saccharomyces-cerevisiae-models-alzheimer-s-disease-to-screen-genes

<em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> Models of Alzheimer's Disease to Screen Genes, Mutations, and Chemicals Affecting Amyloid Beta Production by &#947;-Secretase

&#947;-Secretase is a protease complex embedded in the cell membrane, consisting of the catalytic presenilin subunits (PS1 or PS2) and three additional ...

Tohoku University

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family proteins are a major class of membrane-anchored multidomain proteinases that are responsible for the shedding of cell surface protein ectodomains, including amyloid precursor protein (APP). Human ADAM 9, 10, and 17 proteolyze APPs and produce non-amyloid-genic p3 peptides, instead of neurotoxic amyloid-β peptides (Aβs; Aβ40 and Aβ42), which form fibrils and accumulate in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The ADAM family is closely related to snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs), which are derived from ancestral ADAMs but act as soluble proteinases. To test the therapeutic potential of SVMPs, we purified SVMPs from  venom using metal ion affinity and pooled into a cocktail. Thus, 9 out of 11 SVMPs in the  genome were identified in the cocktail. SVMPs inhibited Aβ secretion when added to human cell culture medium without affecting APP proteolysis. SVMPs degraded synthetic Aβ40 and Aβ42 peptides at the same cleavage site (α-site of APP) as ADAM9, 10, and 17. SVMPs did not degrade Aβ fibrils but interfered with their formation, assessed using thioflavin-T. Thus, SVMPs have therapeutic potential for AD as an Aβ-degrading protease, and the finding adds to the discovery of bioactive peptides from venoms as novel therapeutics.

A Metalloproteinase Cocktail from the Venom of  Cleaves Amyloid Beta Peptides at the α-Cleavage Site.

The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) posed a major challenge to healthcare systems worldwide, especially as mutations in the culprit Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) complicated the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs. Therefore, the search for natural products with broad anti-SARS-CoV-2 capabilities is an important option for the prevention and treatment of similar infectious diseases. Lectins, which are widely recognized as antiviral agents, could contribute to the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs. This study evaluated the binding affinity of six lectins (including the cyanobacterial lectin from  NIES-102 (MVL), and Jacalin, a lectin from the breadfruit, ) to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein on the original (wild) SARS-CoV-2 and three of its mutants: Alpha, Delta, and Omicron. MVL and Jacalin showed distinct binding affinity to the RBDs of the four SARS-CoV-2 strains. The remaining four lectins (DB1, ConA, PHA-M and CSL3) showed no such binding affinity. Although the glycan specificities of MVL and Jacalin were different, they showed the same affinity for the spike protein RBDs of the four SARS-CoV-2 strains, in the order of effectiveness Alpha > Delta > original > Omicron. The verification of glycan-specific inhibition revealed that both lectins bind to RBDs by glycan-specific recognition, but, in addition, MVL binds to RBDs through protein-protein interactions.

Article	Year
A Metalloproteinase Cocktail from the Venom of Cleaves Amyloid Beta Peptides at the α-Cleavage Site. Toxins\| PubMed ID: 37624257	2023
Cyanobacteria Lectin (MVL) Interacts with SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Receptor Binding Domains (RBDs) via Protein-Protein Interaction. International journal of molecular sciences\| PubMed ID: 38928400	2024

Khadija Daoudi

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