Pleiotropic Nanostructures Built from l-Histidine Show Biologically Relevant Multicatalytic Activities.

Abstract

The essential amino acid histidine plays a central role in the manifestation of several metabolic processes, including protein synthesis, enzyme-catalysis, and key biomolecular interactions. However, excess accumulation of histidine causes histidinemia, which shows brain-related medical complications, and the molecular mechanism of such histidine-linked complications is largely unknown. Here, we show that histidine undergoes a self-assembly process, leading to the formation of amyloid-like cytotoxic and catalytically active nanofibers. The kinetics of histidine self-assembly was favored in the presence of Mg(II) and Co(II) ions. Molecular dynamics data showed that preferential noncovalent interactions dominated by H-bonds between histidine molecules facilitate the formation of histidine nanofibers. The histidine nanofibers induced amyloid cross-seeding reactions in several proteins and peptides including pathogenic Aβ1-42 and brain extract components. Further, the histidine nanofibers exhibited oxidase activity and enhanced the oxidation of neurotransmitters. Cell-based studies confirmed the cellular internalization of histidine nanofibers in SH-SY5Y cells and subsequent cytotoxic effects through necrosis and apoptosis-mediated cell death. Since several complications including behavioral abnormality, developmental delay, and neurological disabilities are directly linked to abnormal accumulation of histidine, our findings provide a foundational understanding of the mechanism of histidine-related complications. Further, the ability of histidine nanofibers to catalyze amyloid seeding and oxidation reactions is equally important for both biological and materials science research.

• Authors: Kailash Prasad Prajapati, Shikha Mittal, Masihuzzaman Ansari, Om Prakash Mahato, Shikha Bharati, Akhilesh Pratap Singh, Shobha Ahlawat, Ashu Bhan Tiku, Bibin Gnanadhason Anand, Karunakar Kar
• Journal: ACS applied materials & interfaces (ACS Appl Mater Interfaces) Vol. 16 Issue 15 Pg. 18268-18284 (Apr 17 2024) ISSN: 1944-8252 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 38564419 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Histidine
• Peptides
• Amyloid
• Amyloid beta-Peptides

Topics

• Humans
• Histidine
• Neuroblastoma
• Nanostructures
• Peptides (chemistry)
• Nanofibers (chemistry)
• Amyloid (chemistry)
• Amyloid beta-Peptides (chemistry)