Abstract

The primary structure of a protein — its amino acid sequence — dictates the way it folds into its native three-dimensional structure, which in turn gives it a characteristic function. Mistakes in this folding procedure, or processes by which correctly folded proteins unfurl to form other structures, lead to misfolded proteins that are responsible for diseases such as Alzheimer's, Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad-cow disease).