Poster abstracts
Poster number 108 submitted by Christian ONeil
Cryogenic electron microscopy analysis of human prion protein Y145Stop and mouse prion protein Y145Stop
Christian M. ONeil (Biophysics Graduate Program), Sean Smrt (Ohio State Chemistry Department)
Abstract:
Conversion of α-helical-rich protein monomers into a β-sheet-rich fibril is common amongst various neurodegenerative diseases seen in mammals. Prion proteins provide us with a model capable of seeding and propagating fibril formation prions derived from varied species which typically form distinct structures. Cryogenic electron microscopy is a powerful tool capable of providing atomic resolution models for these complex structures allowing for a deeper understanding of their structural propensities. Here, we show results for huPrP and moPrP Y145Stop prion variants which showcase similarities between the two conformations as well as locations where mutations impact the structures.
Keywords: prions, cryo-EM, fibrils