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Research on Protein Misfolding
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Research on Protein Misfolding

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2023) | Viewed by 15532

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Silvia Franceschelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, Division Biomedicine “Arturo Leone”, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
Interests: ystic fibrosis (CF); inflammation; oxidative stress; ER stress; protein misfolding; signal transduction; cell trafficking
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Protein misfolding is a mechanism that occurs during the cell life cycle and can be due to a variety of causes, such as protein co- and post-translational modification, oxidative stress, genetic mutations, and thermal stress. As a consequence of misfolding, proteins expose hydrophobic residues that generate protein aggregates that impair the normal cellular activities. The accumulation of misfolded proteins determines the ER stress, leading to activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR).

Protein misfolding and aberrant protein aggregation are currently considered important mechanisms in several degenerative diseases, closely related to ROS production, inflammatory processes and mitochondrial dysfunction.

In this Special Issue we aim to collect new research and reviews to highlight these correlations and provide new information on their relevance for degenerative diseases and possible therapies.

Prof. Dr. Silvia Franceschelli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • protein misfolding
  • protein aggregation
  • ER stress
  • UPR
  • degenerative disease
  • neurodegenerative disease
  • ROS
  • inflammatory process
  • mitochondrial dysfunction
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • cystic fibrosis

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 7049 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Role of 17-Beta Estradiol in the Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) in Pancreatic Beta Cells
by Monica De Paoli, Deep Shah, Alexander Zakharia, Zil Patel, Zinal Patel, Pakhi Pakhi and Geoff H. Werstuck
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(3), 1816; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25031816 - 2 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1850
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is clinically defined by chronic hyperglycemia. Sex differences in the presentation and outcome of diabetes exist with premenopausal women having a reduced risk of developing diabetes, relative to men, or women after menopause. Accumulating evidence shows a protective role of estrogens, [...] Read more.
Diabetes mellitus is clinically defined by chronic hyperglycemia. Sex differences in the presentation and outcome of diabetes exist with premenopausal women having a reduced risk of developing diabetes, relative to men, or women after menopause. Accumulating evidence shows a protective role of estrogens, specifically 17-beta estradiol, in the maintenance of pancreatic beta cell health; however, the mechanisms underlying this protection are still unknown. To elucidate these potential mechanisms, we used a pancreatic beta cell line (BTC6) and a mouse model of hyperglycemia-induced atherosclerosis, the ApoE−/−:Ins2+/Akita mouse, exhibiting sexual dimorphism in glucose regulation. In this study we hypothesize that 17-beta estradiol protects pancreatic beta cells by modulating the unfolded protein response (UPR) in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We observed that ovariectomized female and male ApoE−/−:Ins2+/Akita mice show significantly increased expression of apoptotic UPR markers. Sham operated female and ovariectomized female ApoE−/−:Ins2+/Akita mice supplemented with exogenous 17-beta estradiol increased the expression of adaptive UPR markers compared to non-supplemented ovariectomized female ApoE−/−:Ins2+/Akita mice. These findings were consistent to what was observed in cultured BTC6 cells, suggesting that 17-beta estradiol may protect pancreatic beta cells by repressing the apoptotic UPR and enhancing the adaptive UPR activation in response to pancreatic ER stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Protein Misfolding)
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16 pages, 1894 KiB  
Article
Vx-809, a CFTR Corrector, Acts through a General Mechanism of Protein Folding and on the Inflammatory Process
by Michela Pecoraro, Adele Serra, Maria Pascale and Silvia Franceschelli
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 4252; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24044252 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2698
Abstract
