New anti-prion drugs make yeast blush

Prions are misfolded proteins capable of propagating their altered conformational state. They have been identified as the causative agents of a class of neurodegenerative diseases termed spongiform encephalopathies. No treatment for prion diseases is currently available. In a recent paper, Bach et al. describe a yeast-based approach for the development of anti-prion drugs. This approach could prove convenient for the identification and improvement of anti-prion pharmacologicals. From a fundamental point of view this study underscores the mechanistic similarities between mammalian and yeast prions.