Network Theory Analysis of Residue Connectivity of the C-terminus of Prion Proteins from Animals Susceptible and Resistant to Prion Diseases

Prion diseases, or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), are rare but fatal disorders of the brain characterized by the misshaping of the normal prion protein (PrPC) into a misfolded conformer (PrPSc). When this occurs, the misfolded protein accumulates in the brain, leading to brain damage. Prion diseases affect both animals and humans. However, evidence reveals that different species have varying susceptibilities to this disorder. The differences in susceptibility for prion disease appear to be linked to unique residue substitutions in the host native form of PrPC.