Question

How do prions affect other proteins?

Answer 1

Prions:

1. The Prions start as harmless brain proteins.
2. Prions misfolding can turn them into contagious pathogens.
3. These contagious pathogens recruit any other prions they come into contact with.
4. Later on, they group together in clumps that damage other cells.
5. Prions are infectious proteins that are folded abnormally which are called amyloids.
6. These amyloids are accumulated in infected tissue that is associated with tissue damage and cell death.
7. They can trigger the normal proteins to misfold and cause diseases that can be fatal.
8. An example of the disease caused by prions include affects humans is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) which is a degenerative brain disorder.