Propagating Artificial Amyloid Strains of Recombinant Human Prion Protein with Mutations in Position 129

• The influence of the polymorphism M129V in the human PrPgene is well documented. Most cases of sporadic CJD afflicthomozygous individuals. Differences in codon 129 genotypegive rise to differences in phenotype regarding plaque and clinicalsymptoms. Despite this, little is known about the molecularbackground to this phenomenon.To study this phenomenon in greater detail we employedrecombinant human prion protein. Using several artificial mutationsallowed us to study the influence of different amino acidproperties on the formation of amyloid prion protein. The variantsused were 129A, 129V, 129L, 129M, 129W, 129P, 129E and129K. Three mutants were chosen to vary the hydrophobicity,the tryptophan mutant was chosen due to its bulkiness and theproline for its constraint of the polypeptide backbone. 129E and129K may give information regarding the effect of charge in this position.The protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified andsubjected to agitation at 37°C at physiological pH and salt concentration(Almstedt et al. Prion 2009). All mutants formedcongophilic and Thioflavine T positive aggregates within hours.Fibrillar morphology was also confirmed using transmission electronmicroscopy.Seeding the mutant proteins with preformed fibrils of themutant itself or of wild type protein revealed differences in seedingefficiency for the different mutants. By monitoring the fibrilsresulting from the seeded fibrillation reactions using luminescentconjugated polymers, a templating effect was seen. This strainlikebehavior was followed through several generations of fibrils.The fragility of the seeding fibrils was taken under considerationand was analyzed using urea denaturation.Almstedt, Nyström S, Nilsson P, Hammarström P. Prion2009; 3:224-35.

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