Stability of whey protein derived peptides upon severe protein glycation

Cow’s milk and dairy products are major nutrients in the human diet, especially during infancy. Though at one time whey proteins were considered as by-product of the cheese making process, nowadays, due to their wide ranging nutritional, biological, and functional properties, whey proteins are often used in food technology as low-cost protein ingredients. However, whey-protein fractions, such as β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) and α-lactalbumin (α-LA) represent the major allergens in cow’s milk. Therefore, the use of whey proteins in food might pose a serious threat to the milk allergic consumers. It is well reported that food processing may modify the allergenicity and detectability of proteins. This can be due to hydrolysis or chemical reactions with other food components (carbohydrates, fatty acids etc), leading to modification or destruction of the allergen’s structure. Therefore, the objective of this study was in the first stage to investigate the influence of glycation on the molecular changes induced in whey proteins. This was done with a special focus on the modifications induced on the lysine residues, free amino groups, the formation of protein bound carbonyls, formation of fluorescent compounds and brown polymers and on the protein aggregation. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization - time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was used to get a better insight into the molecular changes that took place on the protein level. Unexpectedly, this study led to the identification of protein segments in the epitope region that remained unmodified during the experiments that mimic typical food processing conditions. The 57Val – Lys76 and 31Val – Arg56 from β–LG, remained unchanged disregarding the severe heating treatment in the presence of glucose and bulk proteins and they could be identified by either direct MALDI-TOF MS and MS/MS or after a more tedious separation using reversed phase chromatography. It is proposed that these peptide segments can be used as analytical targets for the development of more robust methods for the assessment of the presence of whey proteins in processed foodstuffs. Moreover, MALDI-TOF MS and MS/MS holds potential to be used as a screening tool for the identification of such stable peptides

Optimized expression of the Starmerella bombicola lactone esterase in Pichia pastoris through temperature adaptation, codon-optimization and co-expression with HAC1

The Starmerella bombicola lactone esterase (SBLE) is a novel enzyme that, in vivo, catalyzes the intramolecular esterification (lactonization) of acidic sophorolipids in an aqueous environment. In fact, this is an unusual reaction given the unfavorable conditions for dehydration. This characteristic strongly contributes to the potential of SBLE to become a 'green' tool in industrial applications. Indeed, lactonization occurs normally in organic solvents, an application for which microbial lipases are increasingly used as biocatalysts. Previously, we described the production of recombinant SBLE (rSBLE) in Pichia pastoris (syn. Komagataella phaffii). However, expression was not optimal to delve deeper into the enzyme's potential for industrial application. In the current study, we explored codon-optimization of the SBLE gene and we optimized the rSBLE expression protocol. Temperature reduction had the biggest impact followed by codon-optimization and co-expression of the HAC1 transcription factor. Combining these approaches, we achieved a 32-fold improvement of the yield during rSBLE production (from 0.75 mg/l to 24 mg/L culture) accompanied with a strong reduction of contaminants after affinity purification

Structure and oligomerization of the periplasmic domain of GspL from the type II secretion system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The ability of bacteria to infect a host relies in part on the secretion of molecular virulence factors across the cell envelope.Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a ubiquitous environmental bacterium causing opportunistic infections in humans, employs the type II secretion system (T2SS) to transport effector proteins across its cellular envelope as part of a diverse array of virulence strategies.General secretory pathway protein L (GspL) is an essential inner-membrane component of the T2SS apparatus, and is thought to facilitate transduction of the energy from ATP hydrolysis in the cytoplasm to the periplasmic components of the system.However,our incomplete understanding of the assembly principles of the T2SS machinery prevents the mechanistic deconvolution of T2SS-mediated protein secretion.Here we show via two crystal structures that the periplasmic ferredoxin-like domain of GspL (GspL(fld)) is a dimer stabilized by hydrophobic interactions, and that this interface may allow significant interdomain plasticity.The general dimerization mode of GspL(fld) is shared with GspL from Vibrio parahaemolyticus suggesting a conserved oligomerization mode across the GspL family. Furthermore, we identified a tetrameric form of the complete periplasmic segment of GspL (GspL(Peri)) which indicates that GspL may be able to adopt multiple oligomeric states as part of its dynamic role in the T2SS apparatus

