Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification

Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification ( PMCA ) is a biochemical technique for reproduction of misfolded proteins ( prions ) and is used as a test for encephalopathies such as BSE.

In this technique, a small number of incorrectly folded proteins is incubated with a large amount of correctly folded proteins in which there is conversion. The growing agglomerates of misfolded protein is then cleaved by ultrasonic treatment. In this way new smaller agglomerates, which in turn can lead to a number of new conversions. By repeating this step several times, there is a gradual conversion of right to misfolded proteins and therefore to a duplication ( amplification ) of the same.