Disparate evolution of prion protein domains and the distinct origin of Doppel- and prion-related loci revealed by fish-to-mammal comparisons

Our current understanding of prion biology and disease is largely based on studies performed on mammals, yet basic questions about the physiological function of prion proteins (PrPs) and the molecular nature of prion disorders remain elusive. To facilitate the establishment of non-mammalian models for prion research, we characterized the sequence, structural, and genomic homology between fish and other vertebrate PrPs, and analyzed the distinct molecular mechanisms that shaped the evolution of vertebrate PrP domains