Folding of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase suggests structural hotspots for gain of neurotoxic function in ALS: parallels to precursors in amyloid disease.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease linked to misfolding of the ubiquitous enzyme Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD). In contrast to other protein-misfolding disorders with similar neuropathogenesis, ALS is not always associated with the in vivo deposition of protein aggregates. Thus, under the assumption that all protein-misfolding disorders share at primary level a similar disease mechanism, ALS constitutes an interesting disease model for identifying the yet-mysterious precursor states from which the cytotoxic pathway emerges. In this study, we have mapped out the conformational repertoire of the apoSOD monomer through analysis of its folding behavior. The results allow us to target the regions of the SOD structure that are most susceptible to unfolding locally under physiological conditions, leading to the exposure of structurally promiscuous interfaces that are normally hidden in the protein's interior. The structure of this putative ALS precursor is strikingly similar to those implicated in amyloid disease.