Effects of small-molecule amyloid modulators on a Drosophila model of Parkinson's disease
Journal article, 2017

Alpha-synuclein (aS) amyloid formation is involved in Parkinson's disease (PD); therefore, small molecules that target aS and affect its aggregation are of interest as future drug candidates. We recently reported modified ring-fused 2-pyridones that modulate aS amyloid formation in vitro. Here, we describe the effects of such molecules on behavioral parameters of a Drosophila model of PD (i.e., flies expressing human aS), using a new approach (implemented in a commercially available FlyTracker system) to quantify fly mobility. FlyTracker allows for automated analysis of walking and climbing locomotor behavior, as it collects large sequences of data over time in an unbiased manner. We found that the molecules per se have no toxic or kinetic effects on normal flies. Feeding aS-expressing flies with the amyloid-promoting molecule FN075, remarkably, resulted in increased fly mobility at early time points; however, this effect switched to reduced mobility at later time points, and flies had shorter life spans than controls. In contrast, an amyloid inhibitor increased both fly kinetics and life span. In agreement with increased aS amyloid formation, the FN075-fed flies had less soluble aS, and in vitro aS-FN075 interactions stimulated aS amyloid formation. In addition to a new quantitative approach to probe mobility (available in FlyTracker), our results imply that aS regulates brain activity such that initial removal (here, by FN075-triggered assembly of aS) allows for increased fly mobility.

Locomotor

Alpha-Synuclein

Neuron Loss

Drug Discovery

Neurotoxicity

Central-Nervous-System

Biofilm Formation

Dopa-Induced Dyskinesia

Melanogaster

Protein

Author

M. Pokrzywa

Airoptic Sp. z o.o.

K. Pawelek

Airoptic Sp. z o.o.

W. E. Kucia

Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Airoptic Sp. z o.o.

S. Sarbak

Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Airoptic Sp. z o.o.

E. Chorell

Umeå University

F. Almqvist

Umeå University

Pernilla Wittung Stafshede

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Chemical Biology

PLoS ONE

1932-6203 (ISSN) 19326203 (eISSN)

Vol. 12 9 Aet no e0184117- e0184117

Subject Categories

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Medicinal Chemistry

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0184117

More information

Latest update

2/27/2018