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Xu H, Xu D, Liu Y. Molecular Biology Applications of Psychrophilic Enzymes: Adaptations, Advantages, Expression, and Prospective. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2024; 196:5765-5789. [PMID: 38183603 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-023-04810-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Psychrophilic enzymes are primarily produced by microorganisms from extremely low-temperature environments which are known as psychrophiles. Their high efficiency at low temperatures and easy heat inactivation property have attracted extensive attention from various food and industrial bioprocesses. However, the application of these enzymes in molecular biology is still limited. In a previous review, the applications of psychrophilic enzymes in industries such as the detergent additives, the food additives, the bioremediation, and the pharmaceutical medicine, and cosmetics have been discussed. In this review, we discuss the main cold adaptation characteristics of psychrophiles and psychrophilic enzymes, as well as the relevant information on different psychrophilic enzymes in molecular biology. We summarize the mining and screening methods of psychrophilic enzymes. We finally recap the expression of psychrophilic enzymes. We aim to provide a reference process for the exploration and expression of new generation of psychrophilic enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Xu
- Center for Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Dawei Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Yongqin Liu
- Center for Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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2
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Guadagno AH, Medina SH. The manifold role of octapeptide repeats in prion protein assembly. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2023; 115:e24303. [PMID: 37153755 PMCID: PMC10162500 DOI: 10.1002/pep2.24303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Prion protein misfolding is associated with fatal neurodegenerative disorders such as kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and several animal encephalopathies. While the C-terminal 106-126 peptide has been well studied for its role in prion replication and toxicity, the octapeptide repeat (OPR) sequence found within the N-terminal domain has been relatively under explored. Recent findings that the OPR has both local and long-range effects on prion protein folding and assembly, as well as its ability to bind and regulate transition metal homeostasis, highlights the important role this understudied region may have in prion pathologies. This review attempts to collate this knowledge to advance a deeper understanding on the varied physiologic and pathologic roles the prion OPR plays, and connect these findings to potential therapeutic modalities focused on OPR-metal binding. Continued study of the OPR will not only elucidate a more complete mechanistic model of prion pathology, but may enhance knowledge on other neurodegenerative processes underlying Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy H. Guadagno
- Nanomedicine, Intercollegiate Degree Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Scott H. Medina
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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3
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Jack K, Jackson GS, Bieschke J. Essential Components of Synthetic Infectious Prion Formation De Novo. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1694. [PMID: 36421708 PMCID: PMC9687555 DOI: 10.3390/biom12111694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a class of neurodegenerative diseases that are uniquely infectious. Whilst their general replication mechanism is well understood, the components required for the formation and propagation of highly infectious prions are poorly characterized. The protein-only hypothesis posits that the prion protein (PrP) is the only component of the prion; however, additional co-factors are required for its assembly into infectious prions. These can be provided by brain homogenate, but synthetic lipids and non-coding RNA have also been used in vitro. Here, we review a range of experimental approaches, which generate PrP amyloid assemblies de novo. These synthetic PrP assemblies share some, but not necessarily all, properties of genuine infectious prions. We will discuss the different experimental approaches, how a prion is defined, the non-protein requirements of a prion, and provide an overview of the current state of prion amplification and generation in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jan Bieschke
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33, Cleveland Street, London W1W 7FF, UK
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Julian L, Sang JC, Wu Y, Meisl G, Brelstaff JH, Miller A, Cheetham MR, Vendruscolo M, Knowles TPJ, Ruggeri FS, Bryant C, Ros S, Brindle KM, Klenerman D. Characterization of full-length p53 aggregates and their kinetics of formation. Biophys J 2022; 121:4280-4298. [PMID: 36230002 PMCID: PMC9703098 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the TP53 gene are common in cancer with the R248Q missense mutation conferring an increased propensity to aggregate. Previous p53 aggregation studies showed that, at micromolar concentrations, protein unfolding to produce aggregation-prone species is the rate-determining step. Here we show that, at physiological concentrations, aggregation kinetics of insect cell-derived full-length wild-type p53 and p53R248Q are determined by a nucleation-growth model, rather than formation of aggregation-prone monomeric species. Self-seeding, but not cross-seeding, increases aggregation rate, confirming the aggregation process as rate determining. p53R248Q displays enhanced aggregation propensity due to decreased solubility and increased aggregation rate, forming greater numbers of larger amorphous aggregates that disrupt lipid bilayers and invokes an inflammatory response. These results suggest that p53 aggregation can occur under physiological conditions, a rate enhanced by R248Q mutation, and that aggregates formed can cause membrane damage and inflammation that may influence tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Julian