Structure and antagonism of the receptor complex mediated by human TSLP in allergy and asthma

The pro-inflammatory cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is pivotal to the pathophysiology of widespread allergic diseases mediated by type 2 helper T cell (Th2) responses, including asthma and atopic dermatitis. The emergence of human TSLP as a clinical target against asthma calls for maximally harnessing its therapeutic potential via structural and mechanistic considerations. Here we employ an integrative experimental approach focusing on productive and antagonized TSLP complexes and free cytokine. We reveal how cognate receptor TSLPR allosterically activates TSLP to potentiate the recruitment of the shared interleukin 7 receptor a-chain (IL-7Ra) by leveraging the flexibility, conformational heterogeneity and electrostatics of the cytokine. We further show that the monoclonal antibody Tezepelumab partly exploits these principles to neutralize TSLP activity. Finally, we introduce a fusion protein comprising a tandem of the TSLPR and IL-7Ra extracellular domains, which harnesses the mechanistic intricacies of the TSLP-driven receptor complex to manifest high antagonistic potency

Structure and oligomerization of the periplasmic domain of GspL from the type II secretion system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The ability of bacteria to infect a host relies in part on the secretion of molecular virulence factors across the cell envelope.Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a ubiquitous environmental bacterium causing opportunistic infections in humans, employs the type II secretion system (T2SS) to transport effector proteins across its cellular envelope as part of a diverse array of virulence strategies.General secretory pathway protein L (GspL) is an essential inner-membrane component of the T2SS apparatus, and is thought to facilitate transduction of the energy from ATP hydrolysis in the cytoplasm to the periplasmic components of the system.However,our incomplete understanding of the assembly principles of the T2SS machinery prevents the mechanistic deconvolution of T2SS-mediated protein secretion.Here we show via two crystal structures that the periplasmic ferredoxin-like domain of GspL (GspL(fld)) is a dimer stabilized by hydrophobic interactions, and that this interface may allow significant interdomain plasticity.The general dimerization mode of GspL(fld) is shared with GspL from Vibrio parahaemolyticus suggesting a conserved oligomerization mode across the GspL family. Furthermore, we identified a tetrameric form of the complete periplasmic segment of GspL (GspL(Peri)) which indicates that GspL may be able to adopt multiple oligomeric states as part of its dynamic role in the T2SS apparatus

The proline-rich motif of the proDer p 3 allergen propeptide is crucial for protease-protease interaction.

The majority of proteases are synthesized in an inactive form, termed zymogen, which consists of a propeptide and a protease domain. The propeptide is commonly involved in the correct folding and specific inhibition of the enzyme. The propeptide of the house dust mite allergen Der p 3, NPILPASPNAT, contains a proline-rich motif (PRM), which is unusual for a trypsin-like protease. By truncating the propeptide or replacing one or all of the prolines in the non-glycosylated zymogen with alanine(s), we demonstrated that the full-length propeptide is not required for correct folding and thermal stability and that the PRM is important for the resistance of proDer p 3 to undesired proteolysis when the protein is expressed in Pichia pastoris. Additionally, we followed the maturation time course of proDer p 3 by coupling a quenched-flow assay to mass spectrometry analysis. This approach allowed to monitor the evolution of the different species and to determine the steady-state kinetic parameters for activation of the zymogen by the major allergen Der p 1. This experiment demonstrated that prolines 5 and 8 are crucial for proDer p 3-Der p 1 interaction and for activation of the zymogen.Peer reviewe

Rare mutations in SQSTM1 modify susceptibility to frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Mutations in the gene coding for Sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) have been genetically associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Paget disease of bone. In the present study, we analyzed the SQSTM1 coding sequence for mutations in an extended cohort of 1,808 patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), ascertained within the European Early-Onset Dementia consortium. As control dataset, we sequenced 1,625 European control individuals and analyzed whole-exome sequence data of 2,274 German individuals (total n = 3,899). Association of rare SQSTM1 mutations was calculated in a meta-analysis of 4,332 FTLD and 10,240 control alleles. We identified 25 coding variants in FTLD patients of which 10 have not been described. Fifteen mutations were absent in the control individuals (carrier frequency < 0.00026) whilst the others were rare in both patients and control individuals. When pooling all variants with a minor allele frequency < 0.01, an overall frequency of 3.2 % was calculated in patients. Rare variant association analysis between patients and controls showed no difference over the whole protein, but suggested that rare mutations clustering in the UBA domain of SQSTM1 may influence disease susceptibility by doubling the risk for FTLD (RR = 2.18 [95 % CI 1.24-3.85]; corrected p value = 0.042). Detailed histopathology demonstrated that mutations in SQSTM1 associate with widespread neuronal and glial phospho-TDP-43 pathology. With this study, we provide further evidence for a putative role of rare mutations in SQSTM1 in the genetic etiology of FTLD and showed that, comparable to other FTLD/ALS genes, SQSTM1 mutations are associated with TDP-43 pathology

