Accessibility of a critical prion protein region involved in strain recognition and its implications for the early detection of prions.
Cell Mol Life Sci
; 65(4): 631-43, 2008 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18193391
ABSTRACT
Human prion diseases are characterized by the accumulation in the brain of proteinase K (PK)-resistant prion protein designated PrP27 - 30 detectable by the 3F4 antibody against human PrP109 - 112. We recently identified a new PK-resistant PrP species, designated PrP*20, in uninfected human and animal brains. It was preferentially detected with the 1E4 antibody against human PrP 97 - 108 but not with the anti-PrP 3F4 antibody, although the 3F4 epitope is adjacent to the 1E4 epitope in the PrP*20 molecule. The present study reveals that removal of the N-terminal amino acids up to residue 91 significantly increases accessibility of the 1E4 antibody to PrP of brains and cultured cells. In contrast to cells expressing wild-type PrP, cells expressing pathogenic mutant PrP accumulate not only PrP*20 but also a small amount of 3F4-detected PK-resistant PrP27 - 30. Remarkably, during the course of human prion disease, a transition from an increase in 1E4-detected PrP*20 to the occurrence of the 3F4-detected PrP27 - 30 was observed. Our study suggests that an increase in the level of PrP*20 characterizes the early stages of prion diseases.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Príons
/
Doenças Priônicas
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Cell Mol Life Sci
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article