Heme minimizes Parkinson’s disease-associated toxicity by inducing a conformational distortion in the oligomers of alpha-Synuclein

Abstract

Aggregation of the intrinsically disordered protein alpha-Synuclein (α-Syn) into insoluble fibrils with a cross-β sheet amyloid structure plays a key role in the neuronal pathology of Parkinson's disease (PD). The fibrillation pathway of α-Syn encompasses a multitude of transient oligomeric forms differing in size, secondary structure, hydrophobic exposure and toxicity. According to a recent solid state NMR study, the fibrillating unit of α-Syn contains the core residues of the protein arranged into in-register parallel β sheets with a unique Greek key topology. Here, we have shown that the physiologically available small molecule heme (hemin chloride) when added at sub-stoichiometric ratios to either monomeric or aggregated α-Syn, arrests its aggregation in an oligomeric state, which is minimally toxic. Using cryo-EM, we observed that these heme-induced oligomers are 'mace'-shaped and consist of approximately four monomers. However, the presence of a crucial twist or contortion in theirGreek key structural architecture prevents further hierarchical appending into annular oligomers and protofilament formation. We confirm using a His50Gln mutant that the binding of heme onto His50 is crucial in inflicting the structural distortion and is responsible for the stabilization of the non-toxic and off-pathway α-Syn oligomers. We believe that this study provides a novel strategy of developing a therapeutic solution of PD, which has been elusive so far.

Vitamin B12 Inhibits Aβ Fibrillation and Disaggregates Preformed Fibrils in the Presence of Synthetic Neuronal Membranes

“…Samples used in ATR-FTIR experiments were taken directly from ThT assays after 4 h of incubation. FTIR measurements of Aβ 1–42 were carried out on an ALPHA-P spectrophotometer (Bruker Corporation, Billerica, MA, EUA), as previously depicted . Concisely, 5 μL of each sample was applied on the FTIR crystal surface, and the solvent was removed through a nitrogen streamflow to obtain a dried thin film.…”

“…FTIR measurements of Aβ 1−42 were carried out on an ALPHA-P spectrophotometer (Bruker Corporation, Billerica, MA, EUA), as previously depicted. 59 Concisely, 5 μL of each sample was applied on the FTIR crystal surface, and the solvent was removed through a nitrogen streamflow to obtain a dried thin film. Spectra were collected in the Amide I region of Aβ 1−42 from 1600 to 1700 cm −1 , resulting from the mean of 64 scans.…”