Tracking protein aggregate interactions

Prion. 2011 Apr-Jun;5(2):52-5. doi: 10.4161/pri.5.2.16173. Epub 2011 Apr 1.

Abstract

Amyloid fibrils share a structural motif consisting of highly ordered β-sheets aligned perpendicular to the fibril axis ( 1, 2) . At each fibril end, β-sheets provide a template for recruiting and converting monomers ( 3) . Various amyloid fibrils often occur in the same individual, yet whether distinct protein aggregates aid or inhibit the assembly of heterologous proteins is unclear. In prion disease, different amyloid-like prion aggregate structures, or strains, are thought to be the basis of disparate disease phenotypes in the same species expressing identical prion protein sequences ( 4-7) . Here we focus on the interactions reported to occur when two pre-existing amyloids or two distinct prion strains occur together in the central nervous system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / chemistry*
  • Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / metabolism
  • Prion Diseases / metabolism
  • Protein Binding

Substances

  • Amyloid