Multiscale simulations elucidate the mechanism of polyglutamine aggregation and the role of flanking domains in fibril polymorphism

Abstract

Protein aggregation, which is implicated in aging and neurodegenerative diseases, typically involves a transition from soluble monomers and oligomers to insoluble fibrils. Polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts in proteins can form amyloid fibrils, which are linked to polyQ diseases, including Huntingtons disease (HD), where the length of the polyQ tract inversely correlates with the age of onset. Despite significant research on the mechanisms of Httex1 aggregation, atomistic information regarding the intermediate stages of its fibrillation and the morphological characteristics of the end-state amyloid fibrils remains limited. Recently, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations based on a hybrid multistate structure-based model, Multi-eGO, have shown promise in capturing the kinetics and mechanism of amyloid fibrillation with high computational efficiency while achieving qualitative agreement with experiments. Here, we utilize the multi-eGO simulation methodology to study the mechanism and kinetics of polyQ fibrillation and the effect of the N17 flanking domain of Huntingtin protein. Aggregation simulations of polyQ produced highly heterogeneous amyloid fibrils with variable-width branched morphologies by incorporating combinations of {beta}-turn, {beta}-arc, and {beta}-strand structures, while the presence of the N17 flanking domain reduces amyloid fibril heterogeneity by favoring {beta}-strand conformations. Our simulations reveal that the presence of N17 domain enhanced aggregation kinetics by promoting the formation of large, structurally stable oligomers. Furthermore, the early-stage aggregation process involves two distinct mechanisms: backbone interactions driving {beta}-sheet formation and side-chain interdigitation. Overall, our study provides detailed insights into fibrillation kinetics, mechanisms, and end-state polymorphism associated with Httex1 amyloid aggregation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTPolyglutamine (polyQ) aggregation is central to Huntingtons disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. Despite extensive experimental efforts, a complete molecular understanding of this process--from early aggregation events to the origins of fibril polymorphism--has remained elusive, with varied interpretations of complex fibril architectures. Through multiscale simulations, we reveal how polyQ fibrils adopt diverse tertiary and quaternary structures and demonstrate how the N-terminal flanking domain (N17) modulates fibril architecture and accelerates aggregation. Our hybrid multi-eGO simulations capture early-stage fibrillation kinetics and identify distinct structural polymorphs that align with experimental observations. This work provides a molecular framework for understanding amyloid polymorphism and illuminates the role of flanking domains in shaping aggregation pathways-- offering valuable insights for therapeutic strategies targeting early toxic intermediates.