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Prions in Microbes: The Least in the Most

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Abstract

Prions are infectious proteins that mostly replicate in self-propagating amyloid conformations (filamentous protein polymers) and consist of structurally altered normal soluble proteins. Prions can arise spontaneously in the cell without any clear reason and are generally considered fatal disease-causing agents that are only present in mammals. However, after the seminal discovery of two prions, [PSI+] and [URE3], in the eukaryotic model microorganism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, at least ten more prions have been discovered, and their biological and pathological effects on the host, molecular structure, and the relationship between prions and cellular components have been studied. In a filamentous fungus model, Podospora anserina, a vegetative incomparability-related [Het-s] prion that directly triggers cell death during anastomosis (hyphal fusion) was discovered. These prions in eukaryotic microbes have extended our understanding to overcome most fatal human prion/amyloid diseases. A prokaryotic microorganism (Clostridium botulinum) was reported to have a prion analog. The transcriptional regulators of C. botulinum-Rho can be converted into the self-replicating prion form ([RHO-X-C+]), which may affect global transcription. Here, we outline the major issues with prions in microbes and the lessons learned from the relatively uncovered microbial prion world.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the BK21 Four Program (Education/Research Group of Longevity and Marine Biotechnology for Innovative Talent) of Pusan National University (S.H. and S.L.), and a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (2022R1A2C1092397) (M.S.).

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  1. Department of Microbiology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea

    Moonil Son

  2. Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea

    Moonil Son, Sia Han & Seyeon Lee

  3. Microbiological Resource Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea

    Moonil Son

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Son, M., Han, S. & Lee, S. Prions in Microbes: The Least in the Most. J Microbiol. 61, 881–889 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-023-00070-4

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