Prion assemblies: structural heterogeneity, mechanisms of formation, and role in species barrier

Prions are proteinaceous pathogens responsible for a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases in animal and human. Prions are formed from misfolded, ß-sheet rich, and aggregated conformers (PrP(Sc)) of the host-encoded prion protein (PrP(C)). Prion replication stems from the capacity of PrP(Sc) to self-replicate by templating PrP(C) conversion and polymerization. The question then arises about the molecular mechanisms of prion replication, host invasion, and capacity to contaminate other species. Studying these mechanisms has gained in recent years further complexity with evidence that PrP(Sc) is a pleiomorphic protein. There is indeed compelling evidence for PrP(Sc) structural heterogeneity at different scales: (i) within prion susceptible host populations with the existence of different strains with specific biological features due to different PrP(Sc) conformers, (ii) within a single infected host with the co-propagation of different strains, and (iii) within a single strain with evidence for co-propagation of PrP(Sc) assemblies differing in their secondary to quaternary structure. This review summarizes current knowledge of prion assembly heterogeneity, potential mechanisms of formation during the replication process, and importance when crossing the species barrier.