Journal
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
Volume 86, Issue 3, Pages 538-544Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.01882.x
Keywords
calcium signalling; cellular prion protein; copper homeostasis; oxidative stress; redox reaction
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The fundamental physiological function of native cellular prion (PrPC) remains unknown. Herein, the most salient observations as regards prion physiology are critically evaluated. These include: (i) the role of PrPC in copper homeostasis, particularly at the pre-synaptic membrane; (ii) involvement of PrPC in neuronal calcium disturbances; and (iii) the neuroprotective properties of PrPC in response to copper and oxidative stress. Ultimately, a tentative hypothesis of basic prion function is derived, namely that PrPC acts as a sensor for copper and/or free radical stimuli, thereby triggering intracellular calcium signals that finally translate into modulation of synaptic transmission and maintenance of neuronal integrity.
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