In other cases, a change in the PrP gene sequence (mutation) causes PrP to fold incorrectly. All mammals appear to have prion protein genes and the gene sequences are similar, but not identical ...

“In the case of mammalian prions, the sequences of prion proteins [across species] are actually much more closely related than they are between these two yeast species,” remarks Tessier.

Dr. Yee's group published the first crystal structure of the human prion protein, whose conformational transformation to a pathogenic form is believed to be important in an intriguing family of ...

Out of the 180 million protein sequences in the Protein database, only 170,000 have had their structures identified. Technologies like the cryo-electron microscope make the process of mapping ...

“RNA-binding proteins, and proteins with prion-like domains in general, are a good place to start the search.” People with MSP suffer from a steady loss of brain, muscle, and bone tissue, as well as ...

In TSEs the normal cellular prion protein (PrP C) is transformed into an infectious disease-associated isoform, PrP Sc — a potential target for immunotherapy. In the March 6 Nature, Anthony R. White ...