European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

APPLICATION OF PRIONS AND PRION PROTEIN IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Ugochukwu Jane Ijeoma* and Esimone Okechukwu Charles

ABSTRACT

Prion proteins are normal proteins (PrP) found on the cell membranes of majorly the brain, spinal cord, heart, muscle and in selected lymphoid and myeloid cells. They play a key role in the development of prion diseases, and the sole determinant of it. A Prion disease (also known as Transimissible Spongiform Encephalopathy, TSE) is a rapidly progressive and sever neurodegenerative disorder that results from conversion of PrPC into a conformational altered isoform, PrPSc in the CNS (Garrity et al., 2010). Prion disease is classified into infectious, familial or sporadic. They are considered as attractive target for therapeutic intervention in biomedical sciences. Prion disease is of major public health concern because of its rising prevelance and outburst epidemics in some geographical areas, for example, Paupa New Guinean and United Kingdom. This seminar is intended to explain Prion Protein, its applications and how the idea will help to understand the disease state.

Keywords: Encephalopathy, Isoform, Sporadic & Glycosylation.