Formation and use of prion protein (PRP) complexes

US5750361A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Stanley B. Prusiner · San Francisco, US
• Kivotoshi Kaneko · San Francisco, US
• Fred E. Cohen · Los Angeles, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 2, 1995
• Grant date: May 12, 1998
• Expiry date: Nov 2, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/25875
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Prion protein (PrP) peptides having at least one .alpha.-helical domain and forming a random coil conformation in aqueous solutions bind cellular PrP (PrP.sup.C) to form a complex having characteristics of the scrapie isoform (PrP.sup.Sc). Methods for screening compounds able to inhibit or decrease the binding of PrP peptides to PrP.sup.C are disclosed, as well as methods for assaying PrP.sup.Sc.