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A bacteria-based genetic assay detects prion formation.


ABSTRACT: Prions are infectious, self-propagating protein aggregates that are notorious for causing devastating neurodegenerative diseases in mammals. Recent evidence supports the existence of prions in bacteria. However, the evaluation of candidate bacterial prion-forming proteins has been hampered by the lack of genetic assays for detecting their conversion to an aggregated prion conformation. Here we describe a bacteria-based genetic assay that distinguishes cells carrying a model yeast prion protein in its nonprion and prion forms. We then use this assay to investigate the prion-forming potential of single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) of Campylobacter hominis Our findings indicate that SSB possesses a prion-forming domain that can transition between nonprion and prion conformations. Furthermore, we show that bacterial cells can propagate the prion form over 100 generations in a manner that depends on the disaggregase ClpB. The bacteria-based genetic tool we present may facilitate the investigation of prion-like phenomena in all domains of life.

SUBMITTER: Fleming E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6410773 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A bacteria-based genetic assay detects prion formation.

Fleming Eleanor E   Yuan Andy H AH   Heller Danielle M DM   Hochschild Ann A  

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20190219 10


Prions are infectious, self-propagating protein aggregates that are notorious for causing devastating neurodegenerative diseases in mammals. Recent evidence supports the existence of prions in bacteria. However, the evaluation of candidate bacterial prion-forming proteins has been hampered by the lack of genetic assays for detecting their conversion to an aggregated prion conformation. Here we describe a bacteria<i>-</i>based genetic assay that distinguishes cells carrying a model yeast prion pr  ...[more]

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