The prion protein has DNA strand transfer properties similar to retroviral nucleocapsid protein.

Abstract

The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that are associated with the accumulation of a protease-resistant form of the cellular prion protein (PrP). Although PrP is highly conserved and widely expressed in vertebrates, its function remains a matter of speculation. Indeed PrP null mice develop normally and are healthy. Recent results show that PrP binds to nucleic acids in vitro and is found associated with retroviral particles. Furthermore, in mice the scrapie infectious process appears to be accelerated by MuLV replication. These observations prompted us to further investigate the interaction between PrP and nucleic acids, and compare it with that of the retroviral nucleocapsid protein (NC). As the major nucleic acid-binding protein of the retroviral particle, NC protein is tightly associated with the genomic RNA in the virion nucleocapsid, where it chaperones proviral DNA synthesis by reverse transcriptase. Our results show that the human prion protein (huPrP) functionally resembles NCp7 of HIV-1. Both proteins form large nucleoprotein complexes upon binding to DNA. They accelerate the hybridization of complementary DNA strands and chaperone viral DNA synthesis during the minus and plus DNA strand transfers necessary to generate the long terminal repeats. The DNA-binding and strand transfer properties of huPrP appear to map to the N-terminal fragment comprising residues 23 to 144, whereas the C-terminal domain is inactive. These findings suggest that PrP could be involved in nucleic acid metabolism in vivo.

• Authors: C Gabus, S Auxilien, C Péchoux, D Dormont, W Swietnicki, M Morillas, W Surewicz, P Nandi, J L Darlix
• Journal: Journal of molecular biology (J Mol Biol) Vol. 307 Issue 4 Pg. 1011-21 (Apr 06 2001) ISSN: 0022-2836 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 11286552 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Chemical References

• Capsid Proteins
• DNA, Single-Stranded
• DNA, Viral
• DNA-Binding Proteins
• Gene Products, gag
• Molecular Chaperones
• NCP7 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
• Peptide Fragments
• Prions
• RNA, Transfer, Lys
• RNA-Binding Proteins
• Viral Proteins
• gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Topics

• Capsid (metabolism)
• Capsid Proteins
• DNA Replication
• DNA, Single-Stranded (genetics, metabolism, ultrastructure)
• DNA, Viral (biosynthesis, genetics, metabolism, ultrastructure)
• DNA-Binding Proteins (chemistry, metabolism, ultrastructure)
• Gene Products, gag (metabolism)
• HIV Long Terminal Repeat (genetics)
• HIV-1 (genetics)
• Humans
• Microscopy, Electron
• Molecular Chaperones (metabolism, ultrastructure)
• Nucleic Acid Hybridization
• Peptide Fragments (chemistry, metabolism)
• Prions (chemistry, metabolism, ultrastructure)
• Protein Binding
• Protein Structure, Tertiary
• RNA, Transfer, Lys (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA-Binding Proteins (metabolism)
• Templates, Genetic
• Transcription, Genetic
• Viral Proteins
• Virus Replication
• gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus