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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
08:12
High-throughput Screening for Protein-based Inheritance in S. cerevisiae
Published on: August 8, 2017
Physiological role of the cellular prion protein
Viviana Zomosa-Signoret1, Jacques-Damien Arnaud, Pascaline Fontes
1CPBS, UMR 5236, Université Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier Cedex, France.
Veterinary Research
|December 13, 2007
Summary
The normal function of the prion protein (PrP) is unclear, but studies show its cellular isoform (PrP(C)) is vital for T cell activation, stem cell renewal, and neuronal function, including memory.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- The prion protein (PrP) is central to prion diseases, but its physiological role is not fully understood.
- The cellular isoform (PrP(C)) is abundant in the brain and expressed in various non-neuronal tissues.
- Understanding PrP(C) function is crucial for deciphering its role in health and disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the normal cellular functions of the prion protein (PrP(C)).
- To investigate PrP(C) involvement in immune cell activation and stem cell renewal.
- To explore PrP(C) roles in neuronal physiology, including synaptic transmission and memory.
Main Methods:
- Cell biological studies examining PrP(C) processing, trafficking, and localization.
- Analysis of PrP knockout (PrP(-/-)) mice to assess physiological alterations.
- Investigating the effects of PrP(C) modulation on T cell activation and signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- PrP(C) cycles between the plasma membrane and endosomes, potentially involved in copper ion trafficking.
- PrP(C) up-regulation in T cells suggests a role in immune responses and is essential for hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal.
- PrP(-/-) mice exhibit subtle neurological deficits, including impaired synaptic transmission and memory, indicating neuronal roles for PrP(C).
Conclusions:
- PrP(C) plays multifaceted roles in cellular trafficking, immune function, stem cell biology, and neuronal physiology.
- Further research is needed to fully define PrP(C)'s contribution to oxidative stress homeostasis and long-term memory.
- PrP(C) is a critical protein with diverse functions extending beyond its known role in prion pathogenesis.
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