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jason C Sang
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Yunzhao Wu
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Georg Meisl
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jack H Brelstaff
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alyssa Miller
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew R Cheetham
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Simone Ruggeri
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Clare Bryant
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Susana Ros
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin M Brindle
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - David Klenerman
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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Stepanchuk A, Tahir W, Nilsson KPR, Schatzl HM, Stys PK. Early detection of prion protein aggregation with a fluorescent pentameric oligothiophene probe using spectral confocal microscopy. J Neurochem 2020; 156:1033-1048. [PMID: 32799317 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Misfolding of the prion protein (PrP) and templating of its pathological conformation onto cognate proteins causes a number of lethal disorders of central nervous system in humans and animals, such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, chronic wasting disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Structural rearrangement of PrPC into PrPSc promotes aggregation of misfolded proteins into β-sheet-rich fibrils, which can be visualized by conformationally sensitive fluorescent probes. Early detection of prion misfolding and deposition might provide useful insights into its pathophysiology. Pentameric formyl thiophene acetic acid (pFTAA) is a novel amyloid probe that was shown to sensitively detect various misfolded proteins, including PrP. Here, we compared sensitivity of pFTAA staining and spectral microscopy with conventional methods of prion detection in mouse brains infected with mouse-adapted 22L prions. pFTAA bound to prion deposits in mouse brain sections exhibited a red-shifted fluorescence emission spectrum, which quantitatively increased with disease progression. Small prion deposits were detected as early as 50 days post-inoculation, well before appearance of clinical signs. Moreover, we detected significant spectral shifts in the greater brain parenchyma as early as 25 days post-inoculation, rivaling the most sensitive conventional method (real-time quaking-induced conversion). These results showcase the potential of pFTAA staining combined with spectral imaging for screening of prion-infected tissue. Not only does this method have comparable sensitivity to established techniques, it is faster and technically simpler. Finally, this readout provides valuable information about the spatial distribution of prion aggregates across tissue in the earliest stages of infection, potentially providing valuable pathophysiological insight into prion transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Stepanchuk
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Waqas Tahir
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Hermann M Schatzl
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Peter K Stys
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Abstract
In sheep, scrapie is a fatal neurologic disease that is caused by a misfolded protein called a prion (designated PrPSc). The normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) is encoded by an endogenous gene, PRNP, that is present in high concentrations within the CNS. Although a broad range of functions has been described for PrPC, its entire range of functions has yet to be fully elucidated. Accumulation of PrPSc results in neurodegeneration. The PRNP gene has several naturally occurring polymorphisms, and there is a strong correlation between scrapie susceptibility and PRNP genotype. The cornerstone of scrapie eradication programs is the selection of scrapie-resistant genotypes to eliminate classical scrapie. Transmission of classical scrapie in sheep occurs during the prenatal and periparturient periods when lambs are highly susceptible. Initially, the scrapie agent is disseminated throughout the lymphoid system and into the CNS. Shedding of the scrapie agent occurs before the onset of clinical signs. In contrast to classical scrapie, atypical scrapie is believed to be a spontaneous disease that occurs in isolated instances in older animals within a flock. The agent that causes atypical scrapie is not considered to be naturally transmissible. Transmission of the scrapie agent to species other than sheep, including deer, has been experimentally demonstrated as has the transmission of nonscrapie prion agents to sheep. The purpose of this review is to outline the current methods for diagnosing scrapie in sheep and the techniques used for studying the pathogenesis and host range of the scrapie agent. Also discussed is the US scrapie eradication program including recent updates.
