Peter Konradsson

Novel Pentameric Thiophene Derivatives for in Vitro and in Vivo Optical Imaging of a Plethora of Protein Aggregates in Cerebral Amyloidoses

Molecular probes for selective identification of protein aggregates are important to advance our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis underlying cerebral amyloidoses. Here we report the chemical design of pentameric thiophene derivatives, denoted luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs), which could be used for real-time visualization of cerebral protein aggregates in transgenic mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases by multiphoton microscopy. One of the LCOs, p-FTAA, could be utilized for ex vivo spectral assignment of distinct prion deposits from two mouse-adapted prion strains. p-FTAA also revealed staining of transient soluble pre-fibrillar non-thioflavinophilic Abeta-assemblies during in vitro fibrillation of Abeta peptides. In brain tissue samples, Abeta deposits and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) were readily identified by a strong fluorescence from p-FTAA and the LCO staining showed complete co-localization with conventional antibodies (6E10 and AT8). In addition, a patchy islet-like staining of individual Abeta plaque was unveiled by the anti-oligomer A11 antibody during co-staining with p-FTAA. The major hallmarks of Alzheimers disease, namely, Abeta aggregates versus NFTs, could also be distinguished because of distinct emission spectra from p-FTAA. Overall, we demonstrate that LCOs can be utilized as powerful practical research tools for studying protein aggregation diseases and facilitate the study of amyloid origin, evolution and maturation, Abeta-tau interactions, and pathogenesis both ex vivo and in vivo.

Iodonium ion generated in situ from N-iodosuccinimide and trifluoromethanesulphonic acid promotes direct linkage of ‘disarmed’ pent-4-enyl glycosides

N-Iodosuccinimide and trifluoromethanesulphonic acid provide a powerful source of Iodonium ion which allows ‘disarmed’ pent-4-enyl glycosides that normally respond sluggishly to lodonium dicollidine perchlorate, to react rapidly and to exhibit stereodirection via neighbouring group participation of C-2 esters.

Structural typing of systemic amyloidoses by luminescent-conjugated polymer spectroscopy.

Most systemic amyloidoses are progressive and lethal, and their therapy depends on the identification of the offending proteins. Here we report that luminescent-conjugated thiophene polymers (LCP) sensitively detect amyloid deposits. The heterodisperse polythiophene acetic acid derivatives, polythiophene acetic acid (PTAA) and trimeric PTAA, emitted yellow-red fluorescence on binding to amyloid deposits, whereas chemically homogeneous pentameric formic thiophene acetic acid emitted green-yellow fluorescence. The geometry of LCPs modulates the spectral composition of the emitted light, thereby reporting ligand-induced steric changes. Accordingly, a screen of PTAA-stained amyloid deposits in histological tissue arrays revealed striking spectral differences between specimens. Blinded cluster assignments of spectral profiles of tissue samples from 108 tissue samples derived from 96 patients identified three nonoverlapping classes, which were found to match AA, AL, and ATTR immunotyping. We conclude that LCP spectroscopy is a sensitive and powerful tool for identifying and characterizing amyloid deposits.

Electronic control of cell detachment using a self-doped conducting polymer.

An electronic detachment technology based on thin films of a poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene) derivative is evaluated for controlled release of human epithelial cells. When applying a potential of ...

A Fluorescent Pentameric Thiophene Derivative Detects in Vitro-Formed Prefibrillar Protein Aggregates

Protein aggregation is associated with a wide range of diseases, and molecular probes that are able to detect a diversity of misfolded protein assemblies are of great importance. The identification of prefibrillar states preceding the formation of well-defined amyloid fibrils is of particular interest both because of their likely role in the mechanism of fibril formation and because of the growing awareness that these species are likely to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of protein deposition diseases. Herein, we explore the use of an anionic oligothiophene derivative, p-FTAA, for detection of prefibrillar protein aggregates during in vitro fibrillation of three different amyloidogenic proteins (insulin, lysozyme, and prion protein). p-FTAA generally detected prefibrillar protein aggregates that could not be detected by thioflavine T fluorescence and in addition showed high fluorescence when bound to mature fibrils. Second, the kinetics of protein aggregation or the formation of amyloid fibrils of insulin was not extensively influenced by the presence of various concentrations of p-FTAA. These results establish the use of p-FTAA as an additional tool for studying the process of protein aggregation.

Facile preparation of glycosyl donors for oligosaccharide synthesis: 2-azido-2-deoxyhexopyranosyl building blocks

Abstract Facile routes to the 2-azido-2-deoxy-1-thioglycosides 6 , 7 , 15 , and 18 and of the 2-azido-2-deoxy-4-pentenoglycoside 11 , are described. These are useful intermediates for the synthesis of oligo-saccharides containing α- D -2-amino-2-deoxy (or 2-acetamido-2-deoxy) hexosyl residues in the galacto- , gluco- , and manno- series.

