In vitro self-propagation of recombinant PrPSc-like conformation generated in the yeast cytoplasm

FEBS Lett. 2006 Jul 24;580(17):4231-5. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.06.074. Epub 2006 Jul 5.

Abstract

Self-propagation is characteristic property for a prion conformation. Previous studies revealed that prion protein expressed in the cytoplasm gained a PrP(Sc)-like conformation. However, it remains unclear whether the PrP(Sc)-like conformation has the self-propagating property. We found that PrP partially purified from yeast cytoplasm formed amyloid fiber like structures, and we found that the PrP(Sc)-like conformation is able to convert normal PrP(C) in the brain homogenate to a proteinase K-resistant conformation. These results suggest that yeast cytoplasm expressed recombinant PrP(Sc)-like conformation has the characteristic self-propagating property of a prion, which may have implications in the pathogenesis of sporadic and inherited prion diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / chemistry*
  • Amyloid / genetics
  • Amyloid / metabolism
  • Amyloid / ultrastructure
  • Animals
  • Brain Chemistry
  • Cell-Free System / chemistry
  • Cell-Free System / metabolism
  • Endopeptidase K / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • PrPSc Proteins / chemistry*
  • PrPSc Proteins / genetics
  • PrPSc Proteins / metabolism
  • Prion Diseases / genetics
  • Prion Diseases / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • PrPSc Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Endopeptidase K