Pseudomonas aeruginosa rhamnolipid induces fibrillation of human α‐synuclein and modulates its effect on biofilm formation

Kell K Andersen, Brian S Vad, Lars Kjaer, Tim Tolker-Nielsen, Gunna Christiansen, Daniel E Otzen

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The Parkinson's disease-associated protein α-synuclein (αSN) is natively unfolded but its structure can be modulated by membranes and surfactants. The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) produces and secretes the biosurfactant rhamnolipid (RL) which modulates bacterial biofilm. Here, we show that monomeric RL enhances the ability of αSN to permeabilize membranes, while micellar RL rapidly induces protein β-sheet structure with a worm-like fibrillary appearance, which cannot seed RL-free fibrillation but transforms into linear fibrils faster than αSN fibrillating on its own. Exposure to αSN reduces the degree of biofilm formation by PA unless RL is present. Our data suggest that RL interactions with αSN may affect both αSN aggregation and cell toxicity, potentially implicating microbiomic metabolites in the origin and propagation of Parkinson's disease.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalFEBS Letters
    Volume592
    Issue number9
    Pages (from-to)1484-1496
    Number of pages13
    ISSN0014-5793
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May 2018

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