Stratifying the Presymptomatic Phase of Genetic Frontotemporal Dementia by Serum NfL and pNfH: A Longitudinal Multicentre Study

Objective: Although the presymptomatic stages of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) provide a unique chance to delay or even prevent neurodegeneration by early intervention, they remain poorly defined. Leveraging a large multicenter cohort of genetic FTD mutation carriers, we provide a biomarker-based stratification and biomarker cascade of the likely most treatment-relevant stage within the presymptomatic phase: the conversion stage. Methods: We longitudinally assessed serum levels of neurofilament light (NfL) and phosphorylated neurofilament heavy (pNfH) in the Genetic FTD Initiative (GENFI) cohort (n = 444), using single-molecule array technique. Subjects comprised 91 symptomatic and 179 presymptomatic subjects with mutations in the FTD genes C9orf72, GRN, or MAPT, and 174 mutation-negative within-family controls. Results: In a biomarker cascade, NfL increase preceded the hypothetical clinical onset by 15 years and concurred with brain atrophy onset, whereas pNfH increase started close to clinical onset. The conversion stage was marked by increased NfL, but still normal pNfH levels, while both were increased at the symptomatic stage. Intra-individual change rates were increased for NfL at the conversion stage and for pNfH at the symptomatic stage, highlighting their respective potential as stage-dependent dynamic biomarkers within the biomarker cascade. Increased NfL levels and NfL change rates allowed identification of presymptomatic subjects converting to symptomatic disease and capture of proximity-to-onset. We estimate stage-dependent sample sizes for trials aiming to decrease neurofilament levels or change rates. Interpretation: Blood NfL and pNfH provide dynamic stage-dependent stratification and, potentially, treatment response biomarkers in presymptomatic FTD, allowing demarcation of the conversion stage. The proposed biomarker cascade might pave the way towards a biomarker-based precision medicine approach to genetic FTD. ANN NEUROL 2022;91:33–47

Brain functional network integrity sustains cognitive function despite atrophy in presymptomatic genetic frontotemporal dementia.

INTRODUCTION: The presymptomatic phase of neurodegenerative disease can last many years, with sustained cognitive function despite progressive atrophy. We investigate this phenomenon in familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD). METHODS: We studied 121 presymptomatic FTD mutation carriers and 134 family members without mutations, using multivariate data-driven approach to link cognitive performance with both structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Atrophy and brain network connectivity were compared between groups, in relation to the time from expected symptom onset. RESULTS: There were group differences in brain structure and function, in the absence of differences in cognitive performance. Specifically, we identified behaviorally relevant structural and functional network differences. Structure-function relationships were similar in both groups, but coupling between functional connectivity and cognition was stronger for carriers than for non-carriers, and increased with proximity to the expected onset of disease. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that the maintenance of functional network connectivity enables carriers to maintain cognitive performance.K.A.T. is supported by the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship (PF160048) and the Guarantors of Brain (101149). J.B.R. is supported by the Wellcome Trust (103838) the Medical Research Council (SUAG/051 G101400) and the Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. R. S.-V. is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the JPND network PreFrontAls (01ED1512/AC14/0013) and the Fundació Marató de TV3 (20143810). M.M and E.F are supported by the UK Medical Research Council, the Italian Ministry of Health and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research as part of a Centres of Excellence in Neurodegeneration grant, and also a Canadian Institutes of Health Research operating grant (MOP 327387) and funding from the Weston Brain Institute. J.D.R., D.C. and K.M.M. are supported by the NIHR Queen Square Dementia Biomedical Research Unit, the NIHR UCL/H Biomedical Research Centre and the Leonard Wolfson Experimental Neurology Centre (LWENC) Clinical Research Facility. J.D.R. is supported by an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship (MR/M008525/1) and has received funding from the NIHR Rare Disease Translational Research Collaboration (BRC149/NS/MH), the MRC UK GENFI grant (MR/ M023664/1) and The Bluefield Project. F.T. is supported by the Italian Ministry of Health (Grant NET-2011-02346784). L.C.J. and J.V.S. are supported by the Association for Frontotemporal Dementias Research Grant 2009, ZonMw Memorabel project number 733050103 and 733050813, and the Bluefield project. R.G. supported by Italian Ministry of Health, Ricerca Corrente. The Swedish contributors C.G., L.O. and C.A. were supported by grants from JPND Prefrontals Swedish Research Council (VR) 529-2014-7504, Swedish Research Council (VR) 2015- 02926, Swedish Research Council (VR) 2018-02754, Swedish FTD Initiative-Schorling Foundation, Swedish Brain Foundation, Swedish Alzheimer Foundation, Stockholm County Council ALF, Karolinska Institutet Doctoral Funding and StratNeuro, Swedish Demensfonden, during the conduct of the study