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McNulty E, Nalls AV, Mellentine S, Hughes E, Pulscher L, Hoover EA, Mathiason CK. Comparison of conventional, amplification and bio-assay detection methods for a chronic wasting disease inoculum pool. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216621. [PMID: 31071138 PMCID: PMC6508678 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Longitudinal studies of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the native host have provided considerable understanding of how this prion disease continues to efficiently spread among cervid species. These studies entail great cost in animal, time and financial support. A variety of methods have emerged including transgenic mouse bioassay, western blot, enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), immunohistochemistry (IHC), serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA) and real time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC), that deepen our understanding of this and other protein misfolding disorders. To further characterize an inoculum source used for ongoing CWD studies and to determine how the readouts from each of these assays compare, we assayed a CWD-positive brain pool homogenate (CBP6) and a mouse dilutional bioassay of this homogenate using the above detection methods. We demonstrate that: (i) amplification assays enhanced detection of amyloid seeding activity in the CWD+ cervid brain pool to levels beyond mouse LD50, (ii) conventional detection methods (IHC and western blot) performed well in identifying the presence of PrPSc in terminal brain tissue yet lack sufficient detection sensitivity to identify all CWD-infected mice, and (iii) the incorporation of amplification assays enhanced detection of CWD-infected mice near the LD50. This cross-platform analysis provides a basis to calibrate the relative sensitivities of CWD detection assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin McNulty
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Amy V. Nalls
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Samuel Mellentine
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Erin Hughes
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Laura Pulscher
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Edward A. Hoover
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Candace K. Mathiason
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
The cellular prion protein, PrPC, is a small, cell surface glycoprotein with a function that is currently somewhat ill defined. It is also the key molecule involved in the family of neurodegenerative disorders called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, which are also known as prion diseases. The misfolding of PrPC to a conformationally altered isoform, designated PrPTSE, is the main molecular process involved in pathogenesis and appears to precede many other pathologic and clinical manifestations of disease, including neuronal loss, astrogliosis, and cognitive loss. PrPTSE is also believed to be the major component of the infectious "prion," the agent responsible for disease transmission, and preparations of this protein can cause prion disease when inoculated into a naïve host. Thus, understanding the biochemical and biophysical properties of both PrPC and PrPTSE, and ultimately the mechanisms of their interconversion, is critical if we are to understand prion disease biology. Although entire books could be devoted to research pertaining to the protein, herein we briefly review the state of knowledge of prion biochemistry, including consideration of prion protein structure, function, misfolding, and dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Gill
- School of Chemistry, Joseph Banks Laboratories, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom; Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew R Castle
- Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Miyazawa K, Okada H, Masujin K, Iwamaru Y, Yokoyama T. Infectivity-associated PrP(Sc) and disease duration-associated PrP(Sc) of mouse BSE prions. Prion 2016; 9:394-403. [PMID: 26555211 PMCID: PMC4964868 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2015.1111507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease-related prion protein (PrPSc), which is a structural isoform of the host-encoded cellular prion protein, is thought to be a causative agent of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. However, the specific role of PrPSc in prion pathogenesis and its relationship to infectivity remain controversial. A time-course study of prion-affected mice was conducted, which showed that the prion infectivity was not simply proportional to the amount of PrPSc in the brain. Centrifugation (20,000 ×g) of the brain homogenate showed that most of the PrPSc was precipitated into the pellet, and the supernatant contained only a slight amount of PrPSc. Interestingly, mice inoculated with the obtained supernatant showed incubation periods that were approximately 15 d longer than those of mice inoculated with the crude homogenate even though both inocula contained almost the same infectivity. Our results suggest that a small population of fine PrPSc may be responsible for prion infectivity and that large, aggregated PrPSc may contribute to determining prion disease duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohtaro Miyazawa
- a Influenza and Prion Disease Research Center; National Institute of Animal Health ; Tsukuba , Ibaraki , Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Okada
- a Influenza and Prion Disease Research Center; National Institute of Animal Health ; Tsukuba , Ibaraki , Japan
| | - Kentaro Masujin
- a Influenza and Prion Disease Research Center; National Institute of Animal Health ; Tsukuba , Ibaraki , Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Iwamaru
- a Influenza and Prion Disease Research Center; National Institute of Animal Health ; Tsukuba , Ibaraki , Japan
| | - Takashi Yokoyama
- a Influenza and Prion Disease Research Center; National Institute of Animal Health ; Tsukuba , Ibaraki , Japan
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Semi-purification procedures of prions from a prion-infected brain using sucrose has no influence on the nonenzymatic glycation of the disease-associated prion isoform. Biol Chem 2016; 397:125-33. [DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2015-0252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that the Nε-carboxymethyl group is linked to not only one or more N-terminal Lys residues but also to one or more Lys residues of the protease-resistant core region of the pathogenic prion isoform (PrPSc) in prion-infected brains. Using an anti-advanced glycation end product (AGE) antibody, we detected nonenzymatically glycated PrPSc (AGE-PrPSc) in prion-infected brains following concentration by a series of ultracentrifugation steps with a sucrose cushion. In the present study, the levels of in vitro nonenzymatic glycation of PrPSc using sucrose were investigated to determine whether sucrose cushion can artificially and nonenzymatically induce in vitro glycation during ultracentrifugation. The first insoluble pellet fraction following the first ultracentrifugation (PU1st) collected from 263K scrapie-infected brains was incubated with sucrose, glucose or colloidal silica coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (percoll). None of the compounds in vitro resulted in AGE-PrPSc. Nonetheless, glucose and percoll produced AGEs in vitro from other proteins within PU1st of the infected brains. This reaction could lead to the AGE-modified polymer(s) of nonenzymatic glycation-prone protein(s). This study showed that PrPSc is not nonenzymatically glycated in vitro with sucrose, glucose or percoll and that AGE-modified PrPSc can be isolated and enriched from prion-infected brains.
