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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is required for prion replication?
A
Host cellular prion protein
B
Viral RNA
C
Bacterial DNA
D
Reverse transcriptase
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand what prions are: Prions are infectious agents composed entirely of protein material that can fold in multiple, structurally distinct ways. They are known to cause neurodegenerative diseases.
Recognize that prions do not contain nucleic acids: Unlike viruses and bacteria, prions do not have DNA or RNA, so they do not require viral RNA or bacterial DNA for replication.
Identify the role of host cellular prion protein: Prions replicate by inducing misfolding of normal, cellular prion proteins (PrP^C) into the disease-causing form (PrP^Sc). This process requires the presence of the host's normal prion protein.
Eliminate irrelevant options: Since prions do not use nucleic acids for replication, options like viral RNA, bacterial DNA, and reverse transcriptase (an enzyme used by some viruses to replicate) are not involved in prion replication.
Conclude that the host cellular prion protein is required: The replication of prions depends on the conversion of normal prion proteins in the host, making the host cellular prion protein essential for prion replication.