title: Prion proteins and copper ions. Biological and chemical controversies.
abstract: The Prion protein (PrP(c)) involvement in some neurodegenerative diseases is well assessed although its "normal" biological role is not completely understood. It is known that PrP(C) can bind Cu(II) ions with high specificity but the order of magnitude of the corresponding affinity constant(s) is still highly debated. This perspective is an attempt to collect the current knowledge on these topics and to build up a bridge between the biological and the chemical points of view.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kozlowski
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luczkowski
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Remelli
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D011328:Prions; D003300:Copper