Understanding the nature of prion diseases using cell-free assays

Victoria A Lawson

doi:10.1007/978-1-59745-234-2_7

Understanding the nature of prion diseases using cell-free assays

Methods Mol Biol. 2008:459:97-103. doi: 10.1007/978-1-59745-234-2_7.

Author

Victoria A Lawson¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pathology and Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

PMID: 18576150
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-59745-234-2_7

Abstract

A central event in the transmission and pathogenesis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy diseases is the misfolding of the prion protein. Considerable progress has been made in our understanding of this misfolding event through the development of cell-free assays that mimic the molecular features of prion propagation. This chapter reviews the contribution of cell-free assays to our understanding of prion propagation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Biological Assay / methods*
Cell-Free System
Humans
Prion Diseases / metabolism*
Prion Diseases / pathology*
Prions / metabolism*

Substances

Prions