{"title":"Transcriptome-Wide Profiling of Nascent RNA in Neurons with Enriched H3K27ac Signal Elevates eRNA Identification Efficiency.","authors":"Jiazhi Jiang, Sha Liu, Ziyue Xu, Shuangqi Yu, Lesheng Wang, Shengrong Long, Shengda Ye, Yu Yan, Hongyu Xu, Jianjian Zhang, Wei Wei, Qiongyi Zhao, Xiang Li","doi":"10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00047","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00047","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Growing evidence suggests that activity-dependent gene expression is crucial for neuronal plasticity and behavioral experience. Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs), a class of long noncoding RNAs, play a key role in these processes. However, eRNAs are highly dynamic and are often present at lower levels than their corresponding mRNAs, making them difficult to detect using total RNA-seq techniques. Nascent RNA sequencing, which separates nascent RNAs from the steady-state RNA population, has been shown to increase the ability to detect activity-induced eRNAs with a higher signal-to-noise ratio. However, there is a lack of bioinformatic tools or pipelines for detecting eRNAs utilizing nascent RNA-seq and other multiomics data sets. In this study, we addressed this gap by developing a novel bioinformatic framework, e-finder, for finding eRNAs and have made it available to the scientific community. Additionally, we reanalyzed our previous nascent RNA sequencing data and compared them with total RNA-seq data to identify activity-regulated RNAs in neuronal cell populations. Using H3K27 acetylome data, we characterized activity-dependent eRNAs that drive the transcriptional activity of the target genes. Our analysis identified a subset of eRNAs involved in mediating synapse organization, which showed increased activity-dependent transcription after the potassium chloride stimulation. Notably, our data suggest that nascent RNA-seq with an enriched H3K27ac signal exhibits high resolution to identify potential eRNAs in response to membrane depolarization. Our findings uncover the role of the eRNA-mediated gene activation network in neuronal systems, providing new insights into the molecular processes characterizing neurological diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":13,"journal":{"name":"ACS Chemical Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11487572/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142386353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ketul V Patel, Vinicius M Gadotti, Agustin Garcia-Caballero, Flavia T T Antunes, Md Yousof Ali, Gerald W Zamponi, Darren J Derksen
{"title":"Development of Tetrahydroquinoline-Based Inhibitors for Chronic Pain.","authors":"Ketul V Patel, Vinicius M Gadotti, Agustin Garcia-Caballero, Flavia T T Antunes, Md Yousof Ali, Gerald W Zamponi, Darren J Derksen","doi":"10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00316","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00316","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic pain affects a substantial portion of the population, posing a significant health challenge. Current treatments often come with limitations and side effects, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches. Our study focuses on disrupting the Cav3.2-USP5 interaction as a strategy for chronic pain management. Through structure-activity relationship studies of a tetrahydroquinoline (THQ) scaffold, we identified a family of lead molecules that demonstrated potent inhibition of the Cav3.2-USP5 interaction. In vitro pharmacokinetic assessments and in vivo studies support the efficacy and drug-like properties of the lead compounds in mouse models of acute and chronic pain. Dependence on the Cav3.2 channels was validated in Cav3.2 null mice, consistent with the proposed mode of action of these small molecules. These findings provide a novel chronic pain treatment strategy, highlighting the potential of these small molecules for further development.</p>","PeriodicalId":13,"journal":{"name":"ACS Chemical Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142386351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Chemical NeurosciencePub Date : 2024-10-08DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c0039210.1021/acschemneuro.4c00392
Arun Kumar Mahanta, Bivek Chaulagain, Riddhi Trivedi and Jagdish Singh*,
{"title":"Mannose-Functionalized Chitosan-Coated PLGA Nanoparticles for Brain-Targeted Codelivery of CBD and BDNF for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease","authors":"Arun Kumar Mahanta, Bivek Chaulagain, Riddhi Trivedi and Jagdish Singh*, ","doi":"10.1021/acschemneuro.4c0039210.1021/acschemneuro.4c00392","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00392https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00392","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease causing cognitive and memory decline. AD is characterized by the deposition of amyloid-β and hypophosphorylated forms of tau protein. AD brains are found to be associated with neurodegeneration, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Cannabidiol (CBD) shows neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties and simultaneously reduces amyloid-β production and tau hyperphosphorylation. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a vital role in the development and maintenance of the plasticity of the central nervous system. A decline of BDNF levels in AD patients results in reduced plasticity and neuronal cell death. Current therapeutics against AD are limited to only symptomatic relief, necessitating a therapeutic strategy that reverses cognitive decline. In this scenario, combination therapy of CBD and BDNF could be a fruitful strategy for the treatment of AD. We designed mannose-conjugated chitosan-coated poly(<span>d</span>,<span>l</span>-lactide-<i>co</i>-glycolide (PLGA) (CHTMAN-PLGA) nanoparticles for the codelivery of CBD and BDNF to the brain. Chitosan is modified with mannose to specifically target the glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) receptor abundantly present in the blood–brain barrier for selectively delivering therapeutics to the brain. The CBD-encapsulated nanoparticles showed an average hydrodynamic diameter of 306 ± 8.12 nm and a zeta potential of 31.7 ± 1.53 mV. The coated nanoparticles prolonged encapsulated CBD release from the PLGA matrix. The coated nanoparticles exhibited sustained release of CBD for up to 22 days with 91.68 ± 2.91% release of the encapsulated drug. The coated nanoparticles, which had a high positive zeta potential (31.7 ± 1.53 mV), encapsulated the plasmid DNA. The qualitative transfection efficiency was investigated using CHTMAN-PLGA-CBD/pGFP in bEND.3, primary astrocytes, and primary neurons, while the quantitative transfection efficiency of the delivery system was determined using CHTMAN-PLGA-CBD/pBDNF. In vitro, the pBDNF transfection study revealed that the BDNF expression was 4-fold higher for CHTMAN-PLGA-CBD/pBDNF than for naked pBDNF in all of the cell lines. The cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility of the designed nanoparticles were tested in bEND.3 cells and red blood cells, respectively, and the nanoparticles were found to be nontoxic and hemocompatible. Hence, mannose-conjugated chitosan-coated PLGA nanoparticles could be useful as brain-targeting delivery vehicles for the codelivery of CBD and BDNF for possible AD treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":13,"journal":{"name":"ACS Chemical Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Transcriptome-Wide Profiling of Nascent RNA in Neurons with Enriched H3K27ac Signal Elevates eRNA Identification Efficiency","authors":"Jiazhi Jiang, Sha Liu, Ziyue Xu, Shuangqi Yu, Lesheng Wang, Shengrong Long, Shengda Ye, Yu Yan, Hongyu Xu, Jianjian Zhang, Wei Wei*, Qiongyi Zhao* and Xiang Li*, ","doi":"10.1021/acschemneuro.4c0004710.1021/acschemneuro.4c00047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00047https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00047","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Growing evidence suggests that activity-dependent gene expression is crucial for neuronal plasticity and behavioral experience. Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs), a class of long noncoding RNAs, play a key role in these processes. However, eRNAs are highly dynamic and are often present at lower levels than their corresponding mRNAs, making them difficult to detect using total RNA-seq techniques. Nascent RNA sequencing, which separates nascent RNAs from the steady-state RNA population, has been shown to increase the ability to detect activity-induced eRNAs with a higher signal-to-noise ratio. However, there is a lack of bioinformatic tools or pipelines for detecting eRNAs utilizing nascent RNA-seq and other multiomics data sets. In this study, we addressed this gap by developing a novel bioinformatic framework, e-finder, for finding eRNAs and have made it available to the scientific community. Additionally, we reanalyzed our previous nascent RNA sequencing data and compared them with total RNA-seq data to identify activity-regulated RNAs in neuronal cell populations. Using H3K27 acetylome data, we characterized activity-dependent eRNAs that drive the transcriptional activity of the target genes. Our analysis identified a subset of eRNAs involved in mediating synapse organization, which showed increased activity-dependent transcription after the potassium chloride stimulation. Notably, our data suggest that nascent RNA-seq with an enriched H3K27ac signal exhibits high resolution to identify potential eRNAs in response to membrane depolarization. Our findings uncover the role of the eRNA-mediated gene activation network in neuronal systems, providing new insights into the molecular processes characterizing neurological diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":13,"journal":{"name":"ACS Chemical Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00047","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142437105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Safwa T Kizhakkeduth, Arshad Abdul Vahid, Muhammed Shafeek Oliyantakath Hassan, Anagha K Parambil, Parul Jain, Vinesh Vijayan
