Molecular cloning and complete sequence of prion protein cDNA from mouse brain infected with the scrapie agent.

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.83.17.6372
• Publication Date: 2006-05-31T10:05:57Z
• Authors: C Locht; B Chesebro; R Race; J M Keith
• Keywords: Kuru; Neurofilament; Homology

The prion protein (PrP) is a scrapie-associated fibril that accumulates in the brains of hamsters and mice infected with scrapie agent, also persons affected kuru or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. It has been previously proposed PrP could be either primary transmissible agent secondary component involved pathogenesis scrapie. At present, second possibility seems more likely, for PrP-specific mRNA present both uninfected brains. We have isolated sequenced complete cDNA from mouse Comparison hamster reveals high homology amino acid sequence presence conserved octapeptide repeated four times, whose function unknown at present. Structural features are discussed compared other proteins. Except its PrP, no significant to any known sequence, including neurofilaments, neuropeptides, amyloid proteins Alzheimer Some however, similar structures found aggregating proteins, such as wheat glutenin, keratin, collagen.