title: Fragmentation and dimerization of copper-loaded prion protein by copper-catalysed oxidation.
abstract: Prion protein consists of an N-terminal domain containing a series of octapeptide repeats with the consensus sequence PHGGGWGQ and a C-terminal domain composed of three alpha-helices and two short beta-strands. Several studies have shown that the N-terminal domain binds five Cu2+ ions. In the present study, we have investigated copper-catalysed oxidation of a recombinant mouse prion protein, PrP23-231. The copper-loaded PrP23-231 was found to be carbonylated by incubation with dopamine. Besides the formation of carbonyls, a cross-linked species with the dimeric size and C-terminally truncated species were generated. These reactions were retarded in the presence of Cu+- and Cu2+-specific copper chelators, catalase, and SOD (superoxide dismutase), but not in the presence of various bivalent metal ions. Together, these results indicate that the copper bound to prion protein undergoes catalytic cycling in the presence of catecholamines and causes the oxidation of the protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan. nshirais@wakayama-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inai
authors.forename: Wenxiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Morimitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishikimi
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000494:pharmacology; D002384:Catalysis; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D019281:Dimerization; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000187:drug effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D011328:Prions; C428437:prion protein (23-231); D013481:Superoxides; D003300:Copper; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D004298:Dopamine