Minna Groenning

Binding mode of Thioflavin T and other molecular probes in the context of amyloid fibrils—current status

Because understanding amyloid fibrillation in molecular detail is essential for development of strategies to control amyloid formation and overcome neurodegenerative disorders, increased understanding of present molecular probes as well as development of new probes are of utmost importance. To date, the binding modes of these molecular probes to amyloid fibrils are by no means adequately described or understood, and the large number of studies on Thioflavin T (ThT) and Congo Red (CR) binding have resulted in models that are incomplete and conflicting. Different types of binding sites are likely to be present in amyloid fibrils with differences in binding modes. ThT may bind in channels running parallel to the long axis of the fibril. In the channels, ThT may bind in either a monomeric or dimeric form of which the molecular conformation is likely to be planar. CR may bind in grooves formed along the β-sheets as a planar molecule in either a monomeric or supramolecular form.

Secondary nucleation and accessible surface in insulin amyloid fibril formation.

At low pH insulin is highly prone to self-assembly into amyloid fibrils. The process has been proposed to be affected by the existence of secondary nucleation pathways, in which already formed fibrils are able to catalyze the formation of new fibrils. In this work, we studied the fibrillation process of human insulin in a wide range of protein concentrations. Thioflavin T fluorescence was used for its ability to selectively detect amyloid fibrils, by mechanisms that involve the interaction between the dye and the accessible surface of the fibrils. Our results show that the rate of fibrillation and the Thioflavin T fluorescence intensity saturate at high protein concentration and that, surprisingly, the two parameters are proportional to each other. Because Thioflavin T fluorescence is likely to depend on the accessible surface of the fibrils, we suggest that the overall fibrillation kinetics is mainly governed by the accessible surface, through secondary nucleation mechanisms. Moreover, a statistical study of the fibrillation kinetics suggests that the early stages of the process are affected by stochastic nucleation events.

Thioflavin T Hydroxylation at Basic pH and Its Effect on Amyloid Fibril Detection

The fluorescent dye thioflavin T (ThT) is commonly used for in situ amyloid fibril detection. In this work, we focused on the spectroscopic properties and chemical stability of ThT in aqueous solution as a function of pH, temperature, and dye concentration. A reversible hydroxylation process occurs in alkaline solutions, which was characterized using a combination of UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, proton NMR, and density functional theory (DFT). On the basis of these studies, we propose a chemical structure for the hydroxylated form. Finally, by means of fluorescence spectroscopy, ThT hydroxylation effects on in situ amyloid detection have been investigated, providing new insights on the efficiency of the ThT assay for quantitative fibril evaluation at basic pH.

Formation mechanism of insulin fibrils and structural aspects of the insulin fibrillation process.

The therapeutic importance of gaining a thorough knowledge on insulin fibrillation in relation to type I diabetes has lead to six decades of studies focusing on its formation kinetics and structural characteristics. Insulin fibrils feature characteristics common to amyloid fibrils such as an elongated morphology, characteristic cross-beta diffraction pattern, Thioflavin T fluorescence, and Congo Red birefringence. A full understanding of the fibrillation process requires structural elucidation of every species and determination of the kinetics of interconversion between species on the reaction pathway. Therefore, describing the underlying mechanism is complicated and different mechanisms have been proposed. In the recent years increased knowledge has been obtained on the importance of prefibrillar oligomeric species present during the process. A solution structure of such a species and also low-resolution structures of mature insulin fibrils have been obtained as well as high-resolution structures of two insulin hexa-peptide segments forming cross-beta sheet structures. However, it still remains to be elucidated whether these cross-beta structures corresponds to the structure in the fibril formed from the full-length protein. Different morphologies of insulin fibrils are observed depending on the arrangement of the protofilament, and even circular amyloids and spherulites composed of a core with many fibrils extending from it have been observed. This review will mainly focus on the structure of the species present during the insulin fibrillation process such as the partially unfolded monomeric intermediate, prefibrillar oligomeric species, and the insulin fibrils. Furthermore, it will address the formation mechanism and potential inhibition of the fibrillation process.

Thioflavin T Promotes Aβ(1–40) Amyloid Fibrils Formation

Fibrillogenesis of the small peptide Aβ(1-40) is considered to be the hallmark of Alzheimers disease. Some evidence indicates small oligomers, rather than mature fibrils, as the key cytotoxic agents. The fluorescent dye Thioflavin T (ThT) is often used to detect amyloid deposits in both in vivo and in vitro experiments, and it is used to study kinetic measurements, under the fundamental hypothesis that this probe does not influence the aggregation processes. We report experimental data showing that ThT may promote the Aβ(1-40) peptide amyloid aggregation changing solvent-peptide interactions and stabilizing more ordered β-like conformation. This finding has a two-fold importance: It is a fundamental warning in all fibrillation experiments where ThT is used as fluorescent probe, and it suggests that ThT, accelerating fibril formation, could be used to reduce the presence of transient small oligomers, thus interfering with the pathogenic impact of Aβ peptide.

Adsorption of insulin with varying self-association profiles to a solid Teflon surface--influence on protein structure, fibrillation tendency and thermal stability.

