Organic polyanions act as complexants of prion protein in soil.
The persistence of prions, the causative agents of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, in soil constitutes an environmental concern and substantial challenge. Experiments and theoretical modeling indicate that a particular class of natural polyanions diffused in soils and waters, generally referred to as humic substances (HSs), can participate in the adsorption of prions in soil in a non-specific way, mostly driven by electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bond networks among humic acid molecules and exposed polar protein residues. Adsorption of HSs on clay surface strongly raises the adsorption capacity vs proteins suggesting new experiments in order to verify if this raises or lowers the prion infectivity.
Polano
Maurizio
M
SISSA, Via Beirut 2-4, I-34014 Trieste, Italy.
Anselmi
Claudio
C
Leita
Liviana
L
Negro
Alessandro
A
De Nobili
Maria
M
D000327:Adsorption; D000838:Anions; D001665:Binding Sites; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*
D000838:Anions; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011328:Prions; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants