title: In vivo generation of neurotoxic prion protein: role for hsp70 in accumulation of misfolded isoforms.
abstract: Prion diseases are incurable neurodegenerative disorders in which the normal cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) converts into a misfolded isoform (PrP(Sc)) with unique biochemical and structural properties that correlate with disease. In humans, prion disorders, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, present typically with a sporadic origin, where unknown mechanisms lead to the spontaneous misfolding and deposition of wild type PrP. To shed light on how wild-type PrP undergoes conformational changes and which are the cellular components involved in this process, we analyzed the dynamics of wild-type PrP from hamster in transgenic flies. In young flies, PrP demonstrates properties of the benign PrP(C); in older flies, PrP misfolds, acquires biochemical and structural properties of PrP(Sc), and induces spongiform degeneration of brain neurons. Aged flies accumulate insoluble PrP that resists high concentrations of denaturing agents and contains PrP(Sc)-specific conformational epitopes. In contrast to PrP(Sc) from mammals, PrP is proteinase-sensitive in flies. Thus, wild-type PrP rapidly converts in vivo into a neurotoxic, protease-sensitive isoform distinct from prototypical PrP(Sc). Next, we investigated the role of molecular chaperones in PrP misfolding in vivo. Remarkably, Hsp70 prevents the accumulation of PrP(Sc)-like conformers and protects against PrP-dependent neurodegeneration. This protective activity involves the direct interaction between Hsp70 and PrP, which may occur in active membrane microdomains such as lipid rafts, where we detected Hsp70. These results highlight the ability of wild-type PrP to spontaneously convert in vivo into a protease-sensitive isoform that is neurotoxic, supporting the idea that protease-resistant PrP(Sc) is not required for pathology. Moreover, we identify a new role for Hsp70 in the accumulation of misfolded PrP. Overall, we provide new insight into the mechanisms of spontaneous accumulation of neurotoxic PrP and uncover the potential therapeutic role of Hsp70 in treating these devastating disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. pefernan@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Funez
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casas-Tinto
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Melisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez-Velazquez
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Morales-Garza
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cepeda-Nieto
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castilla
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Diego E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Rincon-Limas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D006224:Cricetinae; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011328:Prions; D017510:Protein Folding; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018620:PrPSc Proteins; D011328:Prions; D020033:Protein Isoforms