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Prions of fungi: inherited structures and biological roles

Reed B Wickner1, Herman K Edskes, Frank Shewmaker

  • 1Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0830, USA. wickner@helix.nih.gov

Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|July 17, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Prions are infectious proteins lacking nucleic acids. This study investigates fungal prions, their roles, structures, and the cellular machinery involved in their propagation.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Protein science
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Prions are infectious proteins defined by their ability to propagate without genetic material.
  • Fungal prions represent a unique class of prions, distinct from their mammalian counterparts.
  • Understanding prion biology is crucial for insights into protein misfolding diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the diverse scope of the prion phenomenon in fungi.
  • To investigate the biological and evolutionary significance of prions.
  • To elucidate the structural underpinnings of amyloid prions and their propagation mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing literature on fungal prions.
  • Analysis of the structural properties of self-propagating amyloid prions.
  • Examination of the role of chaperones and cellular components in prion formation.

Main Results:

  • Identification of six distinct fungal prions, including four amyloid forms and two activating enzymes.
  • Characterization of the structural basis for prion self-propagation.
  • Highlighting the critical involvement of protein chaperones in prion generation and maintenance.

Conclusions:

  • Fungal prions offer a tractable model for studying prion biology.
  • Prions play significant roles in fungal adaptation and evolution.
  • Cellular factors, particularly chaperones, are essential for prion propagation and function.

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