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Scrapie infectivity, fibrils and low molecular weight protein

Nature volume 306, pages 476–478 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

The development of a short incubation model of scrapie (strain 263K), in golden hamsters1,2, has added impetus to the purification of the infectious agent. Our own attempts3 have been based on methods pioneered by Millson4,5 and developed by Prusiner6,7. We present here results indicating that a purification factor of up to 104 with respect to protein may now be possible. Fractions from brain with high infectivity had a sedimentation range of 70–300S and contained an abundance of fibrils closely similar to the scrapie-associated fibrils (SAF) discovered by Merz et al.8,9. Material of molecular weight (Mr) 26,000, which is probably protein, appears to be a major constituent of the fibrils. The association between infectivity and fibrils raises two possibilities: the fibrils are an infectious form of the scrapie agent or they are a pathological response to scrapie infection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Robert Koch-Institut des Bundesgesundheitsamtes, Nordufer 20, D-1000, Berlin, 65, FRG

    H. Diringer, H. Gelderblom, H. Hilmert, M. Özel & C. Edelbluth

  2. ARC and MRC Neuropathogenesis Unit, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JF, UK

    R. H. Kimberlin

Authors
  1. H. Diringer
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  2. H. Gelderblom
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  3. H. Hilmert
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  4. M. Özel
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  5. C. Edelbluth
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  6. R. H. Kimberlin
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Diringer, H., Gelderblom, H., Hilmert, H. et al. Scrapie infectivity, fibrils and low molecular weight protein. Nature 306, 476–478 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/306476a0

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