Naslov
Solution-state NMR studies on human prion protein mutants

Autori
Giachin, Gabriele ; Ilc, Gregor ; Biljan, Ivana ; Plavec, Janez ; Legname, Giuseppe

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Prion, Volume 8, Supplement 1 / - : Landes Bioscience, 2014, 41-41

Skup
Prion 2014

Mjesto i datum
Trst, Italija, 27.05.2014. - 30.05.2014

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Prion protein; Mutants; NMR spectroscopy

Sažetak
The post-translational conversion of the ubiquitously expressed cellular form of the prion protein, PrPC, into its misfolded and pathogenic isoform, known as prion or PrPSc, plays a key role in prion diseases. These maladies are denoted transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) and affect both humans and animals. A prerequisite for understanding TSEs is unraveling the molecular mechanism leading to the conversion process whereby most α-helical motifs are replaced by β-sheet secondary structures. Importantly, most point mutations linked to inherited prion diseases are clustered in the C-terminal domain region of PrPC and cause spontaneous conversion to PrPSc. Structural studies with PrP variants promise new clues regarding the proposed conversion mechanism and may help identify “hot spots” in PrPC involved in the pathogenic conversion. These investigations may also shed light on the early structural rearrangements occurring in some PrPC epitopes thought to be involved in modulating prion susceptibility. Here we present a detailed overview of our solution-state NMR studies on human prion protein carrying different pathological point mutations and the implications that such findings may have for the future of prion research.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kemija

POVEZANOST RADA