Commentary: alpha-synuclein interacts with SOD1 and promotes its oligomerization

Anika M. Helferich¹, Pamela J. McLean², Jochen H. Weishaupt¹ and Karin M. Danzer^1*

¹Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
²Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA

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Abstract

Alpha-synuclein and Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are both aggregation-prone proteins that are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), respectively. Recently, we showed that alpha-synuclein interacts with SOD1 in various cell types and tissues. Using a cell culture model, we also found that alpha-synuclein nucleates the polymerization of SOD1. Here, we discuss the current literature regarding their interaction and their co-localization in aggregates of human post-mortem tissue. Furthermore we comment on the reported alpha-synuclein-induced SOD1 polymerization in terms of cross-seeding effects in neurodegeneration.

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Commentary

Recently, we presented evidence for a so far unknown interaction of alpha-synuclein and SOD1 with potential pathophysiological relevance1. Abnormal protein deposits of alpha-synuclein characterize synucleinopathies, a group of neurodegenerative diseases including PD, dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy, whereas SOD1 is associated with the pathogenesis of ALS. Mutations in SOD1 lead to ALS and protein aggregates containing SOD1 in a subset of ALS patients.

Our recent study indicates that alpha-synuclein and SOD1 influence each other´s aggregation tendency. Using a protein complementation assay, alpha-synuclein was found to increase SOD1 dimerization. Although homodimers of SOD1 are enzymatically active, alpha-synuclein does not seem to change the enzyme activity of SOD11. Alpha-synuclein might induce the formation of either inactive SOD1 dimers or higher molecular aggregates of SOD1 which are thought to be enzymatically inactive2. Additional support for an influencing role of alpha-synuclein on the aggregation property of SOD1 comes from the study by Koch et al.3. Here, the authors demonstrated that preformed recombinant alpha-synuclein fibrils added to the cell culture media of SOD1 transfected cells induced the polymerization of SOD1. The same was also observed in vivo when recombinant preformed alpha-synuclein fibrils were injected in the temporal cortex of SOD1G93A transgenic mice. These animals presented a considerably elevated number of SOD1 aggregates compared to NaCl injected animals using immunohistochemical analysis of brainstem sections3.

Together, accumulating evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies suggests that alpha-synuclein accelerates SOD1 aggregation. However, it still needs to be clarified which molecular SOD1 species are promoted by alpha-synuclein.

The induction of SOD1 dimerization/oligomerization by alpha-synuclein might be based on a prion-like cross-seeding activity of alpha-synuclein. Cross-seeding or heterologous seeding describes a pathological process where a misfolded protein acts as a template for the aggregation of a different protein4. There are several examples of a heterologous seeding activity of alpha-synuclein on other proteins. For instance, alpha-synuclein promotes the polymerization of tau into fibrils, a hallmark of Alzheimer´s disease (AD)5,6. Whether alpha-synuclein accelerates amyloid beta (abeta) plaque formation, a further neuropathological characteristic of AD, is controversial. In vitro data show an induction of abeta aggregation by alpha-synuclein7. In contrast, a more recent study detected decreased abeta deposits due to injection of alpha-synuclein containing homogenates or preformed alpha-synuclein fibrils in hippocampus of an AD mouse model8. However, cross-seeding activity of alpha-synuclein has been hypothesized to be the molecular consequence of alpha-synuclein inclusions in 60% of AD patients4,9.

If alpha-synuclein nucleates SOD1 polymerization due to cross-seeding activity, one could speculate that alpha-synuclein and SOD1 co-aggregate in the same protein deposits, or at least alpha-synuclein and SOD1 are simultaneously present in inclusions of ALS or PD patients. Beside Helferich et al., there are only a few studies showing co-localization of alpha-synuclein and SOD1 in protein aggregates1. For instance, inclusions containing both phosphorylated alpha-synuclein and SOD1 were detected in post-mortem CNS tissue of an ALS patient carrying SOD1 mutation (Cys111Tyr)10. Nishiyama et al. reported that alpha-synuclein aggregates in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus of five PD patients were immuno-positive for SOD111. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution because cells without alpha-synuclein inclusions in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus did not show SOD1 immunoreactivity in this study although SOD1 is known to be expressed in the substantia nigra which has been confirmed by Steinacker et al.12. A systematic study with post-mortem material from a large number of patients is needed to determine the frequency and relevance of alpha-synuclein-SOD1 co-localization in protein deposits. Furthermore, alpha-synuclein inclusions are not a common pathological feature of ALS but have been reported by several independent studies10,13-17. Coan and Mitchell show that 5 of 46 (11%) ALS post-mortem tissue samples have alpha-synuclein inclusions13. Additionally, the most frequently used SOD1G93A transgenic ALS mouse model by Gurney et al. displays increased alpha-synuclein immunoreactivity in the CNS18. As alpha-synuclein pathology is found only in a minority of ALS brains, alpha-synuclein might be a co-factor for ALS pathology, especially for SOD1 aggregation, besides many other factors. Furthermore alpha-synuclein could also be important for ALS pathogenesis without forming prominent aggregates itself.

Apart from cross-seeding, alpha-synuclein might induce SOD1 dimerization/oligomerization by alternative mechanism including overstraining the ubiquitin-proteasome system, inducing cellular stress, and/or perturbing relevant signal cascades. Furthermore, alpha-synuclein could promote polymerization of SOD1 by destabilizing the SOD1 conformation. SOD1 monomer binds one copper ion at its active site, needed for the catalytic activity, and one zinc ion that contributes to the stability of SOD119. As alpha-synuclein is also able to bind metallic cations20 but does not change SOD1 enzyme activity1, alpha-synuclein may preferentially bind zinc ion over copper ion of SOD1 influencing the stability of SOD1.

In conclusion, emerging evidence points to interplay of alpha-synuclein and SOD1 influencing each other’s aggregation properties. Whether alpha-synuclein binds SOD1 monomers, dimers or aggregates and whether SOD1 binds membrane-bound alpha-synuclein or truncated alpha-synuclein is currently not known. Nevertheless, we suggest that the role of alpha-synuclein in ALS (especially mutant SOD1-mediated) might have been underestimated and needs further investigation. In this context, it would also be useful to know if alpha-synuclein induces polymerization of other ALS related aggregation-prone proteins like TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) or fused in sarcoma (FUS). Potential therapeutics affecting aggregation formation of one aggregation-prone protein might also have global benefits for other neurodegenerative diseases.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by NINDS NS074730.

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