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Genetic informational RNA is not required for recombinant prion infectivity.

ABSTRACT: Whether a genetic informational nucleic acid is required for the infectivity of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is central to the debate about the infectious agent. Here we report that an infectious prion formed with bacterially expressed recombinant prion protein plus synthetic polyriboadenylic acid and synthetic phospholipid 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylglycerol is competent to infect cultured cells and cause prion disease in wild-type mice. Our results show that genetic informational RNA is not required for recombinant prion infectivity.

SUBMITTER: Wang F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3264365 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Genetic informational RNA is not required for recombinant prion infectivity.

Wang Fei F Zhang Zhihong Z Wang Xinhe X Li Jiali J Zha Liang L Yuan Chong-Gang CG Weissmann Charles C Ma Jiyan J

Journal of virology 20111116 3

Whether a genetic informational nucleic acid is required for the infectivity of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is central to the debate about the infectious agent. Here we report that an infectious prion formed with bacterially expressed recombinant prion protein plus synthetic polyriboadenylic acid and synthetic phospholipid 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylglycerol is competent to infect cultured cells and cause prion disease in wild-type mice. Our results show that genetic informati ...[more]

PMID: 22090130

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