NR AFDT
AU Harris,D.A.
TI Cell biological studies of the prion protein
QU Current Issues in Molecular Biology 1999; 1(1-2): 65-75
PT journal article; review; review, tutorial
AB Studying PrPc and PrPsc in cell culture systems is advantageous because such systems contain all the organelles, membranes, and molecular cofactors that are likely to play an important role in the biology of the proteins. Using cultured cells expressing PrPc, we have discovered that this isoform constitutively cycles between the cell surface and an endocytic compartment, a process that is mediated by clathrin-coated pits and a putative PrPc receptor. We have also constructed stably transfected lines of CHO cells that express PrP molecules carrying mutations that are associated with familial prion diseases. The mutant PrP molecules in these cells are spontaneously converted to the PrPsc state, a phenomenon which has allowed us to analyze several key features of prion formation.
ZR 39
MH Animal; Cells, Cultured; Endocytosis/*physiology; Glycosylation; Human; Mutation; PrPc Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism; PrPsc Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism; Prion Diseases/*metabolism; Protein Transport/physiology; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
AD Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
SP englisch
PO England