Figure 7. Role of metal binding sites in PrP survival.
A recombinant PrP mutant was generated that had the six N-terminal histidines replaced with alanines. This mutant has greatly diminished metal binding capacity. This protein was also absorbed to mte and then desorbed after 24 months. A sample of fresh control protein (con) not absorbed to the mte was also run on the same blot. The mte was either treated with no additional metals (H2O) or with the addition of manganese of copper. Densitometric analyses of 3 western blots for each condition is shown at the bottom. Quantitation was of the 25 kD band All intensity readings are relative to the protein desorbed from the mte with manganese. Shown are the mean and s.e.