How could prions multiply without nucleic acids?

Answer 1

Prions multiply by a process which is, at present, not fully understood. The protein PrPr is present in healthy cells of all mammals, in the brain and central nervous system. It is only when the gene that creates PrPr undergoes mutation that it begins to produce a harmful strain of PrPr, the prion. Prions replicate by causing the surrounding healthy proteins to fold abronmally, turning them into prions. These newly-formed prions in turn cause other proteins to fold abnormally. This process creates vacuoles in the cells of the brain, resulting in diseases such as Creutzfeld-Jakob disease in humans, and Bovine Spongiform Enphysema in cows. Prions multiply by a process which is, at present, not fully understood. The protein PrPr is present in healthy cells of all mammals, in the brain and central nervous system. It is only when the gene that creates PrPr undergoes mutation that it begins to produce a harmful strain of PrPr, the prion. Prions replicate by causing the surrounding healthy proteins to fold abronmally, turning them into prions. These newly-formed prions in turn cause other proteins to fold abnormally. This process creates vacuoles in the cells of the brain, resulting in diseases such as Creutzfeld-Jakob disease in humans, and Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease)

Answer 2

Prions are misfolded proteins that can induce other proteins to also misfold, leading to the spread of prions in an organism. This misfolding process does not involve nucleic acids, as it relies on direct interaction between proteins. Within the host organism, prions can replicate by interacting with normal proteins and converting them into misfolded prions.