title: Neurotoxicity of prion peptides on cultured cerebellar neurons.
abstract: Prion peptide (PrP) neurotoxicity has been modelled in vitro by using synthetic peptides derived from the PrP(C) sequence. The major region of neurotoxicity has been localized to the hydrophobic domain located in the middle of the PrP sequence. The neurotoxicity assays are typically performed on cultured mouse cerebellar neurons derived from neonatal pups, and viability can be monitored by a variety of assays, including MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium); MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt) lactate dehydrogenase release; and apoptotic assays. These neurotoxicity studies have been useful in identifying cofactors, such as PrP(C) and metals as modulators of PrP peptide-mediated neurotoxicity. Given the biosafety issues associated with handling and purifying infectious prions, the use of synthetic peptides that display a dependence upon PrP(C) expression for toxicity, as per the PrP(Sc) agent for infectivity, supports the relevance of using these synthetic peptides for understanding PrP-mediated neurotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Giuseppe D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Ciccotosto
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cappai
authors.forename: Anthony R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D010455:Peptides / Q000633:toxicity*; D011328:Prions / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D010455:Peptides; D011328:Prions; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase