Compared with the NMR Structure and Dynamics of Dogs and Horses

Abstract

This chapter reports the findings of the MD studies of wild-type horse, dog, and rabbit prion proteins. The dog and horse prion proteins have stable molecular structures whether in neutral or low pH environments. Rabbit prion protein has been found having stable molecular structures in neutral pH environment, but without structural stability in low pH environment. in low pH environment, the SBs such as D177-R163 were broken and caused the collapse of the stable α-helical molecular structures. The contribution of D177-R163 SB was confirmed by the recent experimental results on the X-ray and NMR structures of rabbit prion protein (Khan et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107(46):19808–19813, 2010; Wen et al., J Biol Chem 285(41):31682–31693, 2010; Perez et al., J Mol Biol 400(2):121–128, 2010). This SB might have a value to the scientific community in its drive to find treatments for prion diseases.