The long term objective of this research is to understand the molecular mechanism underlying propagation of transmissible neurodegenerative disorders known as spongiform encephalopathies or prion diseases. We address this tissue within the context of the 'protein-only' hypothesis which postulates that the key event in the pathogenic process is the conversion of the cellular prion protein, PrP/c, to a conformationally altered, protease-resistant form, PrP/res. The major goal of this project is to provide comprehensive characterization of the biophysical and conformation properties of the recombinant prion protein in solution and in a membrane environment, and to determine how these properties are affected by the effect of pathogenic mutations on the thermodynamic stability and the folding pathway on the recombinant stability and the folding pathway on the recombinant human prion protein; (2) to determine the effect of pathogenic mutations on the three dimensional structure of the recombinant human prion protein; (3) To determine the effect of pathogenic mutations on the aggregation properties and the efficiency of cell-free conversion of the recombinant prion protein; (4) To characterize the effect of a membrane environment on the biophysical properties of prion protein and familial mutants thereof. The experimental design of this project constitutes a combination of biophysical, spectroscopic and biochemical approaches. Recombinant prion protein variants containing mutations corresponding to hereditary forms of prion disease will be expressed in E. coli. The conformational properties, thermodynamic stability and the folding pathway of these proteins in solution and a membrane environment will be studied using spectroscopic techniques (circular dichroism, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy), differential mutants will be characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, Congo red binding assay, electron microscopy, and the cell-free conversion assay.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS038604-04
Application #
6540085
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-3 (01))
Program Officer
Nunn, Michael
Project Start
1999-04-01
Project End
2004-03-31
Budget Start
2002-04-01
Budget End
2003-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$275,789
Indirect Cost
Name
Case Western Reserve University
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
077758407
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44106
Kong, Qingzhong; Mills, Jeffrey L; Kundu, Bishwajit et al. (2013) Thermodynamic stabilization of the folded domain of prion protein inhibits prion infection in vivo. Cell Rep 4:248-54
Helmus, Jonathan J; Surewicz, Krystyna; Apostol, Marcin I et al. (2011) Intermolecular alignment in Y145Stop human prion protein amyloid fibrils probed by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. J Am Chem Soc 133:13934-7
Surewicz, Witold K; Apostol, Marcin I (2011) Prion protein and its conformational conversion: a structural perspective. Top Curr Chem 305:135-67
Smirnovas, Vytautas; Baron, Gerald S; Offerdahl, Danielle K et al. (2011) Structural organization of brain-derived mammalian prions examined by hydrogen-deuterium exchange. Nat Struct Mol Biol 18:504-6
Jones, Eric M; Wu, Bo; Surewicz, Krystyna et al. (2011) Structural polymorphism in amyloids: new insights from studies with Y145Stop prion protein fibrils. J Biol Chem 286:42777-84
Gambetti, Pierluigi; Cali, Ignazio; Notari, Silvio et al. (2011) Molecular biology and pathology of prion strains in sporadic human prion diseases. Acta Neuropathol 121:79-90
Chen, Shugui; Yadav, Satya P; Surewicz, Witold K (2010) Interaction between human prion protein and amyloid-beta (Abeta) oligomers: role OF N-terminal residues. J Biol Chem 285:26377-83
Helmus, Jonathan J; Surewicz, Krystyna; Surewicz, Witold K et al. (2010) Conformational flexibility of Y145Stop human prion protein amyloid fibrils probed by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. J Am Chem Soc 132:2393-403
Cobb, Nathan J; Surewicz, Witold K (2009) Prion diseases and their biochemical mechanisms. Biochemistry 48:2574-85
Ganchev, Dragomir N; Cobb, Nathan J; Surewicz, Krystyna et al. (2008) Nanomechanical properties of human prion protein amyloid as probed by force spectroscopy. Biophys J 95:2909-15

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