1. RNA modulates aggregation of the recombinant mammalian prion protein by direct interaction.
- Author
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Kovachev PS, Gomes MPB, Cordeiro Y, Ferreira NC, Valadão LPF, Ascari LM, Rangel LP, Silva JL, and Sanyal S
- Subjects
- Animals, Dynamic Light Scattering, Kinetics, Mice, Prion Proteins chemistry, Prion Proteins genetics, Protein Aggregates, RNA chemistry, RNA, Messenger chemistry, RNA, Messenger metabolism, RNA, Ribosomal chemistry, RNA, Ribosomal metabolism, Recombinant Proteins biosynthesis, Recombinant Proteins chemistry, Recombinant Proteins isolation & purification, Ribonucleases metabolism, Prion Proteins metabolism, RNA metabolism
- Abstract
Recent studies have proposed that nucleic acids act as potential cofactors for protein aggregation and prionogenesis. By means of sedimentation, transmission electron microscopy, circular dichroism, static and dynamic light scattering, we have studied how RNA can influence the aggregation of the murine recombinant prion protein (rPrP). We find that RNA, independent of its sequence, source and size, modulates rPrP aggregation in a bimodal fashion, affecting both the extent and the rate of rPrP aggregation in a concentration dependent manner. Analogous to RNA-induced liquid-liquid phase transitions observed for other proteins implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, high protein to RNA ratios stimulate rPrP aggregation, while low ratios suppress it. However, the latter scenario also promotes formation of soluble oligomeric aggregates capable of seeding de novo rPrP aggregation. Furthermore, RNA co-aggregates with rPrP and thereby gains partial protection from RNase digestion. Our results also indicate that rPrP interacts with the RNAs with its N-terminus. In summary, this study elucidates the proposed adjuvant role of RNA in prion protein aggregation and propagation, and thus advocates an auxiliary role of the nucleic acids in protein aggregation in general.
- Published
- 2019
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