1)The search for anti-prion compounds has been encouraged by the fact that transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) share molecular mechanisms with more prevalent neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Cellular prion protein conversion into protease-resistant forms (PrPRes or PrPSc) is a critical step in the development of TSEs, thus being one of the main targets in the screening for anti-prion compounds. In this work, three trimethoxychalcones (J1, J8, J20) and one oxadiazole (Y17), previously identified in vitro as potential anti-prion compounds, were evaluated through different approaches in order to gain inferences about their mechanism of action. None of them changed PrPC expression in N2a cells as shown by real-time RT-PCR. Among them, J8 and Y17 were effective in RT-QuIC reactions using mouse rPrP23231 as substrate and PrPSc seeds from mouse and human brain. However, when rPrP90231, which lacks the N-terminal domain, was used as substrate, only J8 remained effective, indicating that this region is important for Y17 activity, while J8 seems to interact with the globular domain of PrP. Furthermore, these compounds prompted the cellular internalization of this protein. In agreement with RT-QuIC results, a PrP fibrillation assay showed that these two compounds delayed PrP conversion into the amyloid form and also reduced the fibril content. Based on these results, we hypothesize that J8 and Y17 may act as multi-target ligands, since their efficacy is attributed not only to the conversion inhibition, but also to cellular effects. 2) We and our collaborators have tested the anti-scrapie effects of select anti-PrP oligonucleotides. Both prophylactic and post-exposure treatments of mice inoculated with scrapie are ongoing.

Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Niaid Extramural Activities
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
State
Country
Zip Code
Ferreira, N C; Ascari, L M; Hughson, A G et al. (2018) A Promising Antiprion Trimethoxychalcone Binds to the Globular Domain of the Cellular Prion Protein and Changes Its Cellular Location. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 62:
Kellock, Jackson; Hopping, Gene; Caughey, Byron et al. (2016) Peptides Composed of Alternating L- and D-Amino Acids Inhibit Amyloidogenesis in Three Distinct Amyloid Systems Independent of Sequence. J Mol Biol 428:2317-2328
Hopping, Gene; Kellock, Jackson; Barnwal, Ravi Pratap et al. (2014) Designed ?-sheet peptides inhibit amyloid formation by targeting toxic oligomers. Elife 3:e01681
Ferreira, Natalia C; Marques, Icaro A; Conceição, Wesley A et al. (2014) Anti-prion activity of a panel of aromatic chemical compounds: in vitro and in silico approaches. PLoS One 9:e84531
Vieira, Tuane C R G; Cordeiro, Yraima; Caughey, Byron et al. (2014) Heparin binding confers prion stability and impairs its aggregation. FASEB J 28:2667-76
Hopping, Gene; Kellock, Jackson; Caughey, Byron et al. (2013) Designed Trpzip-3 ?-Hairpin Inhibits Amyloid Formation in Two Different Amyloid Systems. ACS Med Chem Lett 4:824-8
Wolfe, Lisa L; Kocisko, David A; Caughey, Byron et al. (2012) Assessment of prospective preventive therapies for chronic wasting disease in mule deer. J Wildl Dis 48:530-3
Taubner, Lara M; Bienkiewicz, Ewa A; Copié, Valérie et al. (2010) Structure of the flexible amino-terminal domain of prion protein bound to a sulfated glycan. J Mol Biol 395:475-90
Sim, Valerie L; Caughey, Byron (2009) Recent advances in prion chemotherapeutics. Infect Disord Drug Targets 9:81-91