Transthyretin Misfolding: History
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Subjects: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
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Jin Hae Kim

Transthyretin (TTR) is an essential transporter of a thyroid hormone and a holo-retinol binding protein, found abundantly in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. In addition, this protein is infamous for its amyloidogenic propensity, causing various amyloidoses in humans, such as senile systemic amyloidosis, familial amyloid polyneuropathy, and familial amyloid cardiomyopathy. Decreased stability of the native tetrameric conformation and subsequent misfolding of TTR is the main cause of these diseases.

  • transthyretin misfolding
  • transthyretin amyloidosis
  • protein misfolding
  • amyloid

1. Introduction

Transthyretin (TTR) is a transporter of thyroxine (T4, a thyroid hormone) and a holo-retinol binding protein, from which its name has originated (TRANSporter of THYroxine and RETINol) [1][2][3]. TTR is abundant in the human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In plasma, it is mainly produced in the liver at 3–5 μM, whereas in CSF, it is mostly made in the choroid plexus at 0.25–0.5 μM [4][5]. TTR is the first and the second major transporter of T4 in human CSF and plasma, respectively [6]. TTR production in the retina and pancreas has also been reported [7][8].

TTR has a β-strand-rich secondary structure; eight β-strands form two β-sheets (CBEF and DAGH), stacking with each other to establish a β-sandwich tertiary structure, with a short α-helix between the β-strands E and F (Figure 1). Its functionality as a T4 transporter originates from the quaternary structure. In its native state, TTR forms a tetrameric complex, giving rise to two hydrophobic pockets for binding T4 (Figure 1) [9][10]. The tetrameric architecture of TTR is maintained as a dimer of dimers; one dimeric interface between the subunits AC and BD is maintained by an extensive hydrogen-bond network involving the β-strands F and H, whereas the other dimeric interface between the subunits AB and CD is stabilized mainly by hydrophobic interactions (Figure 1a), thus, efficiently constituting the optimal binding pockets for T4 [11]. Notably, most structural models of TTR (Figure 1) were determined by X-ray crystallography, indicating that structural heterogeneity, which may exist in a physiological condition, could not be properly reflected to these models due to the crystal symmetry and packing artifacts.

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Figure 1. The X-ray crystallographic structural model of transthyretin (TTR) in its native-like (tetrameric) state (PDB 2QGB). (a) The tetrameric structure of TTR has been shown in two orientations, with the T4-binding pockets marked with arrows. The monomeric subunits are denoted by ‘A’ through ‘D’ and colored differently for better visualization. Note that the TTR tetramer has two dimeric interfaces; the interface between AC and BD is maintained by an extensive network of hydrogen bonds, whereas the interface between AB and CD is mainly constituted by hydrophobic interactions. (b) The monomeric subunit of the tetrameric complex (a) is displayed from two different orientations to show its secondary and tertiary configurations. Note that the eight β-strands are marked by ‘A’ through ‘H’ according to their sequential order from the N-terminal, showing the DAGH and CBEF β-sheets.

In addition to its physiological functions, TTR has also attracted attention owing to its pathological features of aggregating and forming amyloid fibrils. Since the identification of TTR in human amyloid deposits in the 1970s [12], TTR amyloidosis has been shown to be strongly correlated with several amyloidoses. For example, senile systemic amyloidosis is known to be caused by spontaneous aggregation of TTR [13], whereas familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) [14] and familial amyloid cardiomyopathy (FAC) [15] are caused by genetic mutations in TTR. More than 100 TTR mutations have been reported to date, many of which facilitate pathogenic aggregation and amyloid formation [16]. Notably, a recent study estimated that 3% of the African American population has the V122I mutation, which can cause TTR cardiac amyloidosis [17][18], and 8% of the patients suspected to have cardiac amyloidosis were reported to have pathogenic TTR mutations [19].

