Description
Prion related neurodegenerative diseases, called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, are observed in many animal species. These diseases involve conversion of normal cellular prion protein (PrPc) into a form that is insoluble and resistant to proteases (PrPSc). The protease resistant form can polymerize into fibrils which accumulate in infected tissues and cause cell death and tissue damage. PrPs have an N-terminal signal sequence and a C-terminal linkage to glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. The mature protein is a glycosylated protein that associates with cell membranes. Phosphorylation of PrPC at Ser-43 by Cdk5 promotes proteinase K resistance, prion aggregation, and fibril formation in vitro. In addition, Ser-43 phosphorylation is upregulated in scrapie-infected mouse brain relative to controls.
Human recombinant Prion protein is the full length protein along with an N-terminal GST fusion protein. The protein is detected by mouse monoclonal anti-Prion Protein (a.a. 109-112) antibody