Brain functional network integrity sustains cognitive function despite atrophy in presymptomatic genetic frontotemporal dementia

Introduction: The presymptomatic phase of neurodegenerative disease can last many years, with sustained cognitive function despite progressive atrophy. We investigate this phenomenon in familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Methods: We studied 121 presymptomatic FTD mutation carriers and 134 family members without mutations, using multivariate data-driven approach to link cognitive performance with both structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Atrophy and brain network connectivity were compared between groups, in relation to the time from expected symptom onset. Results: There were group differences in brain structure and function, in the absence of differences in cognitive performance. Specifically, we identified behaviorally relevant structural and functional network differences. Structure-function relationships were similar in both groups, but coupling between functional connectivity and cognition was stronger for carriers than for non-carriers, and increased with proximity to the expected onset of disease. Discussion: Our findings suggest that the maintenance of functional network connectivity enables carriers to maintain cognitive performance.K.A.T. is supported by the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship (PF160048) and the Guarantors of Brain (101149). J.B.R. is supported by theWellcome Trust (103838), the Medical Research Council (SUAG/051 G101400), and the Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. R. S.-V. is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the JPND network PreFrontAls (01ED1512/AC14/0013) and the Fundació Marató de TV3 (20143810). M.M and E.F are supported by the UK Medical Research Council, the Italian Ministry of Health, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research as part of a Centres of Excellence in Neurodegeneration grant, and also a Canadian Institutes of Health Research operating grant (MOP 327387) and funding from the Weston Brain Institute. J.D.R., D.C., and K.M.M. are supported by the NIHR Queen Square Dementia Biomedical Research Unit, the NIHR UCL/H Biomedical Research Centre, and the LeonardWolfson Experimental Neurology Centre (LWENC) Clinical Research Facility. J.D.R. is supported by an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship (MR/M008525/1) and has received funding from the NIHR Rare Disease Translational Research Collaboration (BRC149/NS/MH), the MRC UK GENFI grant (MR/ M023664/1), and The Bluefield Project. F.T. is supported by the Italian Ministry of Health (Grant NET-2011-02346784). L.C.J. and J.V.S. are supported by the Association for Frontotemporal Dementias Research Grant 2009, ZonMwMemorabel project number 733050103 and 733050813, and the Bluefield project. R.G. is supported by Italian Ministry of Health, Ricerca Corrente. J.L. was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy within the framework of the Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (EXC 2145; SyNergy - ID 390857198). The Swedish contributors C.G., L.O., and C.A. were supported by grants from JPND Prefrontals Swedish Research Council (VR) 529-2014-7504, JPND GENFI-PROX Swedish Research Council (VR) 2019-02248, Swedish Research Council (VR) 2015- 02926, Swedish Research Council (VR) 2018-02754, Swedish FTD Initiative- Schorling Foundation, Swedish Brain Foundation, Swedish Alzheimer Foundation, Stockholm County Council ALF, Karolinska InstitutetDoctoral Funding, and StratNeuro, Swedish Demensfonden, during the conduct of the study