The protein-only theory and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: the prions and the propagons.
The yeast prions represent a very attractive and tractable model for investigating the prion world. The more extensively studied yeast prion [PSI] leads to a propagation model that links auto-aggregation in amyloid formation and inactivation of the cellular function of the yeast 'prion protein' Sup35p. The other prion model, [URE3], appears to be similar in some genetic and biochemical properties. The characterisation of both Sup35p and Ure2p, the two 'prion proteins', mainly focusing on their aggregation properties, support this model. However, some important differences still exist that should be examined carefully. In particular, we have shown that Ure2p aggregation in vivo (monitored by fluorescence of Ure2-GFP fusion) does not necessarily give rise to a [URE3] phenotype. Comparisons of these two systems as well as more recent experiments are discussed in this review.
Fernandez-Bellot
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Institut de Biochimie et Génétique Cellulaires, Bordeaux, France.
Cullin
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D000818:Animals; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D010454:Peptide Termination Factors; D010641:Phenotype; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D010454:Peptide Termination Factors; D011328:Prions; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C068068:SUP35 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C070972:HsP104 protein, S cerevisiae; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; C067020:URE2 protein, S cerevisiae