The junctional integrity of epithelial cells is modulated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing molecule through phosphorylation-dependent mechanisms

In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cell-cell communication based on acyl-homoserine lactone (HSL) quorum sensing molecules is known to coordinate the production of virulence factors and biofilms by the bacterium. Incidentally, these bacterial signals can also modulate mammalian cell behaviour. We report that 3O-C(12)-HSL can disrupt adherens junctions in human epithelial Caco-2 cells as evidenced by a reduction of the expression and distribution of E-cadherin and beta-catenin. Using co-immunoprecipitation we also found that P. aeruginosa 3O-C(12)-HSL-treatment resulted in tyrosine hyperphosphorylation of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, occludin and ZO-1. Similarly, serine and threonine residues of E-cadherin and ZO-1 became more phosphorylated after 3O-C(12)-HSL treatment. On the contrary, occludin and beta-catenin underwent dephosphorylation on serine and threonine residues after exposition of 3O-C(12)-HSL. These changes in the phosphorylation state were paralleled by alteration in the structure of junction complexes and increased paracellular permeability. Moreover, pre-treatment of the Caco-2 cells with protein phosphatase and kinase inhibitors prevented 3O-C(12)-HSL-induced changes in paracellular permeability and interactions between occludin-ZO-1 and the E-cadherin-beta-catenin. These findings clearly suggest that an alteration in the phosphorylation status of junction proteins are involved in the changes in cell junction associations and enhanced paracellular permeability, and that bacterial signals are indeed sensed by the host cells.

Resistance of galactoside-terminated alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers to marine fouling organisms

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of galactoside-terminated alkanethiols have protein-resistance properties which can be tuned via the degree of methylation [Langmuir 2005, 21, 2971-2980]. Specifically, a partially methylated compound was more resistant to nonspecific protein adsorption than the hydroxylated or fully methylated counterparts. We investigate whether this also holds true for resistance to the attachment and adhesion of a range of marine species, in order to clarify to what extent resistance to protein adsorption correlates with the more complex adhesion of fouling organisms. The partially methylated galactoside-terminated SAM was further compared to a mixed monolayer of ω-substituted methyl- and hydroxyl-terminated alkanethiols with wetting properties and surface ratio of hydroxyl to methyl groups matching that of the galactoside. The settlement (initial attachment) and adhesion strength of four model marine fouling organisms were investigated, representing both micro- and macrofoulers; two bacteria (Cobetia marina and Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus), barnacle cypris larvae (Balanus amphitrite), and algal zoospores (Ulva linza). The minimum in protein adsorption onto the partially methylated galactoside surface was partly reproduced in the marine fouling assays, providing some support for a relationship between protein resistance and adhesion of marine fouling organisms. The mixed alkanethiol SAM, which was matched in wettability to the partially methylated galactoside SAM, consistently showed higher settlement (initial attachment) of test organisms than the galactoside, implying that both wettability and surface chemistry are insufficient to explain differences in fouling resistance. We suggest that differences in the structure of interfacial water may explain the variation in adhesion to these SAMs.

Saccharide-functionalized alkanethiols for fouling-resistant self-assembled monolayers: synthesis, monolayer properties, and antifouling behavior.

We describe the synthesis of a series of mono-, di-, and trisaccharide-functionalized alkanethiols as well as the formation of fouling-resistant self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) from these. The SAMs were characterized using ellipsometry, wetting measurements, and infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). We show that the structure of the carbohydrate moiety affects the packing density and that this also alters the alkane chain organization. Upon increasing the size of the sugar moieties (from mono- to di- and trisaccharides), the structural qualities of the monolayers deteriorated with increasing disorder, and for the trisaccharide, slow reorganization dynamics in response to changes in the environmental polarity were observed. The antifouling properties of these SAMs were investigated through protein adsorption experiments from buffer solutions as well as settlement (attachment) tests using two common marine fouling species, zoospores of the green macroalga Ulva linza and cypris larvae of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite. The SAMs showed overall good resistance to fouling by both the proteins and the tested marine organisms. To improve the packing density of the SAMs with bulky headgroups, we employed mixed SAMs where the saccharide-thiols are diluted with a filler molecule having a small 2-hydroxyethyl headgroup. This method also provides a means by which the steric availability of sugar moieties can be varied, which is of interest for specific interaction studies with surface-bound sugars. The results of the surface dilution study and the low nonspecific adsorption onto the SAMs both indicate the feasibility of this approach.

Fluorescent oligo and poly-thiophenes and their utilization for recording biological events of diverse origin—when organic chemistry meets biology

The technique of using luminescent oligo-thiophenes and luminescent conjugated poly-thiophenes to monitor biological processes has gained increased interest from scientists within different research areas, ranging from organic chemistry and photo-physics to biology since its introduction. The technique is generally straightforward and requires only standard equipment, and the result is available within minutes from sample preparation. In this review, the syntheses of oligo and polythiophenes developed over the last decades are discussed. Furthermore, the utilization of these molecular agents for exploring biological events, e.g., DNA hybridization or protein misfolding events, are covered.