Scrapie and Cellular PrP Isoforms Are Encoded by the Same Chromosomal Gene

PrP 27-30 is the major protein in purified preparations of scrapie agent. An almost complete PrP cDNA was used to select PrP-related genomic clones from normal hamster DNA. The gene contains a noncoding exon of 56 to 82 bp and a 2 kb coding exon, separated by a 10 kb intron. Transcription initiates at the same multiple sites in vivo and in vitro. The promoter lacks a TATA box and contains three repeats of the sequence GCCCCGCCC, which resembles the Sp1 binding site found in "housekeeping" genes. The PrP coding sequence encodes a presumptive amino-terminal signal peptide. 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 of PrP from normal and scrapie-infected brains are due to post-translational events.