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Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Investigating the Spreading and Toxicity of Prion-like Proteins Using the Metazoan Model Organism C. elegans
Published on: January 8, 2015
Protective Effects of a Neurohypophyseal Hormone Analogue on Prion Aggregation, Cellular Internalization, and
Nikita Admane1, Ankit Srivastava2, Salma Jamal1
1School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India - 110067.
Abstract:
Herein, we report novel neuroprotective activity of the neurohypophyseal hormone analogue desmopressin (DDAVP) against toxic conformations of human prion protein. Systematic analysis using biophysical techniques in conjunction with surface plasmon resonance, high-end microscopy, conformational antibodies, and cell-based assays demonstrated DDAVP's specific binding and potent antiaggregating effects on prion protein (rPrP). In addition to subjugating conformational conversion of rPrP into oligomeric forms, DDAVP also exhibits potent fibril modulatory effects. It eventually ameliorated neuronal toxicity of rPrP oligomers by significantly reducing their cellular internalization. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that DDAVP prevents β-sheet transitions in the N-terminal amyloidogenic region of prion and induces antagonistic mobilities in its α2-α3 and β2-α2 loop regions. Collectively, our data proposes DDAVP as a new structural motif for rational drug discovery against prion diseases.
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