Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Investigating the Spreading and Toxicity of Prion-like Proteins Using the Metazoan Model Organism C. elegans
Published on: January 8, 2015
Evidence that the 127-164 region of prion proteins has two equi-energetic conformations with beta or alpha features
1Information Génétique et Structurale, CNRS-UMR 1889, 13402 Marseille, France. philippe@igs.cnrs-mrs.fr
Abstract:
Prion proteins cause neurodegenerative illnesses in humans and animals. The diseases are associated with a topological change from a predominantly alpha (PrP(C)) to beta-sheet (PrP(Sc)) structure. Many studies have focused on the minimum sequence requirements and key events for developing or transmitting disease. Here, we report on the application of molecular modeling studies to predict the lowest-energy conformations for five fragments in solution at pH 7. We show that PrP(143-158) adopts a helix, the model PrP(106-126), PrP(142-167), and PrP(143-178) peptides have a clear preference for a variety of beta-sheet structures, whereas PrP(127-164) has two iso-energetic conformations with all beta or alphabeta native-like structures. Such a finding for PrP(127-164), which explains a large body of experimental data, including the location of all mutations causing prion diseases, may have important implications for triggering or propagating the topological change.
More Related Videos
09:43Purification and Refolding to Amyloid Fibrils of (His)6-tagged Recombinant Shadoo Protein Expressed as Inclusion Bodies in E. coli
Published on: December 19, 2015
14:55Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Published on: September 17, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Protein Organization
Protein Folding
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
Protein Organization
The primary structure of a protein is its amino acid sequence.
Protein Folding
Protein Structure Is Critical to Its Biological Function
Proteins perform a wide range of biological functions such as catalyzing chemical reactions, providing...