The prion or the related Shadoo protein is required for early mouse embryogenesis.
The prion protein PrP has a key role in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies but its biological function remains largely unknown. Recently, a related protein, Shadoo, was discovered. Its biological properties and brain distribution partially overlap that of PrP. We report that the Shadoo-encoding gene knockdown in PrP-knockout mouse embryos results in a lethal phenotype, occurring between E8 and E11, not observed on the wild-type genetic background. It reveals that these two proteins play a shared, crucial role in mammalian embryogenesis, explaining the lack of severe phenotype in PrP-knockout mammals, an appreciable step towards deciphering the biological role of this protein family.
Young
Rachel
R
INRA-UMR1313, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Passet
Bruno
B
Vilotte
Marthe
M
Cribiu
Edmond P
EP
Béringue
Vincent
V
Le Provost
Fabienne
F
Laude
Hubert
H
Vilotte
Jean-Luc
JL
D000818:Animals; D015536:Down-Regulation; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D016086:Lentivirus; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011328:Prions; C523856:Sprn protein, mouse