnormal amyloid beta (A beta) aggregates. This study evaluated the effects of two flavones - eupatorin and scutellarein - on the amyloidogenesis of A beta peptides and found that eupatorin can delay amyloidogenesis in a concentration-dependent manner.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Seyed Hossein Khaleghinejad, Mohammad Bagher Shahsavani, Maryam Ghahramani, Reza Yousefi
Summary: In this study, specific mutations were embedded into the human CRYAB gene, and their effects on the structure, amyloidogenicity, and biological function of human aB-Cry were assessed. The results showed that these mutations significantly altered the structure and oligomeric state of human aB-Cry, leading to enhanced amyloid fibril formation and reduced chaperone-like activity. The simultaneous presence of two pathogenic mutations may have cumulative destructive impacts on the structure and function of human aB-Cry.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Manjeet Kumar, Cristina Cantarutti, David C. C. Thorn, Vittorio Bellotti, Gennaro Esposito, Mark R. R. Wilson, Heath Ecroyd, John A. A. Carver
Summary: This study investigated the fibril formation of a variant of ss 2-microglobulin and the role of clusterin in regulating this process. The presence of charged amino acids affected the fibril formation, indicating the involvement of electrostatic interactions. Clusterin interacted with the monomeric, prefibrillar and fibrillar forms of the variant through hydrophobic and electrostatic forces. It stabilized the fibrils and inhibited nucleation, potentially preventing amyloid proliferation and deposition in tissues.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Else F. van Gerresheim, Arne Herring, Lothar Gremer, Andreas Mueller-Schiffmann, Kathy Keyvani, Carsten Korth
Summary: The study found that Aβ dimers directly interfere with Aβ fibril formation both in vivo and in vitro, indicating a potential contributing factor to the heterogeneity of Aβ plaque load in AD patients.
NEUROPATHOLOGY AND APPLIED NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Vladimir A. Mitkevich, Evgeny P. Barykin, Svetlana Eremina, Bibhusita Pani, Olga Katkova-Zhukotskaya, Vladimir I. Polshakov, Alexei A. Adzhubei, Sergey A. Kozin, Alexander S. Mironov, Alexander A. Makarov, Evgeny Nudler
Summary: The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease is associated with the formation of cerebral amyloid plaques. The most abundant isoform in these plaques is isoD7-A beta. We have discovered that isoD7-A beta can form zinc-dependent oligomers, and the formation of these oligomers can be disrupted by a tetrapeptide called HAEE. In experiments using transgenic nematodes, we found that isoD7-A beta triggers amyloidosis in a zinc-dependent manner and shortens lifespan, but this pathological effect can be reversed by exogenous HAEE.
Article
Cell Biology
Aseem Shrivastava, Carl Alexander Sandhof, Kevin Reinle, Areeb Jawed, Carmen Ruger-Herreros, Dominic Schwarz, Declan Creamer, Carmen Nussbaum-Krammer, Axel Mogk, Bernd Bukau
Summary: Sequestration of misfolded proteins is an evolutionarily conserved activity of the sHsp family and is executed by specific family members. Certain sHsps in Caenorhabditis elegans have specific sequence features and can buffer limitations in sequestrase capacity, contributing to lifespan extension.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrii S. Kurochka, Dmytro A. Yushchenko, Petr Bour, Volodymyr V. Shvadchak
Summary: The presence of lipids significantly delays the fibrillization process of the alpha-Synuclein protein, with membrane-bound protein not being involved in fibril elongation.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xi Wang, Yong Yang, Jiarui Zou, Yanni Li, Xiao-Gang Zhang
Summary: Chondroitin sulfate E (CS-E) has been shown to delay worm paralysis caused by Aβ aggregation, reduce small oligomers level and Aβ plaque deposits in transgenic C. elegans, protect worms from oxidative stress, and rescue chemotaxis dysfunction. These results provide valuable evidence for the future development of AD treatment agents.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Narendran Annadurai, Lukas Malina, Mario Salmona, Luisa Diomede, Antonio Bastone, Alfredo Cagnotto, Margherita Romeo, Martin Srejber, Karel Berka, Michal Otyepka, Marian Hajduch, Viswanath Das
Summary: Experimental evidence suggests that tau pathology spreads in a prion-like manner in Alzheimer's disease, with tau seeding detected early in human AD brains. Antitumour drugs have been found to protect against neurodegeneration, potentially offering a repurposed therapy for AD. Drugs targeting specific regions of tau can prevent the generation of seed-competent aggregates, reducing tau seeding and toxicity in cells and worms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rosaria Russo, Margherita Romeo, Tim Schulte, Martina Maritan, Luca Oberti, Maria Monica Barzago, Alberto Barbiroli, Carlo Pappone, Luigi Anastasia, Giovanni Palladini, Luisa Diomede, Stefano Ricagno
Summary: This study demonstrates the specific binding of Cu2+ to the variable domain of amyloidogenic H7 with a sub-micromolar affinity using microscale thermophoresis, isothermal calorimetry and thermal melting. The binding of copper ions is just one of the several biochemical traits contributing to light chain amyloidosis soluble toxicity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Giovanni Sitia, Fabio Fiordaliso, Martina B. Violatto, Jennifer Fernandez Alarcon, Laura Talamini, Alessandro Corbelli, Lorena Maria Ferreira, Ngoc Lan Tran, Indranath Chakraborty, Mario Salmona, Wolfgang J. Parak, Luisa Diomede, Paolo Bigini
Summary: Food-grade titanium dioxide (E171) contains nanoparticles that pose potential risks to human and animal health. This study evaluated the impact of E171 on invertebrate and vertebrate animals, finding significant impairments in pharyngeal function, reproduction, and development, as well as inflammation and parenchymal modifications in the liver and lungs.
