Prions in Pyramidal Cells 1

Prions are reconfigurations of proteins that are naturally produced by cells. When the prion version meets the normal version, it causes the normal version to flip and become the prion version. This cascade effect increases the number of prions in a way analogous to the spread of an infection. Eventually this build up of novel protein leads to the prion diseases.....Cell at left is healthy. Cell in background has died. Cell in right foreground shows prion (purple) accumulation.