Proteinase K-Resistant Aggregates of Recombinant Prion Protein PrP-(23-98) Are Toxic to Cultured Cells

Here, we show for the first time that non-fibrillar and spherical aggregates produced from PrP-(23-98) in the presence of NADPH plus copper ions are toxic to cultured cells and induce apoptotic signals. It is also confirmed that endogenous cellular PrP isoform is not required for toxicity to occur.