In situ photodegradation of incorporated polyanion does not alter prion infectivity.

ABSTRACT: Single-stranded polyanions ≥40 bases in length facilitate the formation of hamster scrapie prions in vitro, and polyanions co-localize with PrP(Sc) aggregates in vivo. To test the hypothesis that intact polyanionic molecules might serve as a structural backbone essential for maintaining the infectious conformation(s) of PrP(Sc), we produced synthetic prions using a photocleavable, 100-base oligonucleotide (PC-oligo). In serial Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (sPMCA) reactions using purified PrP(C) substrate, PC-oligo was incorporated into physical complexes with PrP(Sc) molecules that were resistant to benzonase digestion. Exposure of these nuclease-resistant prion complexes to long wave ultraviolet light (315 nm) induced degradation of PC-oligo into 5 base fragments. Light-induced

SUBMITTER: Piro JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3033378 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature