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Updated: May 27, 2026

Interview: Protein Folding and Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 16, 2008
Prion protein at the crossroads of physiology and disease
Emiliano Biasini1, Jessie A Turnbaugh, Ursula Unterberger
1Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Abstract:
The presence of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) on the cell surface is critical for the neurotoxicity of prions. Although several biological activities have been attributed to PrP(C), a definitive demonstration of its physiological function remains elusive. In this review, we discuss some of the proposed functions of PrP(C), focusing on recently suggested roles in cell adhesion, regulation of ionic currents at the cell membrane and neuroprotection. We also discuss recent evidence supporting the idea that PrP(C) may function as a receptor for soluble oligomers of the amyloid β peptide and possibly other toxic protein aggregates. These data suggest surprising new connections between the physiological function of PrP(C) and its role in neurodegenerative diseases beyond those caused by prions.
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