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Copper deficiency alone or in the presence of high dietary manganese does not affect brain prion protein concentration or functional characteristics in the bovine
Author(s) -
Legleiter Leon R.,
Liu HsiaoChing S.,
Spears Jerry W.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1066-c
Subject(s) - copper , chemistry , superoxide dismutase , manganese , bovine spongiform encephalopathy , copper deficiency , medicine , dismutase , biochemistry , endocrinology , enzyme , prion protein , biology , disease , organic chemistry
Aberrant prion proteins are the causative agent in bovine spongiform encephalopathy and other prion diseases. Since copper (Cu) is known to be bound by cellular prion protein (PrP c ), Cu may thus be required for PrP c activity or stability. Further, in the absence of Cu, manganese (Mn) may bind to PrP c . The objective of this research was to determine if Cu deficiency or Cu deficiency coupled with high dietary Mn can alter brain metal concentrations and subsequently affect either the expression, stability, or associated superoxide dismutase activity of PrP c in the bovine. The Cu antagonist molybdenum (Mo, 5 mg/kg DM) was used to induce Cu deficiency. In the 240 d study, steers (270 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: 1) no supplemental Cu; 2) adequate dietary Cu; 3) Cu deficient; and 4) Cu deficient plus high dietary Mn (500 mg Mn/kg DM). While concentrations of Cu and Mn in the liver changed according to treatment ( P < 0.01), brain Cu ( P = 0.73) and Mn ( P = 0.66) were not affected by Cu and Mn status. Using SDS‐PAGE and Western blotting, all treatment groups exhibited similar PrP c banding patterns, equal molecular weights, and complete degradation after proteinase K treatment. The concentration of PrP c , as determined by ELISA, did not differ among treatment groups ( P = 0.94), nor did the superoxide dismutase activity of brain tissue homogenates ( P = 0.71). These data suggest that Cu deficiency alone or in the presence of high dietary Mn does not affect brain Cu and Mn concentrations or PrP c concentrations and functional characteristics in growing steers.