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PMID: 3079955 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Scrapie prion proteins are synthesized in neurons.

The American journal of pathology ·Vol. 122 ·No. 1 ·1986-01-00 ·Pages 1-5

Kretzschmar HA, Prusiner SB, Stowring LE, DeArmond SJ

Abstract

Scrapie is a slow degenerative encephalopathy of animals caused by unusual infectious particles termed prions. A cDNA encoding the only apparent component of the prion, a protein designated PrP 27-30, has recently been cloned and sequenced. By measuring mRNA levels using in situ hybridization with the PrP cDNA, the authors found that prion proteins are synthesized almost exclusively within neurons. The levels of PrP mRNA varied among different types of neurons, but did not change during scrapie infection. A cDNA encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was a positive control; GFAP mRNA was confined to astrocytes. Our finding of PrP mRNA in neurons may explain the degeneration and vacuolation that occurs in these cells during scrapie infection.

MeSH Terms
Animals Astrocytes/analysis Brain/microbiology Cerebellum/metabolism,microbiology Cricetinae DNA Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/genetics Hippocampus/metabolism,microbiology Neurons/microbiology Nucleic Acid Hybridization Prions/genetics,metabolism Purkinje Cells/metabolism,microbiology RNA, Messenger/analysis,genetics RNA, Viral/analysis,genetics Scrapie/microbiology Viral Proteins/biosynthesis,genetics
Chemicals
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Prions RNA, Messenger RNA, Viral Viral Proteins DNA
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Kretzschmar H A
Prusiner S B
Stowring L E
DeArmond S J
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Article Info
Journal
The American journal of pathology
Abbr.
Am J Pathol
ISSN
0002-9440
Published
1986-01-00
Pages
1-5
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0370502
PMCID
PMC1888142
Subset
IM
Grants
NIA NIH HHS · AG02132 · United States
NCI NIH HHS · CA1352 · United States
NINDS NIH HHS · NS14069 · United States
External Links
PubMed source PMC Full Text View journal details
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