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

朊病毒蛋白与人类和动物的一些疾病（如人类的克雅氏病和牛的疯牛病）有关，这些疾病在发现这些疾病的国家产生了重大的公共卫生、社会和经济后果。该项目将确定朊病毒蛋白高度保守区域在转化为疾病相关形式中发挥作用的机制。这将为鉴定朊病毒蛋白的正常功能提供途径，并增加我们对朊病毒生物学的认识。这将有利于健康老龄化和保护农业部门免受养殖动物的朊病毒疾病。

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.