{"title":"Molecular Interactions between Tau Protein and TIA1: Distinguishing Physiological Condensates from Pathological Fibrils.","authors":"Safwa T Kizhakkeduth, Arshad Abdul Vahid, Muhammed Shafeek Oliyantakath Hassan, Anagha K Parambil, Parul Jain, Vinesh Vijayan","doi":"10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00456","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00456","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The interaction of tau protein with other key proteins essential for stress granule formation determines their functional and pathological impact. In a biological framework, the synergy between Alzheimer's associated tau protein and the stress granule core protein TIA1 is widely recognized. However, the molecular details of this association remain unclear. In this study, we throw light on the importance of the state in which the TIA1 exists in mediating its association with the tau protein. Investigations were carried out on the three repeat constructs of tau (K19) and different structures formed by TIA1. Specifically, the condensate formed by TIA1 full-length (TIA1-FL) protein as well as fibril formed by low complexity domain of TIA1 (TIA1-LCD). The dynamics of K19 inside TIA1-FL condensates and the aggregation kinetics of K19 in the presence of TIA1-LCD fibrils were examined using various biophysical techniques. Relaxation-based solution NMR spectroscopic investigations suggest a weak interaction with TIA1 condensates and indicated a reduction in the dynamics of K19 within these TIA1 condensates. In contrast, a significant interaction was observed between K19, and TIA1-LCD fibrils primarily mediated through <sup>321</sup>KCGS<sup>324</sup> and <sup>306</sup>VQIVYKPVDLSKV<sup>317</sup>. Our findings emphasize that the interaction between Tau and TIA1 varies depending on whether TIA1 is in its physiological condensate form or its pathological fibril state.</p>","PeriodicalId":13,"journal":{"name":"ACS Chemical Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142379393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Chemical NeurosciencePub Date : 2024-10-07DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c0045610.1021/acschemneuro.4c00456
Safwa T. Kizhakkeduth, Arshad Abdul Vahid, Muhammed Shafeek Oliyantakath Hassan, Anagha K. Parambil, Parul Jain and Vinesh Vijayan*,
{"title":"Molecular Interactions between Tau Protein and TIA1: Distinguishing Physiological Condensates from Pathological Fibrils","authors":"Safwa T. Kizhakkeduth, Arshad Abdul Vahid, Muhammed Shafeek Oliyantakath Hassan, Anagha K. Parambil, Parul Jain and Vinesh Vijayan*, ","doi":"10.1021/acschemneuro.4c0045610.1021/acschemneuro.4c00456","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00456https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00456","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The interaction of tau protein with other key proteins essential for stress granule formation determines their functional and pathological impact. In a biological framework, the synergy between Alzheimer’s associated tau protein and the stress granule core protein TIA1 is widely recognized. However, the molecular details of this association remain unclear. In this study, we throw light on the importance of the state in which the TIA1 exists in mediating its association with the tau protein. Investigations were carried out on the three repeat constructs of tau (K19) and different structures formed by TIA1. Specifically, the condensate formed by TIA1 full-length (TIA1-FL) protein as well as fibril formed by low complexity domain of TIA1 (TIA1-LCD). The dynamics of K19 inside TIA1-FL condensates and the aggregation kinetics of K19 in the presence of TIA1-LCD fibrils were examined using various biophysical techniques. Relaxation-based solution NMR spectroscopic investigations suggest a weak interaction with TIA1 condensates and indicated a reduction in the dynamics of K19 within these TIA1 condensates. In contrast, a significant interaction was observed between K19, and TIA1-LCD fibrils primarily mediated through <sup>321</sup>KCGS<sup>324</sup> and <sup>306</sup>VQIVYKPVDLSKV<sup>317</sup>. Our findings emphasize that the interaction between Tau and TIA1 varies depending on whether TIA1 is in its physiological condensate form or its pathological fibril state.</p>","PeriodicalId":13,"journal":{"name":"ACS Chemical Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142437321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Chemical NeurosciencePub Date : 2024-10-06DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c0049910.1021/acschemneuro.4c00499
