How does protein aggregate structure affect mechanisms of disaggregation?

Abstract

Protein misfolding and aggregation underpin numerous pathological conditions, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases. Within cells, the competition between protein folding and misfolding-driven aggregation necessitates intricate quality control systems known collectively as the proteostasis network, with molecular chaperones playing central roles. Critical gaps remain in our understanding of why certain protein aggregates are amenable to efficient chaperone-mediated disassembly, while others resist such intervention. Aggregates can be most broadly categorized into structurally ordered amyloid fibrils and more irregular amorphous clusters. Amyloid fibrils are characterized by a highly structured, cross-β-sheet architecture, and they generally display nucleation-driven growth kinetics. In contrast, amorphous aggregates form through heterogeneous interactions among partially unfolded proteins, which typically lack ordered and repeating structure but still display poorly understood, specific assembly constraints. Importantly, amorphous aggregation and amyloid formation are often linked to one another, with several different types of aggregate structures forming at the same time. The ability of molecular chaperones to remodel and disassemble aggregates is affected by aggregate size, internal structure, surface dynamics, and exposure of chaperone-binding sites. However, despite these insights, the mechanistic complexity, aggregate heterogeneity, and dynamic properties present substantial experimental and theoretical challenges. Addressing these challenges will require innovative approaches combining single-molecule biophysics, structural biology, and computational modeling to unveil universal principles governing protein aggregation and disaggregation within cellular environments.