title: Prions and prion-like proteins.
abstract: Prions are self-replicating protein aggregates and are the primary causative factor in a number of neurological diseases in mammals. The prion protein (PrP) undergoes a conformational transformation leading to aggregation into an infectious cellular pathogen. Prion-like protein spreading and transmission of aggregates between cells have also been demonstrated for other proteins associated with Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. This protein-only phenomenon may therefore have broader implications in neurodegenerative disorders. The minireviews in this thematic series highlight the recent advances in prion biology and the roles these unique proteins play in disease.
authors.affiliation: From the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8, Canada pfraser@asbmb.org.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000209:etiology; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000635:transmission; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C054369:MAPT protein, human; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D011328:Prions; D016875:tau Proteins
keywords: Alzheimer Disease; Neurodegenerative Disease; Prion; Protein Aggregation; Protein Misfolding