Measuring prion propagation in single bacteria elucidates mechanism of loss

Krista Jager1, Maria Teresa Orozco-Hidalgo1, Benjamin Lennart Springstein2

  • 1Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Insights

Bacterial prions propagate in two distinct modes, with loss occurring via random aggregate partitioning during cell division. This study reveals conserved prion propagation mechanisms across life.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Microbiology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Prions are self-propagating protein aggregates with implications in disease and inheritance.
  • Bacterial prions are known to propagate for many cell divisions but can be lost.
  • The mechanism of prion loss in bacteria remains largely unknown.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial prion propagation exhibits unique prokaryotic challenges and conserved fundamental characteristics across life.
  • Random partitioning of aggregates is the primary mechanism for prion loss in bacteria.
  • The study provides a comprehensive understanding of bacterial prion dynamics and their broader implications.