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Title: Implications of the Actin Cytoskeleton on the Multi-Step Process of [PSI+] Prion Formation
Yeast prions are self-perpetuating misfolded proteins that are infectious. In yeast, [PSI+] is the prion form of the Sup35 protein. While the study of [PSI+] has revealed important cellular mechanisms that contribute to prion propagation, the underlying cellular factors that influence prion formation are not well understood. Prion formation has been described as a multi-step process involving both the initial nucleation and growth of aggregates, followed by the subsequent transmission of prion particles to daughter cells. Prior evidence suggests that actin plays a role in this multi-step process, but actin’s precise role is unclear. Here, we investigate how actin influences the cell’s ability to manage newly formed visible aggregates and how actin influences the transmission of newly formed aggregates to future generations. At early steps, using 3D time-lapse microscopy, several actin mutants, and Markov modeling, we find that the movement of newly formed aggregates is random and actin independent. At later steps, our prion induction studies provide evidence that the transmission of newly formed prion particles to daughter cells is limited by the actin cytoskeletal network. We suspect that this limitation is because actin is used to possibly retain prion particles in the mother cell.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2127616
NSF-PAR ID:
10415773
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Viruses
Volume:
14
Issue:
7
ISSN:
1999-4915
Page Range / eLocation ID:
1581
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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