Chemical Biology of Prion Protein: Tools to Bridge the In Vitro/Vivo Interface

2011 ◽  
pp. 199-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf Seidel ◽  
Martin Engelhard
Keyword(s):  
Prion Protein ◽  
Chemical Biology

scholarly journals Sensitive protein misfolding cyclic amplification of sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease prions is strongly seed and substrate dependent

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxime Bélondrade ◽  
Simon Nicot ◽  
Charly Mayran ◽  
Lilian Bruyere-Ostells ◽  
Florian Almela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prion Protein ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification ◽  
Bank Voles ◽  
Substrate Dependence ◽  
Brain Extracts ◽  
Jakob Disease ◽  
Human Prion Protein

AbstractUnlike variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease prions, sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease prions have been shown to be difficult to amplify in vitro by protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA). We assessed PMCA of pathological prion protein (PrPTSE) from 14 human sCJD brain samples in 3 substrates: 2 from transgenic mice expressing human prion protein (PrP) with either methionine (M) or valine (V) at position 129, and 1 from bank voles. Brain extracts representing the 5 major clinicopathological sCJD subtypes (MM1/MV1, MM2, MV2, VV1, and VV2) all triggered seeded PrPTSE amplification during serial PMCA with strong seed- and substrate-dependence. Remarkably, bank vole PrP substrate allowed the propagation of all sCJD subtypes with preservation of the initial molecular PrPTSE type. In contrast, PMCA in human PrP substrates was accompanied by a PrPTSE molecular shift during heterologous (M/V129) PMCA reactions, with increased permissiveness of V129 PrP substrate to in vitro sCJD prion amplification compared to M129 PrP substrate. Combining PMCA amplification sensitivities with PrPTSE electrophoretic profiles obtained in the different substrates confirmed the classification of 4 distinct major sCJD prion strains (M1, M2, V1, and V2). Finally, the level of sensitivity required to detect VV2 sCJD prions in cerebrospinal fluid was achieved.

scholarly journals Prion Diseases: A Unique Transmissible Agent or a Model for Neurodegenerative Diseases?

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
Diane L. Ritchie ◽  
Marcelo A. Barria
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Prion Protein ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Prion Diseases ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Misfolded Proteins ◽  
Current Evidence

The accumulation and propagation in the brain of misfolded proteins is a pathological hallmark shared by many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (Aβ and tau), Parkinson’s disease (α-synuclein), and prion disease (prion protein). Currently, there is no epidemiological evidence to suggest that neurodegenerative disorders are infectious, apart from prion diseases. However, there is an increasing body of evidence from experimental models to suggest that other pathogenic proteins such as Aβ and tau can propagate in vivo and in vitro in a prion-like mechanism, inducing the formation of misfolded protein aggregates such as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Such similarities have raised concerns that misfolded proteins, other than the prion protein, could potentially transmit from person-to-person as rare events after lengthy incubation periods. Such concerns have been heightened following a number of recent reports of the possible inadvertent transmission of Aβ pathology via medical and surgical procedures. This review will provide a historical perspective on the unique transmissible nature of prion diseases, examining their impact on public health and the ongoing concerns raised by this rare group of disorders. Additionally, this review will provide an insight into current evidence supporting the potential transmissibility of other pathogenic proteins associated with more common neurodegenerative disorders and the potential implications for public health.

scholarly journals Efficient In Vitro Amplification of Chronic Wasting Disease PrPRES

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (17) ◽  
pp. 9605-9608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy D. Kurt ◽  
Matthew R. Perrott ◽  
Carol J. Wilusz ◽  
Jeffrey Wilusz ◽  
Surachai Supattapone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Prion Protein ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Chronic Wasting Disease ◽  
Body Fluids ◽  
The Body ◽  
Wasting Disease ◽  
Highly Efficient ◽  
Significant Step

ABSTRACT Chronic wasting disease (CWD) of cervids is associated with conversion of the normal cervid prion protein, PrPC, to a protease-resistant conformer, PrPCWD. Here we report the use of both nondenaturing amplification and protein-misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) to amplify PrPCWD in vitro. Normal brains from deer, transgenic mice expressing cervid PrPC [Tg(cerPrP)1536 mice], and ferrets supported amplification. PMCA using normal Tg(cerPrP)1536 brains as the PrPC substrate produced >6.5 × 109-fold amplification after six rounds. Highly efficient in vitro amplification of PrPCWD is a significant step toward detection of PrPCWD in the body fluids or excreta of CWD-susceptible species.

scholarly journals PrP P102L and Nearby Lysine Mutations Promote Spontaneous In Vitro Formation of Transmissible Prions

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Kraus ◽  
Gregory J. Raymond ◽  
Brent Race ◽  
Katrina J. Campbell ◽  
Andrew G. Hughson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prion Protein ◽  
Prion Diseases ◽  
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Protein Aggregates ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Specific Sequence