Chengpeng Liao, Jinding Guo, Shenqian Li, Jing Rui, Kaiming Gao, Jie Lao and Yingjie Zhou*,
{"title":"Ferroptosis Regulated by 5-HT3a Receptor via Calcium/Calmodulin Signaling Contributes to Neuropathic Pain in Brachial Plexus Avulsion Rat Models","authors":"Chengpeng Liao, Jinding Guo, Shenqian Li, Jing Rui, Kaiming Gao, Jie Lao and Yingjie Zhou*, ","doi":"10.1021/acschemneuro.4c0049910.1021/acschemneuro.4c00499","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00499https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00499","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Neuropathic pain is a prevalent complication following brachial plexus avulsion (BPA). Ferroptosis has been implicated in various nervous system disorders. However, the association between ferroptosis and neuropathic pain induced by BPA remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of ferroptosis in BPA-induced neuropathic pain. A rat model of neuropathic pain was established via BPA induction. Pain thresholds of rats were measured after BPA surgery and intraperitoneal injection of Fer-1. On day 14 postsurgery, spinal dorsal horn (SDH) samples were collected for Western blotting, biochemical analysis, and immunohistochemistry to analyze the expression and distribution of ferroptosis-related markers. The relationships among 5-HT3a receptor, calcium/calmodulin (CaM) pathway, and ferroptosis were assessed via Western blotting, biochemical analysis, and lipid peroxidation assays, including iron and calcium content, reactive oxygen species, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), ACSL, and CaM expression. BPA-induced neuropathic pain was associated with iron accumulation, increased lipid peroxidation, dysregulated expression of Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4, and GPX4, and changes in transferrin receptor, divalent metal transporter 1, and ferroportin-1 (FPN1). Intraperitoneal administration of Fer-1 reversed all of these alterations and mitigated mechanical and cold hypersensitivity. Inhibition of the 5-HT3a receptor reduced the extent of ferroptosis. Furthermore, the 5-HT3a receptor can regulate the calcium/CaM pathway via L-type calcium channels (LTCCs), and blocking LTCCs with nifedipine also alleviated ferroptosis in the SDH of BPA rats. Taken together, in rats with BPA, the development of neuropathic pain involves ferroptosis, which is regulated by the 5-HT3a receptor through the LTCCs and the calcium/CaM signaling pathway in the SDH.</p>","PeriodicalId":13,"journal":{"name":"ACS Chemical Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142436579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ferroptosis Regulated by 5-HT3a Receptor via Calcium/Calmodulin Signaling Contributes to Neuropathic Pain in Brachial Plexus Avulsion Rat Models.","authors":"Chengpeng Liao, Jinding Guo, Shenqian Li, Jing Rui, Kaiming Gao, Jie Lao, Yingjie Zhou","doi":"10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00499","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00499","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neuropathic pain is a prevalent complication following brachial plexus avulsion (BPA). Ferroptosis has been implicated in various nervous system disorders. However, the association between ferroptosis and neuropathic pain induced by BPA remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of ferroptosis in BPA-induced neuropathic pain. A rat model of neuropathic pain was established via BPA induction. Pain thresholds of rats were measured after BPA surgery and intraperitoneal injection of Fer-1. On day 14 postsurgery, spinal dorsal horn (SDH) samples were collected for Western blotting, biochemical analysis, and immunohistochemistry to analyze the expression and distribution of ferroptosis-related markers. The relationships among 5-HT3a receptor, calcium/calmodulin (CaM) pathway, and ferroptosis were assessed via Western blotting, biochemical analysis, and lipid peroxidation assays, including iron and calcium content, reactive oxygen species, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), ACSL, and CaM expression. BPA-induced neuropathic pain was associated with iron accumulation, increased lipid peroxidation, dysregulated expression of Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4, and GPX4, and changes in transferrin receptor, divalent metal transporter 1, and ferroportin-1 (FPN1). Intraperitoneal administration of Fer-1 reversed all of these alterations and mitigated mechanical and cold hypersensitivity. Inhibition of the 5-HT3a receptor reduced the extent of ferroptosis. Furthermore, the 5-HT3a receptor can regulate the calcium/CaM pathway via L-type calcium channels (LTCCs), and blocking LTCCs with nifedipine also alleviated ferroptosis in the SDH of BPA rats. Taken together, in rats with BPA, the development of neuropathic pain involves ferroptosis, which is regulated by the 5-HT3a receptor through the LTCCs and the calcium/CaM signaling pathway in the SDH.