Biochemical Principles in Prion-Based Inheritance
Prions are proteins that can stably fold into alternative structures that frequently alter their activities. They can self-template their alternate structures and are inherited across cell divisions and generations. While they have been studied for more than four decades, their enigmatic nature has...
Main Authors: | , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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Series: | Epigenomes |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/6/1/4 |
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author | Emily M. Dennis David M. Garcia |
author_facet | Emily M. Dennis David M. Garcia |
author_sort | Emily M. Dennis |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Prions are proteins that can stably fold into alternative structures that frequently alter their activities. They can self-template their alternate structures and are inherited across cell divisions and generations. While they have been studied for more than four decades, their enigmatic nature has limited their discovery. In the last decade, we have learned just how widespread they are in nature, the many beneficial phenotypes that they confer, while also learning more about their structures and modes of inheritance. Here, we provide a brief review of the biochemical principles of prion proteins, including their sequences, characteristics and structures, and what is known about how they self-template, citing examples from multiple organisms. Prion-based inheritance is the most understudied segment of epigenetics. Here, we lay a biochemical foundation and share a framework for how to define these molecules, as new examples are unearthed throughout nature. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:51:58Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-2adfd852bd0741a2b6753100cbb9847f |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2075-4655 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:51:58Z |
publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Epigenomes |
spelling | doaj.art-2adfd852bd0741a2b6753100cbb9847f2023-11-24T01:08:08ZengMDPI AGEpigenomes2075-46552022-01-0161410.3390/epigenomes6010004Biochemical Principles in Prion-Based InheritanceEmily M. Dennis0David M. Garcia1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USADepartment of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USAPrions are proteins that can stably fold into alternative structures that frequently alter their activities. They can self-template their alternate structures and are inherited across cell divisions and generations. While they have been studied for more than four decades, their enigmatic nature has limited their discovery. In the last decade, we have learned just how widespread they are in nature, the many beneficial phenotypes that they confer, while also learning more about their structures and modes of inheritance. Here, we provide a brief review of the biochemical principles of prion proteins, including their sequences, characteristics and structures, and what is known about how they self-template, citing examples from multiple organisms. Prion-based inheritance is the most understudied segment of epigenetics. Here, we lay a biochemical foundation and share a framework for how to define these molecules, as new examples are unearthed throughout nature.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/6/1/4prionepigeneticstransgenerational inheritanceprion-likeprotein aggregationamyloid |
spellingShingle | Emily M. Dennis David M. Garcia Biochemical Principles in Prion-Based Inheritance Epigenomes prion epigenetics transgenerational inheritance prion-like protein aggregation amyloid |
title | Biochemical Principles in Prion-Based Inheritance |
title_full | Biochemical Principles in Prion-Based Inheritance |
title_fullStr | Biochemical Principles in Prion-Based Inheritance |
title_full_unstemmed | Biochemical Principles in Prion-Based Inheritance |
title_short | Biochemical Principles in Prion-Based Inheritance |
title_sort | biochemical principles in prion based inheritance |
topic | prion epigenetics transgenerational inheritance prion-like protein aggregation amyloid |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/6/1/4 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT emilymdennis biochemicalprinciplesinprionbasedinheritance AT davidmgarcia biochemicalprinciplesinprionbasedinheritance |