From Kuru to Alzheimer: A personal outlook.

Protein Science : a Publication of the Protein Society
Maurizio Brunori

Abstract

Seventy years ago, we learned from Chris Anfinsen that the stereochemical code necessary to fold a protein is embedded into its amino acid sequence. In water, protein morphogenesis is a spontaneous reversible process leading from an ensemble of disordered structures to the ordered functionally competent protein; conforming to Aristotle's definition of substance, the synolon of matter and form. The overall process of folding is generally consistent with a two state transition between the native and the denatured protein: not only the denatured state is an ensemble of several structures, but also the native protein populates distinct functionally relevant conformational (sub)states. This two-state view should be revised, given that any globular protein can populate a peculiar third state called amyloid, characterized by an overall architecture that at variance with the native state, is by-and-large independent of the primary structure. In a nut shell, we should accept that beside the folded and unfolded states, any protein can populate a third state called amyloid which gained center stage being the hallmark of incurable neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases as well as others. These fatal disea...Continue Reading

References

Dec 11, 1991·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·L G GoldfarbD C Gajdusek
Aug 22, 1991·Nature·C Weissmann
Oct 29, 1991·Biochemistry·S E Jackson, A R Fersht
Apr 1, 1985·Cell·B OeschL E Hood
Aug 1, 1988·Trends in Biochemical Sciences·M BrunoriM Pocchiari
Apr 1, 1985·Nature·M Brunori, B Talbot
Feb 3, 1966·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·T AlperM C Clarke
Mar 8, 1984·The New England Journal of Medicine·S B Prusiner
Dec 24, 1982·Science·D C BoltonS B Prusiner
Nov 21, 1995·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·A R Fersht
Apr 1, 1995·Current Biology : CB·T E Creighton
Mar 1, 1995·FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·S S Sisodia, D L Price
Dec 1, 1993·Annals of Neurology·M PocchiariY G Xi
Oct 25, 1994·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·A R FershtD E Otzen
Jan 1, 1994·Trends in Biochemical Sciences·C M DobsonS E Radford
Apr 1, 1996·Current Opinion in Structural Biology·M Levitt
Dec 1, 1996·Trends in Biochemical Sciences·S B Prusiner
Oct 10, 1997·Science·S B Prusiner
Sep 30, 1998·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·R RiekK Wüthrich
Apr 24, 1999·Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology·E Storey, R Cappai
May 14, 1999·Trends in Biochemical Sciences·M Brunori
Jul 2, 1999·Journal of Sleep Research·P CortelliE Lugaresi
Jan 4, 2001·Neuroscience Letters·K S McNaught, P Jenner
Nov 21, 2001·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·D W Cleveland, J D Rothstein
Aug 15, 2003·Nature·Fabrizio ChitiChristopher M Dobson
Sep 15, 1961·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·C B ANFINSENF H WHITE
Jul 1, 2005·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Mikael J LindbergMikael Oliveberg
Jun 8, 2006·Annual Review of Biochemistry·Fabrizio Chiti, Christopher M Dobson
Jul 6, 2006·Nature Cell Biology·Matthew N J Seaman
Feb 27, 2007·Protein Science : a Publication of the Protein Society·Mallela M G Krishna, S Walter Englander
Jun 27, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Lucia BanciJulian P Whitelegge

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Annual Review of Biochemistry
David S Eisenberg, Michael R Sawaya
Protein Science : a Publication of the Protein Society
Sian-Yang Ow, Dave E Dunstan
Journal of Internal Medicine
L O TjernbergP Westermark
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved