| Abstract: | Prions are infectious proteins. In fungi, prions correspond to non-Mendelian genetic elements whose mode of inheritance has long eluded explanation. The Het-s] cytoplasmic genetic element of the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina, was originally identified in 1952 and recognized as a prion nearly half a century later. The present chapter will attempt to describe the work on Het-s] from a historical perspective. The initial characterization and early genetic and physiological studies of Het-s] are described together with the isolation of the Het-s] encoding gene. More recent work that led to the construction of a structural model for this prion is also discussed.Key Words: prion, Podospora anserina, amyloid, filamentous fungi, maternal inheritance, heterokaryon incompatibility, cell death, epigenetics |