Correct protein folding is the basis of cellular well-being; thus, accumulation of misfolded proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) leads to an imbalance of homeostasis that causes stress to the ER. Various studies have shown that protein misfolding is a significant factor in [...] Read more.
Correct protein folding is the basis of cellular well-being; thus, accumulation of misfolded proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) leads to an imbalance of homeostasis that causes stress to the ER. Various studies have shown that protein misfolding is a significant factor in the etiology of many human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cystic fibrosis. Misfolded protein accumulation in the ER triggers a sophisticated signal transduction pathway, the unfolded protein response (UPR), which is controlled by three proteins, resident in ER: IRE1α, PERK, and ATF6. Briefly, when ER stress is irreversible, IRE1α induces the activation of pro-inflammatory proteins; PERK phosphorylates eIF2α which induces ATF4 transcription, while ATF6 activates genes encoding ER chaperones. Reticular stress causes an alteration of the calcium homeostasis, which is released from the ER and taken up by the mitochondria, leading to an increase in the oxygen radical species production, and consequently, to oxidative stress. Accumulation of intracellular calcium, in combination with lethal ROS levels, has been associated with an increase of pro-inflammatory protein expression and the initiation of the inflammatory process. Lumacaftor (Vx-809) is a common corrector used in cystic fibrosis treatment which enhances the folding of mutated F508del-CFTR, one of the most prevalent impaired proteins underlying the disease, promoting a higher localization of the mutant protein on the cell membrane. Here, we demonstrate that this drug reduces the ER stress and, consequently, the inflammation that is caused by such events. Thus, this molecule is a promising drug to treat several pathologies that present an etiopathogenesis due to the accumulation of protein aggregates that lead to chronic reticular stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Protein Misfolding)
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21 pages, 31246 KiB  
Article
Expression of Huntingtin and TDP-43 Derivatives in Fission Yeast Can Cause Both Beneficial and Toxic Effects
by Luis Marte, Susanna Boronat, Rubén Barrios, Anna Barcons-Simon, Benedetta Bolognesi, Margarita Cabrera, José Ayté and Elena Hidalgo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(7), 3950; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23073950 - 1 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2854
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative disorders display protein aggregation as a hallmark, Huntingtin and TDP-43 aggregates being characteristic of Huntington disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, respectively. However, whether these aggregates cause the diseases, are secondary by-products, or even have protective effects, is a matter of debate. [...] Read more.
Many neurodegenerative disorders display protein aggregation as a hallmark, Huntingtin and TDP-43 aggregates being characteristic of Huntington disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, respectively. However, whether these aggregates cause the diseases, are secondary by-products, or even have protective effects, is a matter of debate. Mutations in both human proteins can modulate the structure, number and type of aggregates, as well as their toxicity. To study the role of protein aggregates in cellular fitness, we have expressed in a highly tractable unicellular model different variants of Huntingtin and TDP-43. They each display specific patterns of aggregation and toxicity, even though in both cases proteins have to be very highly expressed to affect cell fitness. The aggregation properties of Huntingtin, but not of TDP-43, are affected by chaperones such as Hsp104 and the Hsp40 couple Mas5, suggesting that the TDP-43, but not Huntingtin, derivatives have intrinsic aggregation propensity. Importantly, expression of the aggregating form of Huntingtin causes a significant extension of fission yeast lifespan, probably as a consequence of kidnapping chaperones required for maintaining stress responses off. Our study demonstrates that in general these prion-like proteins do not cause toxicity under normal conditions, and in fact they can protect cells through indirect mechanisms which up-regulate cellular defense pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Protein Misfolding)
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16 pages, 35596 KiB  
Article
Antisense Therapy Attenuates Phospholamban p.(Arg14del) Cardiomyopathy in Mice and Reverses Protein Aggregation
