The octarepeat region of hamster PrP (PrP51-91) enhances the formation of microtubule and antagonize Cu(2+)-induced microtubule-disrupting activity.
Prion protein (PrP) is considered to associate with microtubule and its major component, tubulin. In the present study, octarepeat region of PrP (PrP51-91) was expressed in prokaryotic-expressing system. Using GST pull-down assay and co-immunoprecipitation, the molecular interaction between PrP51-91 and tubulin was observed. Our data also demonstrated that PrP51-91 could efficiently stimulate microtubule assembly in vitro, indicating a potential effect of PrP on microtubule dynamics. Moreover, PrP51-91 was confirmed to be able to antagonize Cu(2+)-induced microtubule-disrupting activity in vivo, partially protecting against Cu(2+) intoxication to culture cells and stabilize cellular microtubule structure. The association of the octarepeat region of PrP with tubulin may further provide insight into the biological function of PrP in the neurons.
Li
Xiaoli
X
State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100052, China.
Dong
Chenfang
C
Shi
Song
S
Wang
Guirong
G
Li
Yuan
Y
Wang
Xin
X
Shi
Qi
Q
Tian
Chan
C
Zhou
Ruimin
R
Gao
Chen
C
Dong
Xiaoping
X
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000502:physiology*; D011328:Prions / Q000502:physiology*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism*
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011328:Prions; D014404:Tubulin; C474324:prion protein (59-91); D003300:Copper