编码瘙痒病朊病毒蛋白的细胞基因的保守性。

Westaway D, Prusiner S B

Nucleic Acids Res. 1986 Mar 11;14(5):2035-44. doi: 10.1093/nar/14.5.2035.

The major protein, PrP 27-30, in purified preparations of hamster scrapie prions is encoded within the genome of the experimental host. DNA sequences related to a PrP cDNA clone can be detected in a wide variety of organisms under relatively stringent conditions where the only signal generated by hamster or mouse DNA corresponds to the PrP gene. Three hosts for scrapie, goat, sheep and rat gave strong hybridization signals. In addition, three invertebrate DNAs reacted with the PrP probe, in the order nematode-Drosophila much greater than yeast. Thus, the sequences detected in goat, sheep, rat, nematode, Drosophila and possibly yeast DNA may arise from authentic PrP genes. This evolutionary conservation is consistent with the notion that PrP proteins participate in essential cellular processes.

仓鼠瘙痒病朊病毒纯化制剂中的主要蛋白质PrP 27 - 30由实验宿主的基因组编码。在相对严格的条件下，能在多种生物体中检测到与PrP cDNA克隆相关的DNA序列，此时仓鼠或小鼠DNA产生的唯一信号对应于PrP基因。三种瘙痒病宿主山羊、绵羊和大鼠产生了强烈的杂交信号。此外，三种无脊椎动物的DNA与PrP探针发生反应，按线虫 - 果蝇的顺序反应程度远大于酵母。因此，在山羊、绵羊、大鼠、线虫、果蝇以及可能的酵母DNA中检测到的序列可能源自真正的PrP基因。这种进化上的保守性与PrP蛋白参与基本细胞过程的观点一致。