Question

The correct folding of proteins is necessary to maintain healthy cells and tissues. The presence of unfolded proteins are associated with some neurodegenerative disorders as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (the specific faulty protein is different for each disease). What happens to these disease-causing, unfolded proteins?

a. They are degraded.
b. They bind a different target protein.
c. They form structured filaments.
d. They form protein aggregates.

Answer 1

Unfolded proteins in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's tend to form toxic aggregates such as amyloid plaques, which contribute to the pathology of these conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The disease-causing, unfolded proteins associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease tend to accumulate and form protein aggregates. In Alzheimer's, for instance, these misfolded proteins amalgamate into amyloid plaques in the cerebral cortex. Misfolded prions can also induce other normally folded proteins to misfold, leading to similar aggregations. These protein accumulations can become toxic and contribute to disease pathology. The accumulation of tau proteins in neurofibrillary tangles is another example related to the neuronal dysfunction seen in Alzheimer's Disease. Recognizing this mechanism has opened up potential therapeutic approaches aimed at preventing the accumulation of these toxic proteins.