Structural basis of prevention by RNA aptamer of transformation of prion protein and its interaction with Ab

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25291013
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Structural biochemistry
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Katahira Masato 京都大学, エネルギー理工学研究所, 教授 (70211844)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): NAGATA Takashi 京都大学, エネルギー理工学研究所, 准教授 (10415250) ; MASHIMA Tsukasa 京都大学, エネルギー理工学研究所, 助教 (20707426)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: Ab蛋白質 / プリオン蛋白質 / RNAアプタマー / 機能性核酸 / NMR

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The Ab protein, that is supposed to be responsible for the Alzheimer's disease, forms the fibril. Recently it was proposed that the prion protein serves as a receptor of the Ab protein. This time, we studied the effect of the prion protein and the RNA aptamer against the prion protein on fibril formation of the Ab protein. First, it was confirmed that the Ab protein forms the fibril. Secondary, it was revealed that the prion protein interferes with the fibril formation of the Ab protein. Thirdly, it was demonstrated that the RNA aptamer against the prion protein cancels the interfering effect of the prion protein and restores the fibril formation of the Ab protein. Additionally, the techniques developed to study the structure and interactions of nucleic acids such as the RNA aptamer were applied to other nucleic acids. Then, the correlation between the unique structure of the nucleic acids and their function were elucidated.

Free Research Field

構造生命科学