David Westaway

TL;DR: A clone encoding PrP 27-30, the major protein in purified preparations of scrapie agent, was selected from a scrapie-infected hamster brain cDNA library by oligonucleotide probes corresponding to the N terminus of the protein.

TL;DR: The results argue that species specificity of scrapie prions resides in the PrP sequence and prion synthesis is initiated by a species-specific interaction between PrPSc in the inoculum and homologous PrPC.

TL;DR: It is shown here that PrP codon 102 is linked to the putative gene for the syndrome in two pedigrees, providing the best evidence to date that this familial condition is inherited despite also being infectious, and that substitution of leucine for proline at PrPcodon 102 may lead to the development of Gerstmann–Sträussler syndrome.

TL;DR: The primary structure of PrP encoded by the gene of a healthy animal does not differ from that encoded by a cDNA from a scrapie-infected animal, suggesting that the different properties ofPrP from normal and scrapie -infected brains are due to post-translational events.

TL;DR: It is argued that the PrP gene modulates scrapie susceptibility, incubation times, and neuropathology, and synthesis of infectious scrapie prions programmed by a recombinant DNA molecule is demonstrated.