PRION PROTEIN (106-126) (HUMAN)

PrP (106-126) (100 μM) induces mTOR phosphorylation over time in N2a cells. PrP (106-126)-treated cells show significantly increased ROS production in comparison with that of PBS-treated control cells. Knockdown of PRAS40 enhances PrP (106-126)-induced apoptosis. PRAS40 alleviates PrP (106-126)-induced neuronal apoptosis via mTOR-AKT activation. PrP (106-126) interacts selectively with porcine brain endothelial cells (PBEC) via their luminal side, and causes cumulative cell death, as shown by lactate dehydrogenase release, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction, Caspase 3 induction and direct cell counting. In addition, PrP (106-126), but not its corresponding scrambled peptide, produces a 50% reduction of the trans-endothelial electrical resistance, while the PBEC maintained confluency.