{"title":"Protein aggregation-inhibition: a therapeutic route from Parkinson's disease to sickle cell anemia.","authors":"Gabriel F Martins, N Galamba","doi":"10.1080/10409238.2023.2201406","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Protein aggregation is implicated in multiple diseases, so-called proteinopathies, ranging from neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease (PD) to type 2 diabetes mellitus and sickle cell disease (SCD). The structure of the protein aggregates and the kinetics and mechanisms of aggregation have been the object of intense research over the years toward the development of therapeutic routes, including the design of aggregation inhibitors. Nonetheless, the rational design of drugs targeting aggregation inhibition remains a challenging endeavor because of multiple, disease-specific factors, including an incomplete understanding of protein function, the multitude of toxic and non-toxic protein aggregates, the lack of specific drug binding targets, discrepant action mechanisms of aggregation inhibitors, or a low selectivity, specificity, and/or drug potency, reflected in the high concentrations required for some inhibitors to be effective. Herein, we provide a perspective of this therapeutic route with emphasis on small molecules and peptide-based drugs in two diverse diseases, PD and SCD, aiming at establishing links among proposed aggregation inhibitors. The small and large length-scale regimes of the hydrophobic effect are discussed in light of the importance of hydrophobic interactions in proteinopathies. Some simulation results are reported on model peptides, illustrating the impact of hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups in water's hydrogen-bond network with an impact on drug binding. The seeming importance of aromatic rings and hydroxyl groups in protein-aggregation-inhibitor-drugs is emphasized along with the challenges associated with some inhibitors, limiting their development into effective therapeutic options, and questioning the potential of this therapeutic route.</p>","PeriodicalId":10794,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.2000,"publicationDate":"2023-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"2","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10409238.2023.2201406","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 2
Abstract
Protein aggregation is implicated in multiple diseases, so-called proteinopathies, ranging from neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease (PD) to type 2 diabetes mellitus and sickle cell disease (SCD). The structure of the protein aggregates and the kinetics and mechanisms of aggregation have been the object of intense research over the years toward the development of therapeutic routes, including the design of aggregation inhibitors. Nonetheless, the rational design of drugs targeting aggregation inhibition remains a challenging endeavor because of multiple, disease-specific factors, including an incomplete understanding of protein function, the multitude of toxic and non-toxic protein aggregates, the lack of specific drug binding targets, discrepant action mechanisms of aggregation inhibitors, or a low selectivity, specificity, and/or drug potency, reflected in the high concentrations required for some inhibitors to be effective. Herein, we provide a perspective of this therapeutic route with emphasis on small molecules and peptide-based drugs in two diverse diseases, PD and SCD, aiming at establishing links among proposed aggregation inhibitors. The small and large length-scale regimes of the hydrophobic effect are discussed in light of the importance of hydrophobic interactions in proteinopathies. Some simulation results are reported on model peptides, illustrating the impact of hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups in water's hydrogen-bond network with an impact on drug binding. The seeming importance of aromatic rings and hydroxyl groups in protein-aggregation-inhibitor-drugs is emphasized along with the challenges associated with some inhibitors, limiting their development into effective therapeutic options, and questioning the potential of this therapeutic route.
期刊介绍:
As the discipline of biochemistry and molecular biology have greatly advanced in the last quarter century, significant contributions have been made towards the advancement of general medicine, genetics, immunology, developmental biology, and biophysics. Investigators in a wide range of disciplines increasingly require an appreciation of the significance of current biochemical and molecular biology advances while, members of the biochemical and molecular biology community itself seek concise information on advances in areas remote from their own specialties.
Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology believes that well-written review articles prove an effective device for the integration and meaningful comprehension of vast, often contradictory, literature. Review articles also provide an opportunity for creative scholarship by synthesizing known facts, fruitful hypotheses, and new concepts. Accordingly, Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology publishes high-quality reviews that organize, evaluate, and present the current status of high-impact, current issues in the area of biochemistry and molecular biology.
Topics are selected on the advice of an advisory board of outstanding scientists, who also suggest authors of special competence. The topics chosen are sufficiently broad to interest a wide audience of readers, yet focused enough to be within the competence of a single author. Authors are chosen based on their activity in the field and their proven ability to produce a well-written publication.