title: [Influence of ultrasonic processing on the aggregation of PrP-Sc in the brain extracts of the scrapie-infected hamsters].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the influence ultrasonic processing on the aggregation of PrP(Sc) in the brain extracts prepared from the scrapie-infected hamsters, and to seek for the way to prepare lower molecular PrP(Sc) polymer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The extracts of infected brains were prepared with a lysis solution, and treated with ultrasonics at various conditions during the different phases. The distribution and aggregation state of PrP(Sc) were analyzed by proteinase K treated. Western blot, and afterwards, quantitatively calculated with a commercially supplied software Image Totaltech.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amount of PrP(Sc) in the supernatant of brain homogenates was 1.29-to 1.58-fold increased with appropriate sonication (15 s for 30 times). At the same conditions of ultrasound, the PrP amount in the supernatant prepared from the scrapie-infected hamster brain was significantly increased, whereas that prepared from healthy animal used as normal control showed little change. Comparative analyses of PrP(Sc) pellets prepared by high-speed centrifugation revealed that about 90% PrP(Sc) released into supernatant after ultrasound processing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Appropriate sonication of homogenate of scrapie-infected brain increases the extracted amount of PrP(Sc), being favorable to laboratory diagnosis. Larger molecular PrP(Sc) aggregates can be crashed by ultrasonic processing, engendering lower molecular PrP(Sc) polymers.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing 100052, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-bo
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jian-mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Bao-yun
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu-kang
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Xiao-ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D006224:Cricetinae; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012608:Scrapie / Q000378:metabolism*; D013010:Sonication
chemical_list: D018620:PrPSc Proteins