Het-s system

In its prion form, the HET-s protein of the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina is involved in a (genetically controlled) programmed cell death phenomenon termed heterokaryon incompatibility. This is a fungal self/nonself recognition phenomenon that prevents different forms of parasitism.
The HET-s protein contains a carboxy-terminal prion domain comprising residues 218 to 289, which can form amyloid fibrils. We have determined the 3D structure of HET-s(218-289), representing the first prion structure with atomic resolution. The structural details give a detailed molecular explanation of the characteristic properties of the amyloid fibrils, in particular their unusual stability.

Collaboration with Roland Riek (ETH Zürich).