title: α-Synuclein and huntingtin exon 1 amyloid fibrils bind laterally to the cellular membrane.
abstract: Fibrillar aggregates involved in neurodegenerative diseases have the ability to spread from one cell to another in a prion-like manner. The underlying molecular mechanisms, in particular the binding mode of the fibrils to cell membranes, are poorly understood. In this work we decipher the modality by which aggregates bind to the cellular membrane, one of the obligatory steps of the propagation cycle. By characterizing the binding properties of aggregates made of α-synuclein or huntingtin exon 1 protein displaying similar composition and structure but different lengths to mammalian cells we demonstrate that in both cases aggregates bind laterally to the cellular membrane, with aggregates extremities displaying little or no role in membrane binding. Lateral binding to artificial liposomes was also observed by transmission electron microscopy. In addition we show that although α-synuclein and huntingtin exon 1 fibrils bind both laterally to the cellular membrane, their mechanisms of interaction differ. Our findings have important implications for the development of future therapeutic tools that aim to block protein aggregates propagation in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monsellier
authors.affiliation: Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bousset
authors.affiliation: Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Melki
mesh_terms: D000682:Amyloid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D005091:Exons; D006801:Humans; D000071058:Huntingtin Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010539:Permeability; D066329:Protein Aggregates; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D059748:Proteolysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; C086055:HTT protein, human; D000071058:Huntingtin Protein; D066329:Protein Aggregates; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes; D051844:alpha-Synuclein