E Piasecki 1
1. Laboratorium Wirusologii Instytutu Immunologii i Terapii Doświadczalnej PAN,Wrocławiu.
Published:
GICID: 01.3001.0000.2802
Available language versions: en pl
Issue: Postepy Hig Med Dosw 1993; 47 (2)
Abstract
Prions are proteinaceous infectious particles. They are probably devoid of nucleic acid. Prion protein (PrP) is encoded by the normal cellular gene. Pathological isoform of prion protein has different conformation than the normal PrP protein. The exact nature of the posttranslational modification of prion protein is unknown. This modification may be caused by infection with prions (infectious disease) or occurs spontaneously (sporadic disease). Some mutations in PrP gene results in the production of pathological protein (familial disease).