Glycosaminoglycans, protein aggregation and neurodegeneration

Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2011 May;12(3):258-68. doi: 10.2174/138920311795860188.

Abstract

A number of neurodegenerative diseases, as Parkinson, prion, and Alzheimer's diseases, has been directly associated with altered conformations of certain peptides or proteins that assemble to form highly organized aggregates, also called amyloid fibers. Glycosaminoglycans have shown to play important roles on fibrils formation, stability and resistance to proteolysis. This manuscript reviews from basic concepts on the biochemistry and biology of glycosaminoglycans to their implications in neurodegeneration with particular emphasis in pathologic protein aggregation. Prion protein, Aβ42, Tau, and α-synuclein, are all proteins that can interact with glycosaminoglycans. We document here how these interactions may modify protein conformation, aggregation kinetics, and fibers stabilization with important consequences in disease. We also raise questions which answers may make advance the understanding of the implication of GAGs in neurodegeneration.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Glycosaminoglycans / chemistry
  • Glycosaminoglycans / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / immunology
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Prion Diseases
  • Prions / chemistry
  • Prions / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • alpha-Synuclein / chemistry
  • alpha-Synuclein / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Glycosaminoglycans
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Prions
  • Proteins
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
  • tau 40 protein, human