ABSTRACT Accumulation of fibrillar protein aggregates is a hallmark of many diseases. While numerous proteins form fibrils by prion-like seeded polymerization in vitro, only some are transmissible and pathogenic in vivo. To probe the structural features that confer transmissibility to prion protein (PrP) fibrils, we have analyzed synthetic PrP amyloids with or without the human prion disease-associated P102L mutation. The formation of infectious prions from PrP molecules in vitro has required cofactors and/or unphysiological denaturing conditions. Here, we demonstrate that, under physiologically compatible conditions without cofactors, the P102L mutation in recombinant hamster PrP promoted prion formation when seeded by minute amounts of scrapie prions in vitro. Surprisingly, combination of the P102L mutation with charge-neutralizing substitutions of four nearby lysines promoted spontaneous prion formation. When inoculated into hamsters, both of these types of synthetic prions initiated substantial accumulation of prion seeding activity and protease-resistant PrP without transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) clinical signs or notable glial activation. Our evidence suggests that PrP's centrally located proline and lysine residues act as conformational switches in the in vitro formation of transmissible PrP amyloids. IMPORTANCE Many diseases involve the damaging accumulation of specific misfolded proteins in thread-like aggregates. These threads (fibrils) are capable of growing on the ends by seeding the refolding and incorporation of the normal form of the given protein. In many cases such aggregates can be infectious and propagate like prions when transmitted from one individual host to another. Some transmitted aggregates can cause fatal disease, as with human iatrogenic prion diseases, while other aggregates appear to be relatively innocuous. The factors that distinguish infectious and pathogenic protein aggregates from more innocuous ones are poorly understood. Here we have compared the combined effects of prion seeding and mutations of prion protein (PrP) on the structure and transmission properties of synthetic PrP aggregates. Our results highlight the influence of specific sequence features in the normally unstructured region of PrP that influence the infectious and neuropathogenic properties of PrP-derived aggregates.

scholarly journals Signal sequence insufficiency contributes to neurodegeneration caused by transmembrane prion protein

2010 ◽  
Vol 188 (4) ◽  
pp. 515-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neena S. Rane ◽  
Oishee Chakrabarti ◽  
Lionel Feigenbaum ◽  
Ramanujan S. Hegde
Keyword(s):  
Prion Protein ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Signal Sequences ◽  
Hydrophobic Domain ◽  
Sequence Variations ◽  
Sufficient Magnitude ◽  
The Impact

Protein translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum is mediated by signal sequences that vary widely in primary structure. In vitro studies suggest that such signal sequence variations may correspond to subtly different functional properties. Whether comparable functional differences exist in vivo and are of sufficient magnitude to impact organism physiology is unknown. Here, we investigate this issue by analyzing in transgenic mice the impact of signal sequence efficiency for mammalian prion protein (PrP). We find that replacement of the average efficiency signal sequence of PrP with more efficient signals rescues mice from neurodegeneration caused by otherwise pathogenic PrP mutants in a downstream hydrophobic domain (HD). This effect is explained by the demonstration that efficient signal sequence function precludes generation of a cytosolically exposed, disease-causing transmembrane form of PrP mediated by the HD mutants. Thus, signal sequences are functionally nonequivalent in vivo, with intrinsic inefficiency of the native PrP signal being required for pathogenesis of a subset of disease-causing PrP mutations.

scholarly journals Research fronts of Chemical Biology

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanshan Lv
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Chemical Biology ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Binding Assays ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Diagnostic Technologies

Abstract Over the past decades, researchers have witnessed substantially increasing and ever-growing interests and efforts in Chemical Biology studies, thanks to the development of genome and epi-genome sequencing (revealing potential drug targets), synthetic chemistry (producing new medicines), bioorthogonal chemistry (chemistry in living systems) and high-throughput screening technologies (in vitro cell systems, protein binding assays and phenotypic assays). This report presents literature search results for current research in Chemical Biology, to explore basic principles, summarize recent advances, identify key challenges, and provide suggestions for future research (with a focus on Chemical Biology in the context of human health and diseases). Chemical Biology research can positively contribute to delivering a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that accompany pathology underlying diseases, as well as developing improved methods for diagnosis, drug discovery, and therapeutic delivery. While much progress has been made, as shown in this report, there are still further needs and opportunities. For instance, pressing challenges still exist in selecting appropriate targets in biological systems and adopting more rational design strategies for the development of innovative and sustainable diagnostic technologies and medical treatments. Therefore, more than ever, researchers from different disciplines need to collaborate to address the challenges in Chemical Biology.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Quinacrine Treatment for Prion Diseases

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (15) ◽  
pp. 8462-8469 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Barret ◽  
F. Tagliavini ◽  
G. Forloni ◽  
C. Bate ◽  
M. Salmona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prion Protein ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Neuroblastoma Cells ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Detectable Effect ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Protease Resistance ◽  
New Variant

ABSTRACT Based on in vitro observations in scrapie-infected neuroblastoma cells, quinacrine has recently been proposed as a treatment for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), including a new variant CJD which is linked to contamination of food by the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent. The present study investigated possible mechanisms of action of quinacrine on prions. The ability of quinacrine to interact with and to reduce the protease resistance of PrP peptide aggregates and PrPres of human and animal origin were analyzed, together with its ability to inhibit the in vitro conversion of the normal prion protein (PrPc) to the abnormal form (PrPres). Furthermore, the efficiencies of quinacrine and chlorpromazine, another tricyclic compound, were examined in different in vitro models and in an experimental murine model of BSE. Quinacrine efficiently hampered de novo generation of fibrillogenic prion protein and PrPres accumulation in ScN2a cells. However, it was unable to affect the protease resistance of preexisting PrP fibrils and PrPres from brain homogenates, and a “curing” effect was obtained in ScGT1 cells only after lengthy treatment. In vivo, no detectable effect was observed in the animal model used, consistent with other recent studies and preliminary observations in humans. Despite its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, the use of quinacrine for the treatment of CJD is questionable, at least as a monotherapy. The multistep experimental approach employed here could be used to test new therapeutic regimes before their use in human trials.

EXPRESSION OF MOUSE PRION PROTEIN IN VITRO

1988 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 305
Author(s):  
B. CAUGHEY ◽  
R. RACE ◽  
B. CHESEBRO
Keyword(s):  
Prion Protein
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