Many biochemical and biophysical studies have been conducted to investigate the amyloidogenic (amyloid-forming) properties of TTR, and it is generally accepted that the tertiary and quaternary stability of TTR correlates with its amyloidogenic propensity [20]. In particular, in vitro turbidity and thioflavin T fluorescence experiments showed that the tetrameric stability of TTR diminished dramatically under mild acidic conditions, which resulted in its dissociation to monomeric species and the subsequent accumulation of amyloid fibrils [21][22]. It was also reported that a molecule that binds to the T4-binding site could stabilize the tetrameric state and suppress the aggregation of TTR efficiently [23]. By conducting extensive biochemical and biophysical studies on the TTR-ligand complexes, Kelly et al. succeeded in developing a ‘kinetic stabilizer’ to stabilize the tetrameric state of TTR and suppress/prevent its aggregation [24][25]. Tafamidis, a kinetic stabilizer designed to target the T4-binding site, is an effective drug that is currently approved for clinical use [26][27][28].

However, despite the central role of structural investigations in the development of novel therapeutics, initial structural studies concentrated more on the tetrameric conformation, and provided limited information to reveal the mechanistic details pertaining to TTR aggregation [29][30]. Rather, recent investigations on the structural states of TTR revealed that the protein, either in its stable tetrameric state or in the less stable monomeric state, adopts significant structural heterogeneity, which is strongly associated with many of its physiological and pathological features [31].

2. Deformation of the TTR Quaternary Structure

TTR amyloidosis is initiated by the dissociation of the tetramer into monomers, which is followed by deformation into misfolded monomers, non-native oligomers, and finally amyloid fibrils (Figure 2) [20]. In this section, recent advancements in revealing details regarding various non-native conformational states of TTR are discussed. Particularly, in addition to numerous structural studies on TTR tetramers, novel findings on the other quaternary states of TTR are discussed focusing on their physiological and pathological aspects.

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Figure 2. The amyloidosis pathways of TTR. (a) Tetramer dissociation into monomers is one of the dominant causes of TTR amyloidosis. The dissociated monomers are more susceptible to misfolding, resulting in aggregation into non-native oligomers and amyloid fibrils [20]. (b) Alternatively, it was suggested that TTR dimers are formed as an intermediate state in the tetramer dissociation mechanism [32]. (c) Another notable aggregation mechanism was recently proposed to involve proteolysis of TTR, which compromises the tertiary and quaternary stability of TTR, and facilitates the formation of the misfolded monomers. These TTR fragments are more amyloidogenic, thus, aggregating with full-length proteins to form amyloid fibrils even at a physiological pH [33].

2.1. Conformational States of TTR Monomers

Structural features of TTR monomers were recently revealed using solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Compared with X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy is advantageous for investigating dynamic molecules in a solution state. By employing this technique, solution structural models of two monomeric variants, viz., TTR(F87M/L110M; M-TTR) and TTR(F87M/L110M/T119M; T119M M-TTR), were determined at an atomic resolution [34][35]. M-TTR was designed to stabilize the monomeric state of TTR [36], whereas the T119M substitution is a structure-stabilizing mutation that effectively suppresses the amyloidogenic property of TTR [37][38]. A previous X-ray crystallographic study of M-TTR showed that it tetramerized under crystallization conditions, and its tertiary structure was highly similar to that of wild-type (WT) TTR [36]. In contrast, NMR spectroscopy revealed that both M-TTR [35] and T119M M-TTR [34] stabilized to monomeric states with different secondary and tertiary structures (Figure 3). Notably, considering the highly dynamic characteristics of M-TTR [39], high-pressure NMR was used to reduce structural heterogeneity and improve the spectral quality [40]. Pressurized conditions were previously employed to investigate the intermediate tetrameric and monomeric states of TTR [41][42][43]. The NMR structural model of M-TTR was characterized by the loss of the final β-strand H, which forms a stable dimeric interface in the tetrameric state, and significant structural alteration of the FG loop (the loop between the β-strands F and G) (Figure 3a). In contrast, the NMR structural model of T119M M-TTR showed that the β-strand H was restored to the non-native conformation (Figure 3b) [34]. Compared to the X-ray structure of M-TTR in its tetrameric state, the β-strands G and H were shifted mainly due to reorientation of the sidechain of residue 119; the sidechain of T119 in M-TTR tetramer was oriented outward, whereas the sidechain of M119 in T119M M-TTR was directed inward, toward the hydrophobic interior, resulting in overall structural rearrangement (Figure 3c).

