BSE-causing prion

Credit: ALFRED PASIEKA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Caption: Prion protein. Computer model of the prion protein responsible for causing the diseases BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in cows and CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) in humans. It is a mutated form of a normal cell protein (PrP). This prion comprises spiralling alpha helices (orange) and straight beta sheets (green). The C and N represent the carbon and nitrogen ends of the amino acid structure respectively. Both BSE and CJD are brain-wasting disorders characterised by progressive dementia and a rapid deterioration in co-ordination, leading inevitably to death.

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Keywords: alpha helices, beta sheets, biology, bovine spongiform, brain, bse, cjd, condition, creutzfeldt-jakob disease, disorder, encephalopathy, helix, infection, infectious, infective agent, mad cow disease, microbiology, molecular model, neurological, prion, prions, protein, secondary structure, sheet, virology, virus-like

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