Chapter 18

The 2 nd Nobel prize-
Prion pathogenesis
• PrP sc binds to the normal PrP c
on the cell surface, causing it to
be processed into PrP sc - a
replicating protein, to be
released from the cell, and to
be aggregated as amyloid-like
plaques in the brain
• Vacuolated neurons (loss of
function and lack of an immune
response)
• 1997, Stanley Prusiner
(1942~) for showing that
PrP sc is sufficient to
cause disease
• Director of institute of
neurodegenerative disease
UCSF