A prion is a protein that can misfold in a way that encourages other molecules of the same protein to misfold in the same way, spreading like a pathogen through cells and tissues and causing pathological changes. While “prion” is used inconsistently in research, proteins like amyloid-β and α-synuclein exhibit prion-like properties. Recent studies on killifish suggest that the protein DDX5 may also exhibit prion-like behavior in the aging brain, with implications for human health. Prion-like properties have been found to drive neurodegenerative diseases by transmitting protein aggregates in the brain. Using killifish as a model, researchers have identified proteins with an increased propensity to aggregate in the aging brain, including DDX5, which shows prion-like seeding properties. The aggregation of key proteins during normal brain aging could contribute to cognitive decline.
Prions and prion-like self-assembly have been implicated in various physiological functions, and DDX5 is found to rapidly undergo phase separation and form potentially infectious solid aggregates in the aging brain. This research sheds light on the role of prion-like behavior in age-related cognitive decline and provides insights into potential therapeutic targets.
