Figure 3.

Fragmentation has multiple consequences. Non-prion state protein (light blue ball and stick) converts to the prion form (light blue ball and loop) upon incorporation into existing prion complexes (dark blue ball and loop), which are subsequently fragmented, either stochastically or catalytically, to generate smaller complexes. This fragmentation facilitates spread of the prion templates, shown here as partitioning to daughter cells in a dividing culture—pathway 1, and increases the efficiency of incorporation of additional non-prion subunits (dark blue ball and stick)—pathway 2.