Prion Genetics: New Rules for a New Kind of Gene

Wickner, Reed B.; Edskes, Herman K.; Ross, Eric D.; Pierce, Michael M.; Baxa, Ulrich; Brachmann, Andreas und Shewmaker, Frank (Dezember 2004): Prion Genetics: New Rules for a New Kind of Gene. In: Annual Review of Genetics, Bd. 38: S. 681-707

Abstract

Just as nucleic acids can carry out enzymatic reactions, proteins can be genes. These heritable infectious proteins (prions) follow unique genetic rules that enable their identification: reversible curing, inducible "spontaneous generation," and phenotype surprises. Most prions are based on self-propagating amyloids, depend heavily on chaperones, show strain phenomena and, like other infectious elements, show species barriers to transmission. A recently identified prion is based on obligatory self-activation of an enzyme in trans. Although prions can be detrimental, they may also be beneficial to their hosts.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Biologie > Department Biologie I
• Themengebiete: 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik > 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie
• Sprache: Englisch