Article
Oncology
Andrea David Re Cecconi, Mara Barone, Mara Forti, Martina Lunardi, Alfredo Cagnotto, Mario Salmona, Davide Olivari, Lorena Zentilin, Andrea Resovi, Perla Persichitti, Dorina Belotti, Federica Palo, Nobuyuki Takakura, Hiroyasu Kidoya, Rosanna Piccirillo
Summary: The study aimed to assess the role of apelin in combating muscle loss during cancer cachexia. The results showed that although apelin exhibited beneficial effects against muscle atrophy in in vitro models, it failed to do so in in vivo models due to undesired apelin resistance. This study uncovering apelin resistance highlights potential issues in apelin-based therapy for cancer cachexia.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vanessa Brinkmann, Margherita Romeo, Lucie Larigot, Anne Hemmers, Lisa Tschage, Jennifer Kleinjohann, Alfonso Schiavi, Swantje Steinwachs, Charlotte Esser, Ralph Menzel, Sara Giani Tagliabue, Laura Bonati, Fiona Cox, Niloofar Ale-Agha, Philipp Jakobs, Joachim Altschmied, Judith Haendeler, Xavier Coumoul, Natascia Ventura
Summary: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and Nrf2/SKN-1 pathway play important roles in mediating the anti-aging effects of curcumin. Curcumin can extend lifespan through AhR-dependent mechanism in Caenorhabditis elegans, but it also exhibits AhR-independent anti-aging activities. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms of curcumin's effects on aging.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luisa Diomede, Elisa R. R. Zanier, Federico Moro, Gloria Vegliante, Laura Colombo, Luca Russo, Alfredo Cagnotto, Carmina Natale, Federica Marta Xodo, Ada De Luigi, Michele Mosconi, Marten Beeg, Marcella Catania, Giacomina Rossi, Fabrizio Tagliavini, Giuseppe Di Fede, Mario Salmona
Summary: Alzheimer's disease is a major cause of dementia in older adults, characterized by amyloid-beta and tau pathology. Current therapeutic strategies have been inadequate due to late interventions, inaccurate clinical methodologies, and lack of biomarkers. This study explores the potential therapeutic capacity of a synthetic peptide, A beta 1-6(A2V)(D), which inhibits tau aggregation and promotes its degradation by proteases.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Andrea Conz, Mario Salmona, Luisa Diomede
Summary: The human gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms in the digestive tract, which plays a vital role in maintaining normal gut health. Factors such as genetics, age, antibiotics, environment, and diet can influence the composition and function of the gut microbiota. With the increasing use of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) in diets, their impact on the gut microbiota has become a focus of research. However, conflicting results have been reported in pre-clinical and clinical studies, and a consensus on the effects of NNS on the gut microbiota is yet to be reached.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Martina B. Violatto, Giovanni Sitia, Laura Talamini, Annalisa Morelli, Ngoc Lan Tran, Qian Zhang, Atif Masood, Beatriz Pelaz, Indranath Chakraborty, Daxiang Cui, Wolfgang J. Parak, Mario Salmona, Neus G. Bastus, Victor Puntes, Paolo Bigini
Summary: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are a major source of human exposure to nanoparticulate matter. Although potential toxic effects have been demonstrated, the correlation between NP properties and their interaction with biological targets is not fully understood. This study prepared engineered TiO2 NPs with different geometries and administered them intravenously in mice. The results showed that the accumulation of TiO2 NPs in organs was low, with a longer-lasting presence in the lungs. Rod-shaped NPs were the most toxic and could induce pulmonary alterations and hepatocellular injury. Small physico-chemical differences dramatically modified accumulation and safety.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marten Beeg, Sara Baroni, Arianna Piotti, Alessia Porta, Ada De Luigi, Alfredo Cagnotto, Marco Gobbi, Luisa Diomede, Mario Salmona
Summary: We developed and validated a technology platform for designing and testing peptides inhibiting the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-based pseudoviruses. We generated a cyclic peptide library derived from the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. The cyclic peptide c9_05 showed effective inhibition against the Wuhan and UK variants, but was negligible against the Omicron variant and the B.1.351 (South African) spike.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Raffaellae Parente, Valentina Possetti, Matteo Stravalaci, Marina Sironi, Sonia Valentino, Anthony Day, Barbara Bottazzi, Cristina Cunha, Agostinho Carvalho, Alberto Mantovani, Antonio Inforzato
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fabio Fiordaliso, Paolo Bigini, Mario Salmona, Luisa Diomede
Summary: This article provides a critical review of the literature on the physico-chemical characteristics of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs), their passage through biological barriers, and their impact on human and environmental health, aiming to draw a more comprehensive understanding of this issue.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO
(2022)