by Tim R. Eijgenraam, Nienke M. Stege, Vivian Oliveira Nunes Teixeira, Remco de Brouwer, Elisabeth M. Schouten, Niels Grote Beverborg, Liu Sun, Daniela Später, Ralph Knöll, Kenny M. Hansson, Carl Amilon, David Janzén, Steve T. Yeh, Adam E. Mullick, Peter van der Meer, Rudolf A. de Boer and Herman H. W. Silljé
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(5), 2427; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052427 - 22 Feb 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4117
Abstract
Inherited cardiomyopathy caused by the p.(Arg14del) pathogenic variant of the phospholamban (PLN) gene is characterized by intracardiomyocyte PLN aggregation and can lead to severe dilated cardiomyopathy. We recently reported that pre-emptive depletion of PLN attenuated heart failure (HF) in several cardiomyopathy [...] Read more.
Inherited cardiomyopathy caused by the p.(Arg14del) pathogenic variant of the phospholamban (PLN) gene is characterized by intracardiomyocyte PLN aggregation and can lead to severe dilated cardiomyopathy. We recently reported that pre-emptive depletion of PLN attenuated heart failure (HF) in several cardiomyopathy models. Here, we investigated if administration of a Pln-targeting antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) could halt or reverse disease progression in mice with advanced PLN-R14del cardiomyopathy. To this aim, homozygous PLN-R14del (PLN-R14 Δ/Δ) mice received PLN-ASO injections starting at 5 or 6 weeks of age, in the presence of moderate or severe HF, respectively. Mice were monitored for another 4 months with echocardiographic analyses at several timepoints, after which cardiac tissues were examined for pathological remodeling. We found that vehicle-treated PLN-R14 Δ/Δ mice continued to develop severe HF, and reached a humane endpoint at 8.1 ± 0.5 weeks of age. Both early and late PLN-ASO administration halted further cardiac remodeling and dysfunction shortly after treatment start, resulting in a life span extension to at least 22 weeks of age. Earlier treatment initiation halted disease development sooner, resulting in better heart function and less remodeling at the study endpoint. PLN-ASO treatment almost completely eliminated PLN aggregates, and normalized levels of autophagic proteins. In conclusion, these findings indicate that PLN-ASO therapy may have beneficial outcomes in PLN-R14del cardiomyopathy when administered after disease onset. Although existing tissue damage was not reversed, further cardiomyopathy progression was stopped, and PLN aggregates were resolved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Protein Misfolding)
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16 pages, 6021 KiB  
Article
Protein Biochemistry and Molecular Modeling of the Intra-Melanosomal Domain of Human Recombinant Tyrp2 Protein and OCA8-Related Mutant Variants
by Monika B. Dolinska, Taariq Woods, Isabella Osuna and Yuri V. Sergeev
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(3), 1305; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031305 - 24 Jan 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3064
Abstract
Tyrosinase-related protein 2 (Tyrp2) is involved in the melanogenesis pathway, catalyzing the tautomerization of dopachrome to 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA). Recently, a new type of albinism was discovered with disease-causing mutations in the TYRP2 gene. Here, for the first time, we characterized the intra-melanosomal [...] Read more.
Tyrosinase-related protein 2 (Tyrp2) is involved in the melanogenesis pathway, catalyzing the tautomerization of dopachrome to 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA). Recently, a new type of albinism was discovered with disease-causing mutations in the TYRP2 gene. Here, for the first time, we characterized the intra-melanosomal protein domain of Tyrp2 (residues 1-474) and missense variants C40S and C61W, which mimic the alterations found in genetic studies. Recombinant proteins were produced in the Trichoplusia Ni (Ti. Ni) larvae, purified by a combination of immobilized metal affinity (IMAC) and gel-filtration (GF) chromatography, and biochemically characterized. The mutants showed the protein expression in the lysates such as the wild type; however, undetectable protein yield after two steps of purification exhibited their misfolding and instability. In addition, the misfolding effect of the mutations was confirmed computationally using homology modeling and molecular docking. Together, experiments in vitro and computer simulations indicated the critical role of the Cys-rich domain in the Tyrp2 protein stability. The results are consistent with molecular modeling, global computational mutagenesis, and clinical data, proving the significance of genetic alterations in cysteine residues, which could cause oculocutaneous albinism type 8. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Protein Misfolding)
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