Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, such as scrapie, mad cow disease, Creutzfeldt Jakob disease, and kuru, are caused by an infectious agent known as a prion. Prions are composed of
A) protein only.
B) protein and RNA.
C) protein and DNA.
D) RNA surrounded by a lipid-protein coat.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Prions are composed of protein only, specifically an abnormal form of the cellular prion protein. There is no evidence of RNA or DNA within prions, and they do not have a lipid-protein coat.

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, Such as Scrapie, Mad Cow Disease, Creutzfeldt