Cell biology: Designer prions

Designer nanoparticle: nanobiotechnology tool for cell biology

This article discusses the use of nanotechnology for subcellular compartment isolation and its application towards subcellular omics. This technology review significantly contributes to our understanding on use of nanotechnology for subcellular systems biology. Here we elaborate nanobiotechnology approach of using superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPMNPs) optimized with different surface coating...

Molecular biology of prions.

The "protein only" hypothesis holds that the infectious agent causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is a conformational isomer of PrP, a host protein predominantly expressed in brain and is strongly supported by many lines of evidence. Prion diseases are so far unique among conformational diseases in that they are transmissible, not only experimentally but also by natural routes, ma...

Structural biology of prions.

Biology of Prions

In this paper we will review various aspects of the biology of prions and focused on what is currently known about the mammalian PrP prion. Also briefly describe the prions of yeast and other fungi. Prions are infectious proteins behaving like genes, ie proteins that not only contain genetic information in its tertiary structure, ie its shape, but are also able to transmit and replicate in a ma...

Cell biology. A unifying role for prions in neurodegenerative diseases.

www.sciencemag.org SCIENCE VOL 336 22 JUNE 2012 1477 COVER False-colored transmission electron microscopy image of avian H5N1 infl uenza virus isolated in Hong Kong (fi eld-of-view width ~260 nm). A highly pathogenic infl uenza subtype is currently pandemic among the world’s wild birds, with serious outbreaks occurring in domestic poultry. Concern about the possibility of the virus evolving int...