Interaction of a Recombinant Prion Protein with Organo-Mineral Complexes as Assessed by FT-IR and CPMAS 13C NMR Analysis

Prion proteins are considered as the main agents for the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE). The misfolded form, PrP Sc , which is also indicated as the etiological agent for TSE, exhibits high resistance to degradation in environmental processes. Soil contamination by prion proteins is a real environmental issue since contaminated soils can become potential reservoir and diffuser for TSE infectivity. In this work, the interaction of prion protein with organo- mineral complexes was studied by using a recombinant non pathogenic prion protein and a model soil system. This latter was represented by a soil manganese mineral coated with polymerized catechol. FT-IR spectra showed ami…