Structural and cellular properties of human prion protein oligomers.

ABSTRACT: The misfolding of the human prion protein (hPrP) and the consequent self-assembly into insoluble amyloid fibrils are associated with neurodegenerative diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). In this study, we investigated the stability and aggregation behaviour of the folded C-terminal domain of hPrP (hPrP^C_125-230) and observed that, under specific experimental conditions, this region of the protein rapidly aggregates into round-shaped oligomers. The isolated oligomers exhibited hallmarks properties of amyloid aggregates, including a β-sheet-rich structure, enhanced hydrophobic exposure, and Thioflavin T (ThT)-induced fluorescence. When incubated with neural precursor cells these hPrP oligomers, unlike monomeric species, induced mitochondri

SUBMITTER: Emendato A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12657908 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature