Proteasome
Proteasome
The Proteasome (/proʊˈtiːəˌsoʊm/, from protein and -some) is a complex protein structure within cells that is involved in the degradation of unnecessary or damaged proteins by proteolysis, a chemical reaction that breaks down proteins into smaller polypeptides or single amino acids.
Etymology
The term "Proteasome" is derived from the words "protein" and "-some". "Protein" is a term that comes from the Greek word "proteios", meaning "primary" or "in the lead". The suffix "-some" comes from the Greek "soma", meaning "body".
Function
The Proteasome is an essential part of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System, the primary mechanism for protein catabolism in the eukaryotic cells. It degrades proteins that are damaged, misfolded, or have served their function. This process is crucial for many cellular processes, including the cell cycle, the regulation of gene expression, and responses to oxidative stress.
Structure
The Proteasome is a large protein complex that is composed of two main subunits: the 20S core particle and the 19S regulatory particle. The 20S core particle is responsible for the proteolytic activity of the proteasome, while the 19S regulatory particle recognizes ubiquitin-tagged proteins and unfolds them for degradation.
Related Terms
- Ubiquitin: A small protein that is used to tag proteins for degradation by the proteasome.
- Proteolysis: The breakdown of proteins into smaller polypeptides or amino acids.
- Eukaryotic Cell: A type of cell with a nucleus enclosed within membranes, unlike prokaryotes.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Proteasome
- Wikipedia's article - Proteasome
This MedicineGPT article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski