AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Infectious protein particles are called “prions”. Prions are infectious protein particles that function as pathogens and cause neurological disorders in humans. Due to their lack of genetic material, they reproduce by generating the cellular prion protein to refold into a PrP scrapie structure.

Detailed explanation-2: -The term “prions” refers to abnormal, pathogenic agents that are transmissible and are able to induce abnormal folding of specific normal cellular proteins called prion proteins that are found most abundantly in the brain.

Detailed explanation-3: -A prion is an infectious protein, and horizontal transmission of infectious entities in yeast and filamentous fungi occurs by cytoplasmic mixing.

Detailed explanation-4: -Unlike other infectious agents, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, prions do not contain genetic materials such as DNA or RNA.

Detailed explanation-5: -The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a cell surface protein expressed in a variety of different organs and tissues with high expression levels in the central and peripheral nervous systems [1].