title: [Prion phenomenon in medicine and biology].
abstract: The data obtained suggest that the fatal changes in brain tissue associated with the prion diseases, are initiated by a conformational rearrangement of constitutively expressed cellular protein PrP. Possible mechanisms of such a conversion of this protein are discussed. Existence of the proteins with the prion properties in low eukaryotes may determine the unusual mechanisms of the "protein" inheritance. A new experimental model for studying the proteins with the prion properties in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is described.
authors.affiliation: Cardiological Research-Industrial Complex, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ter-Avanesian
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Shitikova
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Zavalishin
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Smirnov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D011328:Prions