Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and the 'rogue share-holder protein' hypothesis.
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies(TSEs) or prion diseases are a closely related group of diseases, whose exact etiology is unknown, but is generally accepted to be related to protease-resistant prion protein PrP. PrPc is normally present in cells and its disease counterpart PrPsc is postulated to occur due to a rare stochastic change. The selfish gene hypothesis is a generally well accepted concept in evolutionary biology. Genes can be likened to the board of a company and proteins can be likened to share-holders. Here it is being hypothesized that a rogue share-holder protein's 'selfish' replicatory tendency might be the explanation for TSEs. The present hypothesis predicts existence of other examples of rogue share-holder protein and also predicts that examples would be found in lower life-forms as well.
Sastry
P S
PS
Leukaemia/Myeloma Units, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D011328:Prions