Role of the GxxxG domain in the function of mammalian prion proteins

Prion蛋白与人和动物的许多疾病(如人类的CreutzFeldt-Jakob病和牛的疯牛病)有关，在发现它们的国家产生了重大的公共卫生、社会和经济后果。这个项目将确定一个高度保守的普恩蛋白区域在转化为疾病相关形式的过程中发挥作用的机制。这将为鉴定普恩蛋白的正常功能提供途径，并增加我们对普恩生物学的了解。这将在健康老龄化和保护农业部门免受养殖动物普恩疾病的影响方面受益。

Prion proteins have been associated with a number of diseases of humans and animals (such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in humans and BSE, or 'mad-cow' disease in cattle) which have had major public health, social and economic consequences in countries where they have been detected. This project will identify mechanisms by which a highly conserved region of the prion protein plays a role in the conversion to the disease associated form. This will provide avenues for identifying the normal function of the prion protein, and increase our knowledge of prion biology. This will benefit both in terms of healthy ageing and in protecting the agriculture sector from prion diseases in farmed animals.