Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Flavonoid-Induced Inhibition of α-Synuclein Fibrillation

Abstract

The molecular mechanism underlying the flavonoid-induced inhibition of alpha-synuclein fibrillation was thoroughly examined by various biochemical and biophysical approaches. The noncovalent binding of the inhibitory flavonoids to alpha-synuclein and the covalent modification by the flavonoid quinone led to the restriction of the conformational changes in this natively unfolded protein and to the stabilization of soluble flavonoid-modified species of alpha-synuclein (monomers and oligomers). All of these factors rather than a single one contribute to the inhibition of WT alpha-synuclein fibrillation induced by the flavonoid. The structural requirements that appear necessary to provide a flavonoid the ability to inhibit alpha-synuclein fibrillation were determined to be vicinal dihydroxyphenyl moieties, irrespective of the ring position where they are located. Flavonoids with three vicinal hydroxyl groups exhibited enhanced inhibitory effects on alpha-synuclein fibrillation. The antioxidant activities of flavonoids were generally correlated with their in vitro inhibitory effects on alpha-synuclein fibrillation. The flavonoids inhibiting alpha-synuclein fibrillation and stabilizing the protein monomeric conformation can serve as a model for the development of therapeutic drugs in combating Parkinson's disease.