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Title: A Redox-Active, Compact Molecule for Cross-Linking Amyloidogenic Peptides into Nontoxic, Off-Pathway Aggregates: In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy and Molecular Mechanisms

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5b10043· OSTI ID:1354250

Chemical reagents targeting and controlling amyloidogenic peptides have received much attention for helping identify their roles in the pathogenesis of protein-misfolding disorders. Herein, we report a novel strategy for redirecting amyloidogenic peptides into nontoxic, off-pathway aggregates, which utilizes redox properties of a small molecule (DMPD, N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine) to trigger covalent adduct formation with the peptide. In addition, for the first time, biochemical, biophysical, and molecular dynamics simulation studies have been performed to demonstrate a mechanistic understanding for such an interaction between a small molecule (DMPD) and amyloid-β (Aβ) and its subsequent anti-amyloidogenic activity, which, upon its transformation, generates ligand–peptide adducts via primary amine-dependent intramolecular cross-linking correlated with structural compaction. Furthermore, in vivo efficacy of DMPD toward amyloid pathology and cognitive impairment was evaluated employing 5xFAD mice of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Such a small molecule (DMPD) is indicated to noticeably reduce the overall cerebral amyloid load of soluble Aβ forms and amyloid deposits as well as significantly improve cognitive defects in the AD mouse model. Overall, our in vitro and in vivo studies of DMPD toward Aβ with the first molecular-level mechanistic investigations present the feasibility of developing new, innovative approaches that employ redox-active compounds without the structural complexity as next-generation chemical tools for amyloid management.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
DOE Contract Number:
SC00112704
OSTI ID:
1354250
Report Number(s):
BNL-112766-2016-JA¿¿¿
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 137, Issue 46; ISSN 0002-7863
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (12)

Structure-mechanism-based engineering of chemical regulators targeting distinct pathological factors in Alzheimer’s disease journal October 2016
Calprotectin influences the aggregation of metal-free and metal-bound amyloid-β by direct interaction journal January 2018
Computational Study of the Aza-Michael Addition of the Flavonoid (+)-Taxifolin in the Inhibition of β-Amyloid Fibril Aggregation journal March 2018
Towards an understanding of amyloid-β oligomers: characterization, toxicity mechanisms, and inhibitors journal January 2017
A Unified View of Assessing the Pro-oxidant versus Antioxidant Nature of Amyloid Beta Conformers journal October 2018
Structural and Mechanistic Insights into Development of Chemical Tools to Control Individual and Inter-Related Pathological Features in Alzheimer's Disease journal January 2017
Destabilization of amyloid fibrils on interaction with MoS 2 -based nanomaterials journal January 2019
N , N ′-Diacetyl- p -phenylenediamine restores microglial phagocytosis and improves cognitive defects in Alzheimer’s disease transgenic mice journal November 2019
A Broader‐scope Analysis of the Catalytic Reduction of Nitrophenols and Azo Dyes with Noble Metal Nanoparticles journal May 2019
Minor Structural Variations of Small Molecules Tune Regulatory Activities toward Pathological Factors in Alzheimer's Disease journal October 2017
A cationic polymethacrylate-copolymer acts as an agonist for β-amyloid and an antagonist for amylin fibrillation journal January 2019
Tailoring Hydrophobic Interactions between Probes and Amyloid-β Peptides for Fluorescent Monitoring of Amyloid-β Aggregation journal May 2018

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