Precision Interdiction of α-Synuclein Folding Pathways by Molecular Tweezers

The misfolding of α-synuclein (α-Syn) is a pivotal event in the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and the progression of Parkinson's disease. Given its pathological significance, elucidating the self-assembly of α-Syn and developing inhibitors that suppress aberrant misfolding are imperative for effective synucleinopathy therapies. Building upon the remarkable potential of Whitlock's caffeine-armed molecular tweezer in inhibiting amyloid-β aggregation, this study employs all-atom MD simulations under NPT conditions to explore its impact on α-Syn misfolding. Analyses of the secondary structure and cluster conformations reveal a global transition of the N-terminal and NAC regions into largely unstructured conformations interspersed with multiple β-sheet formations spanning both regions. The simulations further capture the emergence of a β-hairpin structure spanning residues 38-53, a region previously identified as the primary nucleation site for aggregation. Notably, the introduction of the caffeine-tweezers significantly reduces the formation of ordered β-sheet structures. Contact maps, free-energy landscapes, and binding evaluations collectively demonstrate a strong binding preference of the tweezer for the N- and C-terminal regions of the peptide. By engaging in π-stacking interactions with aromatic residues at the termini, the tweezer induces a looped conformation that disrupts non-native contacts between the N-terminus and the NAC segment. This rearrangement restores native long-range interactions between the terminal domains, thereby re-establishing the protein's intrinsic regulatory mechanism that suppresses NAC-mediated pathological aggregation. These findings elucidate the inhibitory role of the caffeine-tweezer, underscoring its therapeutic potential in targeting α-Syn misfolding. Our findings offer a rational framework for the design of novel therapeutics combating synucleinopathies.