Fig. 1: Prion "recruitment reaction": PrP^C (left) is converted into PrP^Sc (right), which can act as a catalyst for further conversion. PrP^C is a normal, protease-sensitive, highly soluble cell-surface protein that is predominantly *-helical; its conformational isoform PrP^Sc has a high ß-sheet content and is abnormal, protease resistant, poorly soluble and disease specific.

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