Final answer:
Proteins might be misfolded due to incorrect environmental conditions or lack of chaperone assistance, which can result in diseases caused by the accumulation of misfolded proteins, known as proteopathies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Causes and Consequences of Protein Misfolding
Proteins may be misfolded due to abnormal temperature or pH conditions that prevent them from folding correctly, even when they are correctly specified by their corresponding mRNA. Misfolding can also occur when proteins lack the assistance of helper molecules known as chaperones, which prevent them from aggregating during the folding process. A mutation can sometimes cause the protein to be made incorrectly, potentially leading to a loss of protein function or misfolding.
A side effect of protein misfolding is the development of proteopathy diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. These diseases feature the accumulation of toxic amyloid plaques. In addition to neurodegenerative diseases, other organ system diseases like cystic fibrosis and type 2 diabetes are also associated with misfolded proteins. Recognizing the link between protein misfolding and these diseases has led to new therapeutic possibilities; for example, interfering with the accumulation of altered proteins might help to treat these conditions.