Prostaglandin A1 inhibits the phosphorylation of tau via activating protein phosphotase 2A in a michael addition mechanism at the site of cysteine 377

Abstract

Background: Prostaglandin (PG) A1 is a metabolic product of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), which potentially involved in regulating the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As a cyclopentenone (cy) PG, PGA1 is characterized by the presence of a chemically reactive α, β-unsaturated carbonyl. Although PGA1 is potentially involved in regulating multiple biological processes via michael addition, its specific roles in AD remained unclear.Methods: The tauP301S transgenic (Tg) mice were employed as in vivo AD models and neuroblastoma (N) 2a cells as in vitro neuronal models. By intracerebroventricular injected (i.c.v) with PGA1, the binding proteins to PGA1 are analyzed by HPLC-MS-MS. In addition, western blots are used to determine the phosphorylation of tau in PGA1 treated Tg mice in the absence or presence of okadaic acid (OA), an inhibitor of protein phosphotase (PP) 2A. Combining a synthesis of pull down assay, immunoprecipitation, western blots and HPLC-MS-MS, PP2A scaffold subunit A alpha (PPP2R1A) was identified to be activated by directly binding on PGA1 in cysteine 377-dependent manner. Via inhibiting the hyperphosphorylation of tau, morris maze test was employed to determine the inhibitory effects of PGA1 on cognitive decline of tauP301S Tg mice.Results: By incubation with neuroblastoma (n)2a cells and pull down assay, mass spectra (MS) analysis revealed that PGA1 binds with more than 1000 proteins, among which contains the proteins of AD, especially tau protein. Moreover, short-term administration of PGA1 to tauP301S Tg mice significantly decreased the phosphorylation of tau at the sites of Thr181, Ser202 and Ser404 in a dose-dependent manner. To the reason, it’s caused by activating PPP2R1A in tauP301S Tg mice. More importantly, PGA1 has the ability to form michael adduct with PPP2R1A via its cysteine 377 motif, which is critical for the enzymatic activity of PP2A. By activating PP2A, long-term application of PGA1 to tauP301S Tg mice significantly reduced the phosphorylation of tau, which results in improving the cognitive decline of tauP301S Tg mice.Conclusion: Our data provided the first insights needed to decipher the mechanisms underlying the ameliorating effects of PGA1 on cognitive decline of tauP301S Tg mice via activating PP2A in a PPP2R1AC377-dependent Michael adducting mechanisms.