PRNP and infection: It is thus possible that the increased levels of PrPSc in the prion-infected cells after infection with mouse adenovirus or caprine arthritis encephalitis virus might be due to the increased accessibility of PrPSc to PrPC through the enhanced binding of PrPSc molecules on the cells, their stimulated internalization to lysosomal compartments, and the increased release of PrPSc from prion-infected cells.