title: A cellular gene encodes scrapie PrP 27-30 protein.
abstract: A clone encoding PrP 27-30, the major protein in purified preparations of scrapie agent, was selected from a scrapie-infected hamster brain cDNA library by oligonucleotide probes corresponding to the N terminus of the protein. Southern blotting with PrP cDNA revealed a single gene with the same restriction patterns in normal and scrapie-infected brain DNA. A single PrP-related gene was also detected in murine and human DNA. PrP-related mRNA was found at similar levels in normal and scrapie-infected hamster brain, as well as in many other normal tissues. Using antisera against PrP 27-30, a PrP-related protein was detected in crude extracts of infected brain and to a lesser extent in extracts of normal brain. Proteinase K digestion yielded PrP 27-30 in infected brain extract, but completely degraded the PrP-related protein in normal brain extract. No PrP-related nucleic acids were found in purified preparations of scrapie prions, indicating that PrP 27-30 is not encoded by a nucleic acid carried within the infectious particles.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oesch
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Westaway
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wälchli
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: McKinley
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aebersold
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tempst
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Teplow
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Hood
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006224:Cricetinae; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D011061:Poly A / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018622:PrP 27-30 Protein; D011328:Prions; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012608:Scrapie / Q000235:genetics*; D012756:Sheep; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D009696:Nucleic Acids; D011328:Prions; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014764:Viral Proteins; D018622:PrP 27-30 Protein; D011061:Poly A; D004247:DNA