Non-stractural region of prion protein amino-terminus involved in prion biological characteristics?

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K06010
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
• Research Institution: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
• Principal Investigator: Matsuura Yuichi 国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構, 動物衛生研究部門, 上級研究員 (60398089)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: プリオン / 牛海綿状脳症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There are three types of bovine spongiform encephalopathy prions with different biological characteristics. For the purpose of revealing regions related to the characteristics, these prions were subjected to experimental infection in transgenic mice expressing PrPC lacking the non-structural region of the amino terminus. These mice were infected with some prions, but not with others. However, it was shown that the lacking region did not affect the structural conversion and retention of biological properties by prions. Therefore, the conversion process can lead to the determination of prion characteristics.

Free Research Field

獣医微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで、異常化したプリオン蛋白質の立体構造がプリオン性状の決定に関わると考えられている。しかし、本研究で示したプリオン生成過程によるプリオン性状の差異・保持への関与はプリオン病の学術的に新たな視点を提供する。また、未だに有効な治療法のないヒトのプリオン病の治療薬開発にも新たな視点を提供することが期待される。