Prions: infectious proteins with genetic properties.
The data on prions--proteinaceous infectious agents--are briefly summarized. Prions cause several incurable neurodegenerative diseases in mammals, while in lower eukaryotes the prion properties of proteins may be responsible for the inheritance of some phenotypic traits. The novel experimental models for finding and studying proteins with prion properties based on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the fungus Podospora anserina are described. The significance of the prion phenomenon for biology and medicine is discussed.
Ter-Avanesyan
M D
MD
Institute of Experimental Cardiology, Cardiology Research Center, Moscow, 121552, Russia. ter@cardio.ru.
Kushnirov
V V
VV
D000682:Amyloid / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D010454:Peptide Termination Factors; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
D000682:Amyloid; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C083891:HET-S protein, Podospora anserina; D010454:Peptide Termination Factors; D011328:Prions; C068068:SUP35 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; C067020:URE2 protein, S cerevisiae