The 37-kDa/67-kDa laminin receptor acts as the cell-surface receptor for the cellular prion protein

New insights into cellular prion protein (PrPc) functions: The “ying and yang” of a relevant protein

“…However, only a small proportion of these related pathways are functional in a physiological context (see (Lee et al, 2003) or (Westergard et al, 2007) and (Linden et al, 2008) for reviews). Two in vitro studies demonstrate that PrP c binds to the laminin receptor 67K (Gauczynski et al, 2001) and the adhesion molecule N-CAM (Santuccione et al, 2005;Schmitt-Ulms et al, 2001), both transducing survival signals or promoting neurite outgrowth. In addition, PrP c mediates neuritogenesis in a laminin-mediated manner (Graner et al, 2000), thereby suggesting that the PrP c -laminin interaction is relevant for neuronal development and further plasticity-related mechanisms.…”

Different Isoforms of the Non-Integrin Laminin Receptor Are Present in Mouse Brain and Bind PrP

“…This fact along with our previous study (Gauczynski et al, 2001b) demonstrating that the laminin receptor acts as the cell surface receptor internalizing The Cellular Prion Protein Receptor 245 Methods: all overlay assays were performed on nitrocellulose blots with proteins separated by SDS-PAGE. Blots were incubated with 4 µg/ml of recombinant GST::PrP in PBS containing 0.05% Tween 20 for 3 h at room temperature.…”

Cell models of prion infection

“…As speculated above, LRP/LR, PrP C , and PrP Sc might form, along with heparan sulphates a functional complex required for conversion. Alternatively LRP/LR inhibition could prevent prion multiplication by perturbing the metabolism of PrP C , a possibility supported by the fact that LRP/LR is involved in PrP C trafficking [50] and that inhibition of LRP/LR decreases cellular PrP C levels [78].…”