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中国物理学会期刊

异源相互作用驱动淀粉样多肽Aβ42与Medin的加速共聚集

Direct heterotypic interactions drive the accelerated co-aggregation of amyloid-β with Medin

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  • 淀粉样多肽的异常聚集是许多神经退行性疾病的重要病理特征之一。不同淀粉样多肽之间的异源相互作用,能够打破单一蛋白聚集的界限,通过共聚集或交叉成核等机制介导多种致病蛋白共沉积以及不同疾病间产生内在关联。实验证实,Medin通过直接的分子相互作用促进了Aβ的聚集与在血管壁的沉积,从而加剧了脑淀粉样血管病与认知衰退。然而,Medin与Aβ共聚集的微观机理,以及多肽间同源/异源作用的协同或竞争机制仍不清楚。本文利用大规模的粗粒化分子动力学模拟结合自由能计算,对Medin与Aβ42的自聚集和共聚集进行了研究。结果表明,不同多肽体系的聚集动力学截然不同(聚集速度:Medin>Aβ42-Medin>Aβ42),但都表现出明显的“阶段性”特征。我们发现,中等尺寸聚集体的形成与彼此之间融合的效率是决定聚集速率的关键因素。Medin正是通过加速中等尺寸聚集体的形成与融合,从而显著促进混合体系的聚集。自由能计算证实了三个体系的中等尺寸聚集体融合倾向性的差异,并揭示出该融合过程依赖于典型的焓驱动机制。进一步,相互作用分析揭示了共聚集时,聚集体界面之间的异源Aβ42-Medin作用是驱动中等团簇形成和融合的关键物理相互作用。此外,随着聚集体的生长,多肽空间分布由初期的“Medin核心- Aβ42壳层”结构,经历Aβ42重排而转变为“Medin略微向外迁移而Aβ42向内靠近”。我们的工作在分子水平上阐明了Aβ42与Medin自聚集与共聚集的动力学演化、关键物理相互作用与热力学驱动力,不仅为理解淀粉样多肽共聚集以及疾病交叉关联的分子机制提供了有益见解,还为靶向Medin及Aβ42-Medin聚集的疾病治疗方案的设计给予了理论支持。

     

    The aberrant aggregation of amyloid peptides serves as pathological hallmarks of numerous neurodegenerative diseases. Cross-interactions between different amyloids mediate their co-deposition and establish intrinsic links between distinct diseases. Previous study confirmed that Medin promotes amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation and deposition onto vascular walls, thus exacerbating the cerebral amyloid angiopathy and cognitive decline. However, the microscopic mechanisms underlying Medin-Aβ co-aggregation, and the synergistic/competitive interplay between homotypic and heterotypic interactions, remain largely elusive. In this study, we employed coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulations combined with free energy calculations to investigate the self- and co-assembly of Medin with Aβ42. Our results demonstrate that aggregation kinetics vary across the three systems (aggregation rate: Medin>Aβ42-Medin>Aβ42), but all exhibit evident stage-wised characteristics: monomers rapidly form small-sized oligomers; small-sized oligomers grow into intermediate-sized oligomers which start to fuse; intermediate oligomers complete the fusion and form the final large aggregates. Interestingly, we find that the characteristic time t2 of stage 2 is significantly distinct in different system, thus we identify the formation and fusion of intermediate-sized assemblies as the rate-limiting step for peptide self- and co-aggregation. Medin accelerates the aggregation of the mixed system by facilitating the formation and fusion of these intermediate clusters. Free energy calculations confirm the distinct fusion propensities of intermediate-sized assemblies in three systems and reveal that successful fusion process is predominantly governed by an enthalpic change. Furthermore, interaction analysis indicates that heterotypic Aβ42-Medin interactions at the interfaces of mixed aggregates are the pivotal driving force for the formation and fusion of intermediate-sized clusters during co-aggregation. Specifically, π-π stacking, hydrophobic and cation-π interaction networks dominated by aromatic residues drive the heterotypic interactions in co-assembly of Aβ42 with Medin and the enthalpy changes in free energy. Moreover, along with the aggregation process, the spatial organization of peptides evolves from an initial coreMedin-shellAβ architecture to a rearranged configuration where Aβ42 moves inward while Medin migrates slightly outward, which would provide benefit conditions for Medin to facilitate the subsequent oligomer fusion and aggregation. Our work elucidates the kinetic evolution, key physical interactions and thermodynamic driving forces of Aβ42-Medin co-aggregation at the molecular level, providing mechanistic insights into amyloid cross-talk and offering a theoretical foundation for therapeutic strategies targeting Medin and Aβ42-Medin cross-interactions.

     

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