Chapter category: Protein
Prion-Prion Interactions
Protein-Based Inheritance
Edited by: Yury O. ChernoffISBN: 978-1-58706-138-7
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Chapter authors:
Irina L. Derkatch and Susan W. Liebman
The term prion has been used to describe self-replicating protein conformations that can convert other protein molecules of the same primary structure into its prion conformation. Several different proteins have now been found to exist as prions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Surprisingly, these heterologous prion proteins have a strong influence on each others’ appearance and propagation, which may result from structural similarity between the prions. Both positive and negative effects of a prion on the de novo appearance of a heterologous prion have been observed in genetic studies. Other examples of reported interactions include mutual or unilateral inhibition and destabilization when two prions are present together in a single cell. In vitro work showing that one purified prion stimulates the conversion of a purified heterologous protein into a prion form, suggests that facilitation of de novo prion formation by heterologous prions in vivo is a result of a direct interaction between the prion proteins (a cross-seeding mechanism) and does not require other cellular components. However, other cellular structures, e.g., the cytoskeleton, may provide a scaffold for these interactions in vivo and chaperones can further facilitate or inhibit this process. Some negative prion-prion interactions may also occur via a direct interaction between the prion proteins. Another explanation is a competition between the prions for cellular factors involved in prion propagation or differential effects of chaperones stimulated by one prion on the heterologous prions.
Irina L. Derkatch
Department of Microbiology, New York University
School of Medicine, New York University Medical Center
Susan W. Liebman
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago
Additional chapters from this book:
Yeast Prions: Evolution of the Prion Concept
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Prions (infectious proteins) analogous to the scrapie agent have been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Podospora anserina based on their special genetic character istics. Each is a prot...
A Short History of Small s: A Prion of the Fungus Podospora Anserina
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Prions are infectious proteins. In fungi, prions correspond to non-Mendelian genetic elements whose mode of inheritance has long eluded explanation. The [Het-s] cytoplasmic genetic element of th...
Prion and Nonprion Amyloids: A Comparison Inspired by the Yeast Sup35 Protein
Vitaly V. Kushnirov, Aleksandra B. Vishnevskaya, Ilya M. Alexandrov and Michael D. Ter-Avanesyan
Yeast prion determinants are related to polymerization of some proteins into amyloid-like fibers. The [PSI+] determinant reflects polymerization of the Sup35 protein. Fragmen- tation of prion pol...
Biological Roles of Prion Domains
Sergey G. Inge-Vechtomov, Galina A. Zhouravleva and Yury O. Chernoff
In vivo amyloid formation is a widespread phenomenon in eukaryotes. Self-perpetuating amyloids provide a basis for the infectious or heritable protein isoforms (prions). At least for some protei...
Preformed Cell Structure and Cell Heredity
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This chapter will first recall the phenomena of “cortical inheritance” observed and genetically demonstrated in Paramecium 40 years ago, and later in other ciliates (Tetrahymena, Oxytricha, Para...
Chaperone Effects on Prion and Nonprion Aggregates
Eugene G. Rikhvanov, Nina V. Romanova and Yury O. Chernoff
Exposure to high temperature or other stresses induces a synthesis of heat shock proteins. Many of these proteins are molecular chaperones, and some of them help cells to cope with heat-induced ...
Prion Stability
Brian S. Cox, Lee Byrne and Mick F. Tuite
The rate of spontaneous change from y- to the y+ condition determined in yeast by states of the Sup35p protein is briefly discussed, together with the conditions necessary for such change to occ...
Prion-Prion Interactions
Irina L. Derkatch and Susan W. Liebman
The term prion has been used to describe self-replicating protein conformations that can convert other protein molecules of the same primary structure into its prion conformation. Several differ...
The Genetic Control of the Formation and Propagation of the [PSI+] Prion of Yeast
Mick F. Tuite and Brian S. Cox
It is over 40 years since it was first reported that the yeast Saccahromyces cerevisiae contains two unusual cytoplasmic ‘genetic’ elements: [PSI+] and [URE3]. Remarkably the underlying determin...
Centriole Inheritance
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Early cell biologists perceived centrosomes to be permanent cellular structures. Centrosomes were observed to reproduce once each cycle and to orchestrate assembly of a transient mitotic apparat...
