How do prions replicate?

Sourav PanSeptember 6, 2024

Answered

Prions replicate through a unique mechanism that does not involve nucleic acids. Instead, they propagate by inducing conformational changes in normal prion proteins (PrP^C) to transform them into the abnormal, disease-causing form (PrP^Sc). This misfolding process creates a chain reaction, where the newly formed prions cause further misfolding of normal proteins. As more normal proteins are converted into the prion form, the number of infectious prions increases, leading to a progressive accumulation of prion proteins in the brain and associated neurodegeneration.