Toxic oligomers of the amyloidogenic HypF-N protein form pores in mitochondrial membranes

Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 20;10(1):17733. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-74841-z.

Abstract

Studies on the amyloidogenic N-terminal domain of the E. coli HypF protein (HypF-N) have contributed significantly to a detailed understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases characterised by the formation of misfolded oligomers, by proteins such as amyloid-β, α-synuclein and tau. Given that both cell membranes and mitochondria are increasingly recognised as key targets of oligomer toxicity, we investigated the damaging effects of aggregates of HypF-N on mitochondrial membranes. Essentially, we found that HypF-N oligomers characterised by high surface hydrophobicity (type A) were able to trigger a robust permeabilisation of mito-mimetic liposomes possessing cardiolipin-rich membranes and dysfunction of isolated mitochondria, as demonstrated by a combination of mitochondrial shrinking, lowering of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release. Furthermore, using single-channel electrophysiology recordings we obtained evidence that the type A aggregates induced currents reflecting formation of ion-conducting pores in mito-mimetic planar phospholipid bilayers, with multi-level conductances ranging in the hundreds of pS at negative membrane voltages. Conversely, HypF-N oligomers with low surface hydrophobicity (type B) could not permeabilise or porate mitochondrial membranes. These results suggest an inherent toxicity of membrane-active aggregates of amyloid-forming proteins to mitochondria, and that targeting of oligomer-mitochondrial membrane interactions might therefore afford protection against such damage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Carboxyl and Carbamoyl Transferases / metabolism*
  • Cardiolipins / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism*
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial
  • Mitochondria / physiology*
  • Mitochondrial Membranes / metabolism*
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / metabolism*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • alpha-Synuclein / metabolism
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Cardiolipins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • tau Proteins
  • Carboxyl and Carbamoyl Transferases
  • hypF protein, E coli