VLITL is a major cross-β-sheet signal for fibrinogen Aα-chain frameshift variants.

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TitleVLITL is a major cross-β-sheet signal for fibrinogen Aα-chain frameshift variants.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsGarnier C, Briki F, Nedelec B, Le Pogamp P, Dogan A, Rioux-Leclercq N, Goude R, Beugnet C, Martin L, Delpech M, Bridoux F, Grateau G, Doucet J, Derreumaux P, Valleix S
JournalBlood
Volume130
Issue25
Pagination2799-2807
Date Published2017 12 21
ISSN1528-0020
KeywordsAmino Acid Motifs, Amino Acid Sequence, Amyloid, Amyloidosis, Familial, Fibrinogen, Frameshift Mutation, Humans, Kidney, Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
Abstract

The first case of hereditary fibrinogen Aα-chain amyloidosis was recognized >20 years ago, but disease mechanisms still remain unknown. Here we report detailed clinical and proteomics studies of a French kindred with a novel amyloidogenic fibrinogen Aα-chain frameshift variant, Phe521Leufs, causing a severe familial form of renal amyloidosis. Next, we focused our investigations to elucidate the molecular basis that render this Aα-chain variant amyloidogenic. We show that a 49-mer peptide derived from the C-terminal part of the Phe521Leufs chain is deposited as fibrils in the patient's kidneys, establishing that only a small portion of Phe521Leufs directly contributes to amyloid formation in vivo. In silico analysis indicated that this 49-mer Aα-chain peptide contained a motif (VLITL), with a high intrinsic propensity for β-aggregation at residues 44 to 48 of human renal fibrils. To experimentally verify the amyloid propensity of VLITL, we generated synthetic Phe521Leufs-derived peptides and compared their capacity for fibril formation in vitro with that of their VLITL-deleted counterparts. We show that VLITL forms typical amyloid fibrils in vitro and is a major signal for cross-β-sheet self-association of the 49-mer Phe521Leufs peptide identified in vivo, whereas its absence abrogates fibril formation. This study provides compelling evidence that VLITL confers amyloidogenic properties to Aα-chain frameshift variants, yielding a previously unknown molecular basis for the pathogenesis of Aα-chain amyloidosis.

DOI10.1182/blood-2017-07-796185
Alternate JournalBlood
Citation Key2017|2036
PubMed ID29089309