Structural insights from lipid-bilayer nanodiscs link α-Synuclein membrane-binding modes to amyloid fibril formation

Thibault Viennet, Michael M. Wördehoff, Boran Uluca, Chetan Poojari, Hamed Shaykhalishahi, Dieter Willbold, Birgit Strodel, Henrike Heise, Alexander K. Buell, Wolfgang Hoyer, Manuel Etzkorn*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

84 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The protein α-Synuclein (αS) is linked to Parkinson’s disease through its abnormal aggregation, which is thought to involve cytosolic and membrane-bound forms of αS. Following previous studies using micelles and vesicles, we present a comprehensive study of αS interaction with phospholipid bilayer nanodiscs. Using a combination of NMR-spectroscopic, biophysical, and computational methods, we structurally and kinetically characterize αS interaction with different membrane discs in a quantitative and site-resolved way. We obtain global and residue-specific αS membrane affinities, and determine modulations of αS membrane binding due to αS acetylation, membrane plasticity, lipid charge density, and accessible membrane surface area, as well as the consequences of the different binding modes for αS amyloid fibril formation. Our results establish a structural and kinetic link between the observed dissimilar binding modes and either aggregation-inhibiting properties, largely unperturbed aggregation, or accelerated aggregation due to membrane-assisted fibril nucleation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number44
JournalCommunications Biology
Volume1
Issue44
Number of pages12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2018
Externally publishedYes

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