So what exactly is a prion and what are some properties of prions? Well, prions are these aggregate, these collection of proteins which normally exist in our body but which have misfolded. And because they misfolded, they form these insoluble aggregates. And so what that means is because they are insoluble there is no way our cells and the body can actually break them down and denature them by the same method as it normally does. And because our cells cannot break them down eventually the aggregate proteins will somehow cause the death of the cell killing off the cells of our body and eventually that individual. So to gain some insight into how prions actually function let's take a look at the following molecule.