Prion
About
A prion is a misfolded protein that can transmit its misfolded shape onto normal variants of the same protein. Prions are the causative agent of several transmissible and fatal neurodegenerative diseases in humans and other animals. The proteins may misfold sporadically, due to genetic mutations, or by exposure to an already misfolded protein. The consequent abnormal three-dimensional structure confers them the ability to cause misfolding of other proteins.
