Prions: En route from structural models to structures

Prion. 2010 Apr-Jun;4(2):72-9. doi: 10.4161/pri.4.2.11963. Epub 2010 Apr 5.

Abstract

The prion hypothesis states that the prion and non-prion form of a protein differ only in their 3D conformation and that different strains of a prion differ by their 3D structure. Recent technical developments have enabled solid-state NMR to address the atomic-resolution structures of full-length prions, and a first comparative study of two of them, HET-s and Ure2p, in fibrillar form, has recently appeared as a pair of companion papers. Interestingly, the two structures are rather different: HET-s features an exceedingly well-ordered prion domain and a partially disordered globular domain. Ure2p in contrast features a very well ordered globular domain with a conserved fold, and-most probably-a partially ordered prion domain. For HET-s, the structure of the prion domain is characterized at atomic-resolution. For Ure2p, structure determination is under way, but the highly resolved spectra clearly show that information at atomic resolution should be achievable.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular / methods
  • Prions / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Prions