</p>","PeriodicalId":13,"journal":{"name":"ACS Chemical Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142379392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Discovering Effective Chiral Dipeptides against Aβ(1-42) Aggregation by the Computational Screening Strategy.","authors":"Wenhui Shi, Jiaxing Zhang, Zixuan Wang, Wen Wang, Xin Peng, Yuefei Wang, Shengping You, Rongxin Su, Wei Qi","doi":"10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00287","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The β-sheet-breaker (BSB) peptides inhibiting amyloidogenic aggregation have been extensively studied. However, the inhibition efficacy of ultrashort chiral dipeptides remains inadequately understood. In this study, we proposed a computational screening strategy to identify chiral dipeptides as BSB with optimal antiaggregation performance against Aβ(1-42) aggregation. We constructed a complete dipeptide library encompassing all possible chiral sequence arrangements and then filtered the library by cascaded molecular docking-molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Our screening strategy discovered dipeptide <sup>D</sup>W<sup>D</sup>P (superscript for chirality) that displayed strong interactions with Aβ fibrils and inhibitory effects on Aβ aggregation, validated by subsequent experiments. Mechanistic investigation by both MD and replica-exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations revealed that <sup>D</sup>W<sup>D</sup>P interacts with Aβ by hydrophobic contacts and hydrogen bonds and thus inhibits Aβ intermolecular contacts and salt bridge formation, therefore inhibiting Aβ aggregation and disrupting Aβ aggregates. Totally, our strategy presents a viable approach to discover potential dipeptides with effective antiaggregation ability as potential therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":13,"journal":{"name":"ACS Chemical Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142363398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Chemical NeurosciencePub Date : 2024-10-03DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c0028710.1021/acschemneuro.4c00287
Wenhui Shi, Jiaxing Zhang*, Zixuan Wang, Wen Wang, Xin Peng, Yuefei Wang, Shengping You*, Rongxin Su and Wei Qi*,
{"title":"Discovering Effective Chiral Dipeptides against Aβ(1–42) Aggregation by the Computational Screening Strategy","authors":"Wenhui Shi, Jiaxing Zhang*, Zixuan Wang, Wen Wang, Xin Peng, Yuefei Wang, Shengping You*, Rongxin Su and Wei Qi*, ","doi":"10.1021/acschemneuro.4c0028710.1021/acschemneuro.4c00287","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00287https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00287","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The β-sheet-breaker (BSB) peptides inhibiting amyloidogenic aggregation have been extensively studied. However, the inhibition efficacy of ultrashort chiral dipeptides remains inadequately understood. In this study, we proposed a computational screening strategy to identify chiral dipeptides as BSB with optimal antiaggregation performance against Aβ(1–42) aggregation. We constructed a complete dipeptide library encompassing all possible chiral sequence arrangements and then filtered the library by cascaded molecular docking–molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Our screening strategy discovered dipeptide <sup>D</sup>W<sup>D</sup>P (superscript for chirality) that displayed strong interactions with Aβ fibrils and inhibitory effects on Aβ aggregation, validated by subsequent experiments. Mechanistic investigation by both MD and replica-exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations revealed that <sup>D</sup>W<sup>D</sup>P interacts with Aβ by hydrophobic contacts and hydrogen bonds and thus inhibits Aβ intermolecular contacts and salt bridge formation, therefore inhibiting Aβ aggregation and disrupting Aβ aggregates. Totally, our strategy presents a viable approach to discover potential dipeptides with effective antiaggregation ability as potential therapeutic agents for Alzheimer’s disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":13,"journal":{"name":"ACS Chemical Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142436964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}