In class we have spent a lot of time discussing all of the negative implications that prions can have on the body. However in researching prion folding, I came across a study conducted by Susan Lindquist that found that blocking … Continue reading
So, we’ve been learning about the prion protein for a while now but this entire time we’ve ended conversations with “but there is not cure” which is pretty sad because people who contract prion diseases are suffering terrible deaths. They … Continue reading
So far during the semester, we’ve discussed scientific structures by starting with the smaller parts and working up to the larger compositions. As we learned, protons, neutrons and electrons compose atoms. Each atom is distinguished by a different number of … Continue reading
As we have learned, prion disease is essentially PrPc that transforms into a malicious variant which has a negative effect on the nervous system and likewise, a negative effect on the memory and other cognitive functions. Per the research and … Continue reading
When I watched the videos on the syllabus for this week, I was surprised to learn that yeast was so important in the discovery of mutated prion proteins. I had not really heard of the importance of yeast in scientific … Continue reading
Prion Disease As we’ve learned in our previous science classes, and in the Susan Lindquist lecture, proteins are capable of folding in an infinite number of ways. Proteins contain chains of nucleic acids and thus can have infinite combinations – … Continue reading
After learning about a little bit about proteins and DNA in class last week, I found an article about how researchers are finding new ways to improve vaccinations. Instead of inserting a weaker live or dead virus into a person … Continue reading
In the prion diseases video, Susan Lindquist explained the importance of protein in our bodies. So I looked up proteopathies, diseases that are caused from the malformation of proteins in the bodies. Prion diseases are a type of proteopathy. One … Continue reading
Prion protein diseases as neurodegenerative diseases along with the video on the impact of prion proteins on brain cells, got me thinking about how these mutated protein structures have the ability to affect certain functions controlled by our brain and … Continue reading
This week in class we learned about alpha helices and beta sheets in protein structures. It’s thought that prion proteins become infectious when some of their alpha helices are converted into beta forms. I did a little research to find … Continue reading