Figure 1.

Schematic of proposed role of PrP in pro-apoptotic signalling during neurodegenerative diseases. Native proteins exist in equilibrium with partially or completely unfolded forms. In some instances, partially misfolded proteins can adopt β structures with the propensity to aggregate and form amyloid fibrils. However, along the pathway to fibril formation, the smaller β oligomers mediate toxic effects. PrP^C is one of the potentially multiple cell-surface receptors capable of binding to the toxic oligomers and mediating pro-apoptotic signals in conjunction with other molecules.