title: Prion-Like Polymerization in Immunity and Inflammation.
abstract: The innate immune system relies on receptors that sense common signs of infection to trigger a robust host-defense response. Receptors such as RIG-I and NLRP3 activate downstream adaptors mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), respectively, to propagate immune and inflammatory signaling. Recent studies have indicated that both MAVS and ASC form functional prion-like polymers to propagate immune signaling. Here, we summarize the biochemical, genetic, and structural studies that characterize the prion-like behavior of MAVS and ASC in their respective signaling pathways. We then discuss prion-like polymerization as an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of signal transduction in innate immunity in light of the similarity between the NLRP3-ASC, the NLRP3-ASC pathway in mammals, and the NWD2-HET-s pathway in fungi. We conclude by outlining the unique advantages to signaling through functional prions and potential future directions in the field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9148.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9148.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9148.|Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9148.
authors.forename: Zhijian J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D058105:Polymerization; D011328:Prions / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D011328:Prions