Is, indeed, the prion protein a Harlequin servant of "many" masters?

Abstract

Tens of putative interacting partners of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) have been identified, yet the physiologic role of PrP C remains unclear. For the first time, however, a recent paper has demonstrated that the absence of PrPC produces a lethal phenotype. Starting from this evidence, here we discuss the validity of past and more recent literature supporting that, as part of protein platforms at the cell surface, PrPC may bridge extracellular matrix molecules and/or membrane proteins to intracellular signaling pathways. © 2009 Landes Bioscience.