What is one common characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases caused by prions?

• A. Aggressive growth rate
• B. Alteration in protein structure
• C. High infection rate
• D. Widespread inflammation

Answer: (B)

The characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases caused by prions that stands out is the alteration in protein structure. Prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, are particularly known for the abnormal folding of specific proteins in the brain, which leads to neurodegeneration.

In prion diseases, a normally folded protein can misfold into an abnormal isoform, which then catalyzes the misfolding of other normally folded proteins. This chain reaction leads to a buildup of misfolded proteins which disrupts normal cellular functions, ultimately resulting in neuronal death and brain damage.

This misfolding is not just a trivial change; it has significant downstream effects on cell function and structure, underscoring the critical nature of protein conformation in these diseases. Consequently, the alteration in protein structure is central to the pathogenesis of prion-related neurodegenerative disorders.