Cytotoxic helix-rich oligomer formation by melittin and pancreatic polypeptide

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 24;10(3):e0120346. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120346. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Conversion of amyloid fibrils by many peptides/proteins involves cytotoxic helix-rich oligomers. However, their toxicity and biophysical studies remain largely unknown due to their highly dynamic nature. To address this, we chose two helical peptides (melittin, Mel and pancreatic polypeptide, PP) and studied their aggregation and toxicity. Mel converted its random coil structure to oligomeric helical structure upon binding to heparin; however, PP remained as helix after oligomerization. Interestingly, similar to Parkinson's associated α-synuclein (AS) oligomers, Mel and PP also showed tinctorial properties, higher hydrophobic surface exposure, cellular toxicity and membrane pore formation after oligomerization in the presence of heparin. We suggest that helix-rich oligomers with exposed hydrophobic surface are highly cytotoxic to cells irrespective of their disease association. Moreover as Mel and PP (in the presence of heparin) instantly self-assemble into stable helix-rich amyloidogenic oligomers; they could be represented as models for understanding the biophysical and cytotoxic properties of helix-rich intermediates in detail.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / chemistry
  • Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Bees
  • Cell Line
  • Heparin / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Melitten / chemistry
  • Melitten / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurotoxins / chemistry
  • Neurotoxins / metabolism*
  • Pancreatic Polypeptide / chemistry
  • Pancreatic Polypeptide / metabolism*
  • Protein Aggregates
  • Protein Structure, Secondary

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Neurotoxins
  • Protein Aggregates
  • Melitten
  • Pancreatic Polypeptide
  • Heparin

Grants and funding

This work was financially supported from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (37(1404)/10/EMR-11), India; Department of Science and Technology (SR/FR/LS-032/2009), India and Department of Biotechnology (BT/PR14344Med/30/501/2010 and BT/PR13359/BRB/10/752/2009), India. PKS is thankful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India for his research fellowship. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.