Biomaterial Database

Characterization of major peptides in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and scrapie. 1986

T Sklaviadis, and L Manuelidis, and E E Manuelidis

In Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease three major peptides cosediment with the infectious agent. These distinct peptides are not present in identical fractions from uninfected brain, and bind to polyclonal antibodies raised against "prion protein" purified by protease treatment. Three similar distinct peptides are also found in scrapie-infected brain fractions purified without the use of proteases. To clarify the relationships between these distinct peptides and prion protein, peptides were analyzed on immunoblots after cleavage with various glycosidases. There are two different 34-kDa peptides. One binds to ricin and cannot be detected by nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis, presumably due to its highly acidic or basic pI. A second basic 34-kDa glycopeptide (Gp34) contains multiple terminal sialic acid residues responsible for charge heterogeneity (pI values, 7.2-7.8) and is reduced to a single spot with a pI value of 7.8 after neuraminidase treatment. After (but not before) neuraminidase treatment, secondary D-galactose-like sugars are detectable on Gp34, and a small number of N-acetylglucosamine residues probably represent the third sugar residue in an N-linked chain. When virtually all sugar residues are removed with endoglycosidase H the molecular weight of Gp34 is reduced by only approximately equal to 2 kDa. The residual peptide strongly binds antibody. A third acidic 24- to 26-kDa species (p26) also binds polyclonal antibodies but, in contrast to Gp34, was unaffected by any glycosidase treatment. Protease-treated peptides showed a very broad array of pI spots, consistent with a heterogeneous protein origin. None of the nonproteolyzed peptides show a clear relationship to prion protein. The number of sugar residues on Gp34 is not consistent with those estimated for prion protein. Although p26 could be the source of the "prion sequence," p26 does not appear to be glycosylated. Regardless, it is likely that all the major peptides described thus far are accumulated or modified normal gene products and are not integral components of the infectious agent.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007562	Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome	A rare transmissible encephalopathy most prevalent between the ages of 50 and 70 years. Affected individuals may present with sleep disturbances, personality changes, ATAXIA; APHASIA, visual loss, weakness, muscle atrophy, MYOCLONUS, progressive dementia, and death within one year of disease onset. A familial form exhibiting autosomal dominant inheritance and a new variant CJD (potentially associated with ENCEPHALOPATHY, BOVINE SPONGIFORM) have been described. Pathological features include prominent cerebellar and cerebral cortical spongiform degeneration and the presence of PRIONS. (From N Engl J Med, 1998 Dec 31;339(27))	New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,Spongiform Encephalopathy, Subacute,CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease),Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Familial,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, New Variant,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Variant,Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,Jakob-Creutzfeldt Disease,Jakob-Creutzfeldt Syndrome,V-CJD (Variant-Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease),Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,CJD (Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease),Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease,Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease, Familial,Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease, New Variant,Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease, Variant,Creutzfeldt Jakob Syndrome,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Diseases, Familial,Disease, Creutzfeldt Jacob,Disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob,Disease, Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob,Disease, Jakob-Creutzfeldt,Encephalopathies, Subacute Spongiform,Encephalopathy, Subacute Spongiform,Familial Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease,Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob Diseases,Jacob Disease, Creutzfeldt,Jakob Creutzfeldt Disease,Jakob Creutzfeldt Syndrome,New Variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease,Spongiform Encephalopathies, Subacute,Subacute Spongiform Encephalopathies,Subacute Spongiform Encephalopathy,Syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob,Syndrome, Jakob-Creutzfeldt,V CJD (Variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease),Variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D010455	Peptides	Members of the class of compounds composed of AMINO ACIDS joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures. OLIGOPEPTIDES are composed of approximately 2-12 amino acids. Polypeptides are composed of approximately 13 or more amino acids. PROTEINS are considered to be larger versions of peptides that can form into complex structures such as ENZYMES and RECEPTORS.	Peptide,Polypeptide,Polypeptides
D011328	Prions	Small proteinaceous infectious particles which resist inactivation by procedures that modify NUCLEIC ACIDS and contain an abnormal isoform of a cellular protein which is a major and necessary component. The abnormal (scrapie) isoform is PrPSc (PRPSC PROTEINS) and the cellular isoform PrPC (PRPC PROTEINS). The primary amino acid sequence of the two isoforms is identical. Human diseases caused by prions include CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB SYNDROME; GERSTMANN-STRAUSSLER SYNDROME; and INSOMNIA, FATAL FAMILIAL.	Mink Encephalopathy Virus,Prion,Encephalopathy Virus, Mink
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D004591	Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel	Electrophoresis in which a polyacrylamide gel is used as the diffusion medium.	Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis,SDS-PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-PAGE,Gel Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide,SDS PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-PAGEs
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012608	Scrapie	A fatal disease of the nervous system in sheep and goats, characterized by pruritus, debility, and locomotor incoordination. It is caused by proteinaceous infectious particles called PRIONS.	Rida
D014764	Viral Proteins	Proteins found in any species of virus.	Gene Products, Viral,Viral Gene Products,Viral Gene Proteins,Viral Protein,Protein, Viral,Proteins, Viral