Author
Zukas, Audrius | |
Carter, John |
Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 6/21/2006 Publication Date: 6/21/2006 Citation: Zukas, A.A., Carter, J.M. 2006. Sonication induced intermediate in prion conversion. [Abstract]. ACS National Meeting. Poster BIOL55 Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: In vivo conversion of cellular prion protein (PrPC) to its abnormal pathogenic isoform (PrPres)is associated with conformational transition of a-helices into B-sheets. Protein misfolding cyclic amplification(PMCA)probably closely mimics this conversion in vitro. This technique involves sonication and incubation of PrPC with trace amounts of PrPres, but very little is known about the mechanism. We have observed that hamster PrPC undergoes structural changes on ultrasonic treatment. Assayed by Western blot after native gel electrophoresis or native ELISA, PrPC concentration decreases as a function of sonication time. However, by Western after denaturing SDS-PAGE, the concentration of PrPC does not change. This suggests the presence of a third stable PrP conformer, which may be intermediate in the conversion of PrPC to PrPres by PMCA. The new conformer undergoes conversion to PrPres by PMCA more readily than PrPC. |