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Söderberg KL, Guterstam P, Langel U, Gräslund A. Targeting prion propagation using peptide constructs with signal sequence motifs. Arch Biochem Biophys 2014; 564:254-61. [PMID: 25447819 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2014.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2014] [Revised: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic peptides with sequences derived from the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) unprocessed N-terminus are able to counteract the propagation of proteinase K resistant prions (PrP(Res), indicating the presence of the prion isoform of the prion protein) in cell cultures (Löfgren et al., 2008). The anti-prion peptides have characteristics like cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) and consist of the prion protein hydrophobic signal sequence followed by a polycationic motif (residues KKRPKP), in mouse PrP(C) corresponding to residues 1-28. Here we analyze the sequence elements required for the anti-prion effect of KKRPKP-conjugates. Neuronal GT1-1 cells were infected with either prion strain RML or 22L. Variable peptide constructs originating from the mPrP1-28 sequence were analyzed for anti-prion effects, measured as disappearance of proteinase K resistant prions (PrP(Res)) in the infected cell cultures. We find that even a 5 amino acid N-terminal shortening of the signal peptide abolishes the anti-prion effect. We show that the signal peptide from PrP(C) can be replaced with the signal peptide from the Neural cell adhesion molecule-1; NCAM11-19, with a retained capacity to reduce PrP(Res) levels. The anti-prion effect is lost if the polycationic N-terminal PrP(C)-motif is conjugated to any conventional CPP, such as TAT48-60, transportan-10 or penetratin. We propose a mechanism by which a signal peptide from a secretory or cell surface protein acts to promote the transport of a prion-binding polycationic PrP(C)-motif to a subcellular location where prion conversion occurs (most likely the Endosome Recycling Compartment), thereby targeting prion propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kajsa Löfgren Söderberg
- The Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Peter Guterstam
- The Department of Neurochemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulo Langel
- The Department of Neurochemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Astrid Gräslund
- The Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Concha-Marambio L, Diaz-Espinoza R, Soto C. The extent of protease resistance of misfolded prion protein is highly dependent on the salt concentration. J Biol Chem 2013; 289:3073-9. [PMID: 24338008 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.513267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are neurodegenerative diseases caused by prions in mammals. An aberrantly folded protein (PrP(Sc)) is the main component of these proteinaceous infectious particles. Prions exhibit strong resistance to protease digestion, which is typically exploited for biochemical discrimination from its native cellular form (PrP(C)). This classical feature has been partially challenged by the isolation of sizeable amounts of protease-sensitive PrP(Sc) isoforms that self-propagate in vivo. Here, we report that the degree of PrP(Sc) protease resistance is highly dependent on the concentration of salt in the solution. Similar changes were observed in PrP(Sc) obtained from different strains and species. Strikingly, the effect of salt is reversible and is associated with changes on the size of PrP(Sc) particles, but surprisingly, the more protease-sensitive species consists of a larger size. These findings shed light on the mechanistic aspects of prion proteolysis and should be considered when assessing samples of biomedical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Concha-Marambio
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030 and
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