Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding the prion theory?
Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding the prion theory?
- It has been proven definitively.
- It is considered a working hypothesis with considerable supporting evidence. (correct)
- It is based solely on the observation of yeast, and cannot be extrapolated to other species.
- It is a purely hypothetical theory with no supporting evidence.
What is the significance of the 'chimaeric' prion protein created by Dr. Weissman and his student?
What is the significance of the 'chimaeric' prion protein created by Dr. Weissman and his student?
- It showed that the chimaeric protein only mimics the behavior of one of its parent proteins.
- It proved that prions from one species can never infect another.
- It demonstrated that the chimaeric protein could overcome the species barrier and infect both types of yeast. (correct)
- It was a failure as it did not display any infectious properties.
What did Jonathan Weissman and Peter Chien's research on yeast help to explain?
What did Jonathan Weissman and Peter Chien's research on yeast help to explain?
- How prions can be cured.
- How prions affect the immune system.
- The existence of prion strains and their ability to jump between species. (correct)
- The genetic origin of all prion diseases.
What is 'psi-plus' in the context of yeast?
What is 'psi-plus' in the context of yeast?
What was the unexpected result of the experiment with the chimaeric prion protein?
What was the unexpected result of the experiment with the chimaeric prion protein?
What is the significance of the research on prions in yeast in relation to prion diseases in mammals?
What is the significance of the research on prions in yeast in relation to prion diseases in mammals?
What is the underlying principle behind the 'protein-only' hypothesis in relation to prions?
What is the underlying principle behind the 'protein-only' hypothesis in relation to prions?
The research on yeast, as described in the text, suggests that prions can:
The research on yeast, as described in the text, suggests that prions can:
What is the main function of prion proteins?
What is the main function of prion proteins?
How do prions differ from viruses and bacteria in terms of their genetic makeup?
How do prions differ from viruses and bacteria in terms of their genetic makeup?
What is the primary difference between prions and normal proteins?
What is the primary difference between prions and normal proteins?
How are different strains of prion diseases thought to be caused?
How are different strains of prion diseases thought to be caused?
What has been a major obstacle for researchers trying to study prion diseases in the lab?
What has been a major obstacle for researchers trying to study prion diseases in the lab?
What is the connection between bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) and humans?
What is the connection between bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) and humans?
What is a possible reason why scientists believe that understanding prion diseases could shed light on other ailments, such as Alzheimer's disease and Type II diabetes?
What is a possible reason why scientists believe that understanding prion diseases could shed light on other ailments, such as Alzheimer's disease and Type II diabetes?
What is one of the biggest mysteries surrounding prion diseases?
What is one of the biggest mysteries surrounding prion diseases?
Flashcards
Prion Theory
Prion Theory
Hypothesis that prions, misfolded proteins, cause infectious diseases.
Chimaeric Prion Protein
Chimaeric Prion Protein
Fusion of prion protein genes from different yeast species.
Psi-plus
Psi-plus
A condition in yeast where misfolded Sup35 protein disrupts function.
Sup35 Protein
Sup35 Protein
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Strains Cross Species Barrier
Strains Cross Species Barrier
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Infectious Shapes of Proteins
Infectious Shapes of Proteins
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Protein-Only Hypothesis
Protein-Only Hypothesis
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Toxic Buildups
Toxic Buildups
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Prion
Prion
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Mad-cow disease
Mad-cow disease
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Stanley Prusiner
Stanley Prusiner
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Infectious cross-species
Infectious cross-species
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Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
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Normal prion proteins
Normal prion proteins
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Prion disease induction
Prion disease induction
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Disease strains
Disease strains
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Study Notes
Prion Proteins and Brain Disorders
- Prions are misshapen proteins believed to cause mad cow disease and similar human brain ailments in humans, sheep, and other species
- Prion origins, how they become infectious between species, and their disease mechanisms are still unclear
- Stanley Prusiner won the Nobel Prize in 1997 for his prion discovery
- Scientists are piecing together clues to understand bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) outbreaks and their spread to humans via the food supply
- Prion theory suggests that a prion protein shape change causes toxic aggregations
- Prions are normally present in humans and animals
- Prions can cross species barriers and cause different disease strains
- Unlike other diseases, prions don't rely on genetic mutations; their shape differences cause different disease strains
- Similar, random mutations create varied strains of diseases like the common cold
- Chimaeric prion proteins, combining different yeast prion protein genes, have caused species bridging, showing prions can change shape, not just genetic code
Prion Diseases in Mammals
- Prion diseases are difficult to create in mammals due to the need for purified solutions from infected animal brains
- Impurities in these solutions may contain other disease agents
- Scientists are investigating the role of prion proteins and their different shapes in disease
- Research on yeast shows that a single protein can take on various infectious shapes
- Prion-like proteins in yeast aren't infectious across species in some cases, like the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae infecting Candida albicans
- Prion proteins from one species can infect another via "chimaeric" proteins, composed of parts of different prion proteins, leading to species-bridging
- These chimaeric proteins can shift shape across species
Prion-Only Hypothesis and Protein Transformations
- The "protein-only" hypothesis suggests prions are responsible for crossing species
- Various proteins can have potentially toxic buildups under certain conditions, similar to prion behavior, even a protein like myoglobin
- Evolution may have favored proteins less prone to these shape changes due to protein stability concerns with aging
- Accumulation of misfolded proteins is linked to aging diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Type II diabetes
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