A short purification process for quantitative isolation of PrPSc from naturally occurring and experimental transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
BACKGROUND
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are neurodegenerative diseases affecting both humans and animals. They are associated with post-translational conversion of the normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) into a heat- and protease-resistant abnormal isoform (PrPSc). Detection of PrPSc in individuals is widely utilized for the diagnosis of prion diseases.


METHODS
TSE brain tissue samples have been processed in order to quantitatively isolate PrPSc. The protocol includes an initial homogenization, digestion with proteinase K and salt precipitation.


RESULTS
Here we show that over 97 percent of the PrPSc present can be precipitated from infected brain material using this simple salting-out procedure for proteins. No chemically harsh conditions are used during the process in order to conserve the native quality of the isolated protein.


CONCLUSIONS
The resulting PrPSc-enriched preparation should provide a suitable substrate for analyzing the structure of the prion agent and for scavenging for other molecules with which it may associate. In comparison with most methods that exist today, the one described in this study is rapid, cost-effective and does not demand expensive laboratory equipment.
Polymenidou
Magdalini
M
Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical sciences School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. magdalini.polymenidou@pty.usz.ch
Verghese-Nikolakaki
Susan
S
Groschup
Martin
M
Chaplin
Melanie J
MJ
Stack
Mick J
MJ
Plaitakis
Andreas
A
Sklaviadis
Theodoros
T
D000818:Animals; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016622:Silver Staining; D013045:Species Specificity
D018620:PrPSc Proteins