Question

Write a short note on Prions.

Answer 1

• ‘Prion’ means proteinaceous infective particle (‘Protein gone bad’).
• The term 'prion' was coined by Stanley B. Prusiner in 1982. Prions are viral particles which contain only proteins.
• They do not contain nucleic acid. They are infectious and smaller than viruses.
• Prions are found in neurons and are rod shaped. Prions induce changes in normal folded proteins.
• Misfolded proteins aggregate and accumulate as plaques.
• This results in the degeneration of nervous tissue.

Prion