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Figure 3. NMR solution structural models of M-TTR (PDB 2NBO [35]) and T119M M-TTR (PDB 2NBP [34]). (a) The NMR structural model of M-TTR (the lowest energy conformer; green) is shown with the X-ray crystallographic model of M-TTR in the tetrameric state (PDB 1GKO [36]; orange). Note that the last β-strand H in the X-ray model is disoriented in the NMR model [35]. (b) The NMR structural model of T119M M-TTR (the lowest energy conformer; blue) is shown with the X-ray model of M-TTR (orange). The last β-strand H, shown in the X-ray model, which is missing in the NMR model of M-TTR (a), is visible here, with a non-native β-strand structure [34]. (c) Comparison between the X-ray model of tetrameric M-TTR (orange) and the NMR model of monomeric T119M M-TTR (blue). Note that the sidechain of T119 in M-TTR is oriented outward, whereas the sidechain of M119 in T119M M-TTR is directed inward [34].

Notable implications of these results come from one of the initial studies that attempted to identify the amyloidogenic region of TTR. Gustavsson et al. found that the peptide originating from residues 105–115 of TTR, corresponding mostly to the β-strand G, was highly amyloidogenic [44]. Since then, amyloid fibrils made from this peptide have been used as a model to investigate their amyloidogenic features [45][46]. Therefore, this indicates that the β-strand H may play a protective role in minimizing exposure of the amyloidogenic β-strand G, whereas monomeric TTR cannot benefit from this protective effect, thus, becoming more prone to aggregation.

Another important implication of the solution structural studies of monomeric TTR is that monomeric TTR has fairly dynamic structural features, represented by the two different structural states of M-TTR and T119M M-TTR, and by the requirement of non-native pressurized conditions for determining the structure of M-TTR. Findings of investigations using various biochemical and biophysical approaches are consistent. For example, relaxation dispersion NMR experiments on M-TTR [39] and WT TTR [47] indicated that the DAGH β-sheet possessed considerable flexibility, and particular dynamic features were observed at the β-strand H. Solution NMR [48] and fluorescence spectroscopic [49] studies have proposed that the monomeric state of TTR may maintain the native-like CBEF β-sheet structure, whereas the structure of the DAGH β-sheet may experience significant perturbation in an aggregation-prone state. Recent molecular dynamics (MD) simulation results have consistently indicated that edge strands, such as the β-strands D and H, are susceptible to structural perturbation under amyloidogenic conditions [50]. Moreover, site-directed mutagenesis to identify the residues indispensable for amyloid formation provided evidence suggesting that β-strands F and H play an important role in TTR aggregation [51]. In the study, proline residues were artificially introduced in several regions of TTR, showing that the residues in β-strand F are essential for efficient amyloid formation. In addition, when the residues in β-strand H were substituted with bulky aromatic residues, such as T119W, T119Y, V121W, and V121Y, the propensity of TTR to aggregate was significantly reduced. Subsequently, a short peptide that was designed to bind to β-strands F and H was proven to act as a TTR aggregation inhibitor.

