| First Author | Jackson GS | Year | 2001 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 98 |
| Issue | 15 | Pages | 8531-5 |
| PubMed ID | 11438695 | Mgi Jnum | J:326234 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7310010 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.151038498 |
| Citation | Jackson GS, et al. (2001) Location and properties of metal-binding sites on the human prion protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98(15):8531-5 |
| abstractText | Although a functional role in copper binding has been suggested for the prion protein, evidence for binding at affinities characteristic of authentic metal-binding proteins has been lacking. By presentation of copper(II) ions in the presence of the weak chelator glycine, we have now characterized two high-affinity binding sites for divalent transition metals within the human prion protein. One is in the N-terminal octapeptide-repeat segment and has a K(d) for copper(II) of 10(-14) M, with other metals (Ni(2+), Zn(2+), and Mn(2+)) binding three or more orders of magnitude more weakly. However, NMR and fluorescence data reveal a previously unreported second site around histidines 96 and 111, a region of the molecule known to be crucial for prion propagation. The K(d) for copper(II) at this site is 4 x 10(-14) M, whereas nickel(II), zinc(II), and manganese(II) bind 6, 7, and 10 orders of magnitude more weakly, respectively, regardless of whether the protein is in its oxidized alpha-helical (alpha-PrP) or reduced beta-sheet (beta-PrP) conformation. A role for prion protein (PrP) in copper metabolism or transport seems likely and disturbance of this function may be involved in prion-related neurotoxicity. |
