Interaction between Hemin and Prion Peptides: Binding, Oxidative Reactivity and Aggregation

oleh: Simone Dell’Acqua, Elisa Massardi, Enrico Monzani, Giuseppe Di Natale, Enrico Rizzarelli, Luigi Casella

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2020-10-01

Deskripsi

We investigate the interaction of hemin with four fragments of prion protein (PrP) containing from one to four histidines (PrP<sub>106–114</sub>, PrP<sub>95–114</sub>, PrP<sub>84–114</sub>, PrP<sub>76–114</sub>) for its potential relevance to prion diseases and possibly traumatic brain injury. The binding properties of hemin-PrP complexes have been evaluated by UV–visible spectrophotometric titration. PrP peptides form a 1:1 adduct with hemin with affinity that increases with the number of histidines and length of the peptide; the following log K<sub>1</sub> binding constants have been calculated: 6.48 for PrP<sub>76–114</sub>, 6.1 for PrP<sub>84–114</sub>, 4.80 for PrP<sub>95–114</sub>, whereas for PrP<sub>106–114</sub>, the interaction is too weak to allow a reliable binding constant calculation. These constants are similar to that of amyloid-β (Aβ) for hemin, and similarly to hemin-Aβ, PrP peptides tend to form a six-coordinated low-spin complex. However, the concomitant aggregation of PrP induced by hemin prevents calculation of the K<sub>2</sub> binding constant. The turbidimetry analysis of [hemin-PrP<sub>76–114</sub>] shows that, once aggregated, this complex is scarcely soluble and undergoes precipitation. Finally, a detailed study of the peroxidase-like activity of [hemin-(PrP)] shows a moderate increase of the reactivity with respect to free hemin, but considering the activity over long time, as for neurodegenerative pathologies, it might contribute to neuronal oxidative stress.