Interfaces are present in the preparation of pharmaceutical products and are well known for having an influence on the physical stability of proteins. The aim of this study was to examine the conformation (i.e. secondary and tertiary structures) and fibrillation tendency, overall aggregation tendency and thermal stability of adsorbed human insulin at a solid particulate Teflon surface. The effects of changes in the association degree of insulin on the structure and stability have been determined. Using SEC-HPLC, association profiles were determined for insulin aspart, zinc-free human insulin and human insulin with two Zn(2+) per hexamer in concentrations ranging from 0.1 mg/ml to 20 mg/ml. Insulin aspart was 100% monomeric, regardless of concentration. In contrast, human insulin went from 100% monomer to 80% hexamer, and 20% dimer/monomer and zinc-free human insulin from 100% monomer to 70% dimer and 30% monomer with increasing concentration. The secondary structure of the insulins changed upon adsorption, but only minor differences were observed among the insulins. Structural changes were observed when the insulin-surface ratio was varied, but at no point did the structure resemble that of fibrillated insulin in solution. The presence of particles resulted in increased fibrillation of human insulin. The lag-time of fibrillation decreased, when the amount of particles present was increased. In conclusion, the type and association degree of the three insulin variants has no major influence on the secondary structure observed after adsorption of insulin at the solid Teflon surface. However, the presence of particles increases the tendency of insulin to fibrillate.

Considerably Unfolded Transthyretin Monomers Preceed and Exchange with Dynamically Structured Amyloid Protofibrils

Despite numerous studies, a detailed description of the transthyretin (TTR) self-assembly mechanism and fibril structure in TTR amyloidoses remains unresolved. Here, using a combination of primarily small -angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry (HXMS) analysis, we describe an unexpectedly dynamic TTR protofibril structure which exchanges protomers with highly unfolded monomers in solution. The protofibrils only grow to an approximate final size of 2,900 kDa and a length of 70 nm and a comparative HXMS analysis of native and aggregated samples revealed a much higher average solvent exposure of TTR upon fibrillation. With SAXS, we reveal the continuous presence of a considerably unfolded TTR monomer throughout the fibrillation process, and show that a considerable fraction of the fibrillating protein remains in solution even at a late maturation state. Together, these data reveal that the fibrillar state interchanges with the solution state. Accordingly, we suggest that TTR fibrillation proceeds via addition of considerably unfolded monomers, and the continuous presence of amyloidogenic structures near the protofibril surface offers a plausible explanation for secondary nucleation. We argue that the presence of such dynamic structural equilibria must impact future therapeutic development strategies.

Structural Analysis of Multi-component Amyloid Systems by Chemometric SAXS Data Decomposition

Formation of amyloids is the hallmark of several neurodegenerative pathologies. Structural investigation of these complex transformation processes poses significant experimental challenges due to the co-existence of multiple species. The additive nature of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data allows for probing the evolution of these mixtures of oligomeric states, but the decomposition of SAXS data into species-specific spectra and relative concentrations is burdened by ambiguity. We present an objective SAXS data decomposition method by adapting the multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) chemometric method. The approach enables rigorous and robust decomposition of synchrotron SAXS data by simultaneously introducing these data in different representations that emphasize molecular changes at different time and structural resolution ranges. The approach has allowed the study of fibrillogenic forms of insulin and the familial mutant E46K of α-synuclein, and is generally applicable to any macromolecular mixture that can be probed by SAXS.

Soft hydrogels interpenetrating silicone—A polymer network for drug‐releasing medical devices

Materials for the next generation of medical devices will require not only the mechanical stability of current devices, but must also possess other properties such as sustained release of drugs in a controlled manner over a prolonged period of time. This work focuses on creating such a sophisticated material by forming an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) material through modification of silicone elastomers with a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)-based hydrogel. IPN materials with a PHEMA content in the range of 13%-38% (w/w) were synthesized by using carbon dioxide-based solvent mixtures under high pressure. These IPNs were characterized with regard to microstructure as well as ability of the hydrogel to form a surface-connected hydrophilic carrier network inside the silicone. A critical limit for hydrogel connectivity was found both via simulation and by visualization of water uptake in approximately 25% (w/w) PHEMA, indicating that entrapment of gel occurs at low gel concentrations. The optimized IPN material was loaded with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, and the resulting drug release was shown to inhibit bacterial growth when placed on agar, thus demonstrating the potential of this IPN material for future applications in drug-releasing medical devices.

Sustained prevention of biofilm formation on a novel silicone matrix suitable for medical devices

Bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on medical devices constitute major challenges in clinical long-term use of e.g. catheters due to the risk of (re)infection of patients, which would result in additional use of antibiotics risking bacterial resistance development. The aim of the present project was to introduce a novel antibacterial approach involving an advanced composite material applicable for medical devices. The polymeric composites investigated consisted of a hydrogel network of cross-linked poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) embedded in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) silicone elastomer produced using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). In these materials, the hydrogel may contain an active pharmaceutical ingredient while the silicone elastomer provides the sufficient mechanical stability of the material. In these conceptual studies, the antimicrobial agent ciprofloxacin was loaded into the polymer matrix by a post-polymerization loading procedure. Sustained release of ciprofloxacin was demonstrated, and the release could be controlled by varying the hydrogel content in the range 13-38% (w/w) and by changing the concentration of ciprofloxacin during loading in the range of 1-20mg/mL. Devices containing 25% (w/w) hydrogel and loaded with ciprofloxacin displayed a strong antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus bacterial colonization and subsequent biofilm formation on the device material was inhibited for 29days. In conclusion, the hydrogel/silicone composite represents a promising candidate material for medical devices that prevent bacterial colonization during long-term use.