The prion protein (PrPC) can be structurally shifted to its PrPSc isoform causing a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases, which are currently incurable. There is an evidence that metallothioneins (MTs), and especially MT-3, are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. PrPC and MTs play pivotal roles in maintaining metal homeostasis; therefore, it is conceivable that each of them has its own significance in prion diseases. In this paper, we study the nature of interactions between PrPC, MT, and copper ions, Cu(II), using the method of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) coupled with adsorptive transfer stripping technique (AdTS). Electrochemical properties of PrP itself and its interactions with both the Cu(II) ions and MTs have been found. Based on the results obtained, we hypothesised the formation of the complex in molar ratio 2:1 (PrPC:MT). Surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) was used as a control reference assay to further confirm results obtained by the electrochemical approach, such as the specific interactions between PrPC and MT-3.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Mendel University in Brno Brno Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology Brno University of Technology Brno Czech Republic

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Mendel University in Brno Brno Czech Republic; Department of Veterinary Medicine University of Cambridge UK

Dipartimento di Chimica Ugo Schiff and CSGI Università di Firenze Sesto Fiorentino Italy

Institute of Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava Bratislava Slovakia

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