title: Sonication induced intermediate in prion protein conversion.
abstract: We have observed that hamster prion protein (PrP(C)) undergoes conformational changes on exposure to heat or sonication. If a sonication induced new conformer is seeded with a small amount of its abnormal pathogenic isoform (PrP(Sc)) it undergoes a significant conversion to a proteinase-resistant isoform. This suggests the presence of a third stable PrP conformer, which may be intermediate in the conversion of PrP(C) to PrP(Sc).
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Audrius A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zukas
authors.forename: Cathrin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Bruederle
authors.forename: John Mark
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D006224:Cricetinae; D006358:Hot Temperature; D018621:PrPC Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017510:Protein Folding; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012608:Scrapie / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep; D013010:Sonication
chemical_list: D018621:PrPC Proteins; D018620:PrPSc Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms