Molecular Dynamics Study of Structure, Folding, and Aggregation of Poly-PR and Poly-GR Proteins

Poly-proline-arginine (poly-PR) and poly-glycine-arginine (poly-GR) proteins are believed to be the most toxic dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins that are expressed by the hexanucleotide repeat expansion mutation in C9ORF72, which are associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diseases. Their structural information and mechanisms of toxicity remain incomplete, however. Using molecular dynamics simulation and all-atom model of proteins, we study folding and aggregation of both poly-PR and poly-GR. The results indicate formation of double-helix structure during the aggregation of poly-PR into dimers, whereas no stable aggregate is formed during the aggregation of poly-GR; the latter only folds into alpha-helix and double-helix structures that are similar to those formed in the folding of poly-glycine-alanine (poly-GA) protein. Our findings are consistent with the experimental data indicating that poly-PR and poly-GR are less likely to aggregate because of the hydrophilic arginine residues within their structures. Such characteristics could, however, in some respect facilitate migration of the DPR proteins between and within cells and, at the same time, give proline residues the benefits of activating the receptors that regulate ionotropic effect in neurons, resulting in death or malfunction of neurons because of the abnormal increase or decrease of the ion transmission. This may explain the neurotoxicities of poly-PR and poly-GR associated with many neurodegenerative diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular dynamics simulation of the phenomena involving poly-PR and poly-GR proteins.

Automated summary

The study found that during aggregation, poly-proline-arginine (poly-PR) forms a double-helix structure while poly-glycine-arginine (poly-GR) does not form stable aggregates, indicating the latter is less likely to aggregate. The hydrophilic arginine residues within their structures make poly-PR and poly-GR less likely to aggregate, but may facilitate DPR protein migration and activation of neurons, leading to neuronal death.