Large Number Of New Prions Discovered: Scientists Redefining What It Means To Be A Prion
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 - 08:14
in Biology & Nature
Special proteins known as prions, which are perhaps best known as the agents of mad cow and other neurodegenerative diseases, can also serve as an important source of beneficial variation in nature. Researchers have found a large number of new prions, greatly expanding scientists' notion of how important prions might be in normal biology and demonstrating that they play many and varied roles in the inheritance of biological traits. Prions are misfolded proteins that clump together in cells. The most infamous known prion -- PrP -- causes bovine spongiform encephalitis, also known as "mad cow" disease.