Intriguingly, it has also been suggested that the hydrogen-bond network and the sidechain packing around the β-strands F and H are critical for stabilizing the tetramer [52]. Yokoyama et al. used neutron crystallographic approaches to show that the network of hydrogen bonds consisting of T75, W79, H88, S112, P113, and T118, along with a few water molecules, is important for maintaining the tetrameric quaternary structure of TTR. They found that H88 was in a deprotonated state at pD 7.4, and was involved in the hydrogen-bond network, although the same residue was found to be in a protonated state based on the X-ray crystallographic model obtained at pH 4, the condition facilitating the aggregation of TTR. In their subsequent work, they found that the stability of TTR(H88R), the known variant associated with amyloid cardiomyopathy, is much less than that of WT; thus, it is more prone to aggregation [53]. They also confirmed that H88S substitution, which caused significant loss of the hydrogen-bond network around H88, resulted in tetramer destabilization and subsequent enhancement of the propensity to aggregate. Consistently, Sun et al., using 19F NMR spectroscopy, revealed that TTR with W79 fluorinated at the 6th position was less stable and more amyloidogenic than TTR with W79 fluorinated at the 5th position, indicating that the residue interaction around this region is indeed important for the quaternary stability of TTR [54].

Another intriguing point regarding the structural deformation of monomeric TTR is that α-sheets, transient secondary structures that have been observed in several amyloidogenic proteins [55][56], were proposed as intermediate structures of monomeric TTR in its aggregation pathway [57]. Steward et al. reported that amyloidogenic variants of TTR were able to manifest α-sheet structures in the aggregation-prone state [58]. More recently, MD simulation data have indicated that TTR tetramer dissociation facilitates the formation of α-sheet structures on the TTR monomer, which is followed by its aggregation [59]. Based on these observations, Daggett et al. designed α-sheet peptides that are complementary to α-sheet structures of amyloid-β and TTR, and confirmed their activity against amyloidosis [60][61], supporting the hypothesis that α-sheet structures are an intermediate state in the amyloidosis pathway.

2.2. TTR Dimers

A series of evidence indicates the presence of a dimeric state in the TTR tetramer dissociation pathway (Figure 2b). For example, Foss et al. reported that, among the two intermolecular interfaces, viz., the hydrophobic interface between the dimers AB and CD, and the extensively hydrogen-bonded interface between the dimers AC and BD (Figure 1a), the hydrophobic interface could be more vulnerable to denaturation, and the dimers AB and CD might be transiently present in the tetramer dissociation pathway [32]. Their results indicated that direct dissociation of monomeric species from the tetramer is unlikely. Consistently, TTR(S112I), the mutation causing amyloidosis with severe cardiomyopathy, has been reported to stabilize the dimeric state of TTR [62]. Structural investigation of this variant indicated that dimeric TTR(S112I) maintained WT-like secondary structures, yet failed to form WT-like T4-binding pockets. This observation is consistent with that of Foss et al. in that the dimeric species only maintain the hydrogen-bonded interface, not the hydrophobic interface [32]. Subsequent neutron crystallographic studies further confirmed that S112 of WT TTR is involved in forming a network of hydrogen bonds at the hydrophobic interface between AC and BD [52][63]. Notably, MD simulation study of S117E M-TTR (i.e., TTR[F87M/L110M/S117E]) showed that the tetrameric complex of this construct readily dissociated and formed the relatively stable AB and CD dimers [64]. Furthermore, a recent native mass-spectrometry and surface-induced dissociation study, following subunit exchange with untagged and tagged TTR proteins, revealed that the dimeric state is an intermediate for tetramers to be dissociated into monomers [65].

