title: Cellular prion protein function in copper homeostasis and redox signalling at the synapse.
abstract: The fundamental physiological function of native cellular prion (PrPC) remains unknown. Herein, the most salient observations as regards prion physiology are critically evaluated. These include: (i) the role of PrPC in copper homeostasis, particularly at the pre-synaptic membrane; (ii) involvement of PrPC in neuronal calcium disturbances; and (iii) the neuroprotective properties of PrPC in response to copper and oxidative stress. Ultimately, a tentative hypothesis of basic prion function is derived, namely that PrPC acts as a sensor for copper and/or free radical stimuli, thereby triggering intracellular calcium signals that finally translate into modulation of synaptic transmission and maintenance of neuronal integrity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta, Msida, Germany.
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vassallo
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herms
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018621:PrPC Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018621:PrPC Proteins; D003300:Copper; D002118:Calcium