Inhibition of alpha-synuclein aggregation by multifunctional dopamine agonists assessed by a novel in vitro assay and an in vivo Drosophila synucleinopathy model

Sci Rep. 2016 Dec 5:6:38510. doi: 10.1038/srep38510.

Abstract

Aggregation of alpha synuclein (α-syn) leading to dopaminergic neuronal death has been recognized as one of the main pathogenic factors in the initiation and progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). Consequently, α-syn has been targeted for the development of therapeutics for PD. We have developed a novel assay to screen compounds with α-syn modulating properties by mimicking recent findings from in vivo animal studies involving intrastriatal administration of pre-formed fibrils in mice, resulting in increased α-syn pathology accompanying the formation of Lewy-body (LB) type inclusions. We found that in vitro generated α-syn pre-formed fibrils induce seeding of α-syn monomers to produce aggregates in a dose-and time-dependent manner under static conditions in vitro. These aggregates were toxic towards rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12). Our novel multifunctional dopamine agonists D-519 and D-520 exhibited significant neuroprotection in this assay, while their parent molecules did not. The neuroprotective properties of our compounds were further evaluated in a Drosophila model of synucleinopathy. Both of our compounds showed protective properties in fly eyes against the toxicity caused by α-syn. Thus, our in vitro results on modulation of aggregation and toxicity of α-syn by our novel assay were further validated with the in vivo experiments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzothiazoles / chemistry
  • Benzothiazoles / pharmacology
  • Biological Assay / methods*
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dopamine Agonists / chemistry
  • Dopamine Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / drug effects
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / ultrastructure
  • Eye / metabolism
  • PC12 Cells
  • Pramipexole
  • Protein Aggregates / drug effects*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Rats
  • Rifampin / chemistry
  • Rifampin / pharmacology
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes / chemistry
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes / pharmacology
  • alpha-Synuclein / chemistry*
  • alpha-Synuclein / toxicity
  • alpha-Synuclein / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Benzothiazoles
  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Protein Aggregates
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • Pramipexole
  • 7-hydroxy-2-N,N-dipropylaminotetralin
  • Rifampin