In contrast, a few reports also propose that the dimeric state can be formed as a subsequent intermediate after monomerization of TTR. For example, Olofsson et al. have shown that, after complete denaturation, TTR forms dimeric intermediates that are prone to further aggregation and amyloid formation [66]. More recently, Dasari et al. were able to obtain dimeric TTR by incubating WT TTR and TTR(G53A) at pH 4.4, at 4 °C, wherein TTR aggregation was slow enough to catch up with some intermediates [67]. In this study, TTR dimers were observed during the initial incubation period, and decreased gradually. Further, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) indicated that TTR dimers were converted to hexameric oligomers, and subsequently to larger heterogeneous oligomers. By purifying the dimeric species, they acquired the circular dichroism spectra of the TTR dimer, indicating that the dimer becomes more disordered with decreased β-strand content than WT (34.5% in dimer vs. 42% in WT). Pires et al. employed atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate annular oligomers, which were frequently observed in the acid-induced aggregation mixture of TTR and found that these oligomers exhibited force spectroscopic features that were consistent with TTR dimers [68]. This observation suggests that at least some parts of the annular oligomers consist of dimeric subunits. Notably, the dimeric construct of TTR, viz., TTR(S112I), was also shown to form relatively small spherical oligomers at pH 7 and 37 °C [62], implying that TTR dimers may indeed act as building blocks for certain oligomers. Thus, it is evident that the dimeric species of TTR occurs as a transient state in tetramer dissociation or oligomerization pathways; however, further investigation is required to understand its structural and functional nature.

2.3. Oligomerization and Amyloid Formation

Small nonfibrillar oligomers have been observed with various TTR variants in the amyloid formation pathway, suggesting that these oligomers may be responsible for the significant cytotoxicity of TTR aggregates [69][70]. Investigation of TTR oligomers has been challenging due to their transient nature. Yet, there have been recent advancements in understanding their structural features. Faria et al. used SEC-coupled multiangle light scattering to reveal that transient TTR oligomers consisting of 6–10 monomers were formed in the acid-induced aggregation of TTR [71]. As discussed above, Dasari et al. also observed the formation of several oligomeric species in acid-induced aggregation experiments at 4 °C [67]. They used SEC analysis to purify the oligomeric species and analyzed them with circular dichroism to find that the secondary structural features of oligomers were more disordered than those of the native tetramers. Using solid-state NMR analysis, Dasari et al. further confirmed that, although certain regions remained rigid and unchanged, the oligomers exhibited a more extended disorder in their overall structure than the native tetramer. High-resolution AFM analysis by Pires et al. indicated that WT TTR formed annular oligomers of ~16 nm as early intermediates in the amyloidosis at pH 3.6 [72]. Intriguingly, subsequent detailed analysis of AFM images suggested that annular oligomers are likely composed of double stacks of octamers and exhibit a tendency to convert into spheroidal oligomers consisting of 8–16 monomers. In addition, Pires et al. observed that the protofibrils, linear fibrillar intermediates that were often formed from a soluble oligomer, showed a periodic structure, suggesting the presence of ~15-nm subunits. This observation indicated that the protofibril might be formed by the mechanism of adding 15-nm oligomers to the end of the protofibril [73]. More recently, Frangolho et al. used photo-induced crosslinking experiments to capture up to octameric species during acid-induced TTR aggregation at pH 3.6 [74]. They found that amyloidogenic variants of TTR showed faster oligomerization rates, and also provided evidence supporting sequential monomeric addition to oligomers.

In addition to structural studies on oligomers, significant advancements have been made in elucidating the structural details of TTR amyloid fibrils. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) of TTR amyloid fibrils, collected from a patient suffering from hereditary TTR(V30M) amyloidosis, revealed that the structural features of TTR amyloid fibrils are fairly distinct from their native structure, suggesting severe structural alterations during TTR aggregation [75]. In comparison, solid-state NMR approaches have suggested that the native-like β-strand architectures of TTR are maintained at least in a part of amyloid fibrils that are formed under acidic conditions [76], along with local structural changes in the AB loop [48]. A subsequent study found that amyloid fibrils formed from amyloidogenic variants, such as V30M and L55P TTR, have distinctive structural states in the β-strands A and D [77]. This discrepancy between cryo-EM and solid-state NMR results, along with another solid-state NMR structural model of the amyloid fibrils made with TTR(105-115) peptides [78], needs to be further elucidated. Yet, it may indicate heterogeneous amyloidosis mechanisms of TTR that are likely to depend on factors such as genetic variations and conditions of aggregation.

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/ijms22094429

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