Intrinsically disordered proteins, such as tau or α-synuclein, have long been associated with a dysfunctional role in neurodegenerative diseases. In Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s’ diseases, these proteins, sharing a...Intrinsically disordered proteins, such as tau or α-synuclein, have long been associated with a dysfunctional role in neurodegenerative diseases. In Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s’ diseases, these proteins, sharing a common chemical-physical pattern with alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains rich in prolines, abnormally aggregate in tangles in the brain leading to progressive loss of neurons. In this review, we present an overview linking the studies on the implication of the peptidyl-prolyl isomerase domain of immunophilins, and notably FKBP12, to a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on the molecular origin of such a role. The involvement of FKBP12 dysregulation in the aberrant aggregation of disordered proteins pinpoints this protein as a possible therapeutic target and, at the same time, as a predictive biomarker for early diagnosis in neurodegeneration, calling for the development of reliable, fast and cost-effective detection methods in body fluids for community-based screening campaigns.展开更多
By choosing neuroimmunophilin FKBP12 as a therapeutical target, we have attempted to discover a new structural drug for treating neurodegenerative disease. This drug should possess neurotrophic activity and not affect...By choosing neuroimmunophilin FKBP12 as a therapeutical target, we have attempted to discover a new structural drug for treating neurodegenerative disease. This drug should possess neurotrophic activity and not affect the immune system. Based on the crystal structure of FKBP12, FK506 and Calcineurin complex, a series of small organic molecules were designed. These molecules were to have the ability of binding to FKBP12 in a virtual screening. By using a solution parallel synthetic method, these compounds were synthesized. The neuroprotective and neuroregenerative activities of these compounds were evaluated by binding assays, PC12 cells survival and neurite outgrowth model, chick dorsal root ganglion cultures (DRG) and 6-OHDA lesioned mice sympathetic nerve endings model. The evaluation results of these compounds showed that compound N308 has great promise as a candidate for a neuroprotective and neuroregenerative agent.展开更多
文摘Intrinsically disordered proteins, such as tau or α-synuclein, have long been associated with a dysfunctional role in neurodegenerative diseases. In Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s’ diseases, these proteins, sharing a common chemical-physical pattern with alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains rich in prolines, abnormally aggregate in tangles in the brain leading to progressive loss of neurons. In this review, we present an overview linking the studies on the implication of the peptidyl-prolyl isomerase domain of immunophilins, and notably FKBP12, to a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on the molecular origin of such a role. The involvement of FKBP12 dysregulation in the aberrant aggregation of disordered proteins pinpoints this protein as a possible therapeutic target and, at the same time, as a predictive biomarker for early diagnosis in neurodegeneration, calling for the development of reliable, fast and cost-effective detection methods in body fluids for community-based screening campaigns.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. G1998051107)Hi-tech Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2002AA233051)
文摘By choosing neuroimmunophilin FKBP12 as a therapeutical target, we have attempted to discover a new structural drug for treating neurodegenerative disease. This drug should possess neurotrophic activity and not affect the immune system. Based on the crystal structure of FKBP12, FK506 and Calcineurin complex, a series of small organic molecules were designed. These molecules were to have the ability of binding to FKBP12 in a virtual screening. By using a solution parallel synthetic method, these compounds were synthesized. The neuroprotective and neuroregenerative activities of these compounds were evaluated by binding assays, PC12 cells survival and neurite outgrowth model, chick dorsal root ganglion cultures (DRG) and 6-OHDA lesioned mice sympathetic nerve endings model. The evaluation results of these compounds showed that compound N308 has great promise as a candidate for a neuroprotective and neuroregenerative agent.