Prions May Be A Form Of Epigenetics. Pretty Interesting.

Prions may be a form of epigenetics. Pretty interesting.

To learn more, Garcia and colleagues studied a yeast enzyme called pseudouridine synthase that can take on two different shapes. They found that, in its alter-ego prion form, this enzyme causes yeast to multiply and grow more quickly, although these changes come at the cost of a shorter lifespan for the yeast.

Through computer modelling, the team then showed that the changes brought about by the prion are beneficial when environmental resources are abundant, but harmful when resources are scarce. By reducing a so-called protein ‘chaperone’, they also showed that the prion can revert to its original enzyme shape. Since protein chaperones themselves fluctuate during changing conditions, they propose that this might be a way to turn the prion on or off when desirable.

“We’ve identified a new role for prions in which they can transform cell growth and survival,” says co-first author Edgar Campbell, a PhD student in Chemical and Systems Biology at Stanford Medicine. “These findings suggest that prions may be another form of epigenetic control of cells.”

huevember day 3! #ffe100 yellow pikmin

today's funky frog of the day: the reticulated glass frog (Hyalinobatrachium valerioi)!!! they live in panama, costa rica, colombia, and ecuador! one really cool thing about these frogs is their somewhat transparent skin. it's more obvious in other pictures, but you can often see their organs!

photo © 2014 Rob Schell

Finally, at long last, I get to see Houndoom in the latest anime…let alone in the same episode as Suicune. I can die a happy woman now

Here are my favorite shots in gif form for your viewing pleasure!

A parrot eating a croissant while standing on the top of the sign.

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