Cterminaalisista

Cterminaalisista is a Finnish term used to describe features, signals, and processes that originate from or reside at the C-terminus of proteins and peptides. In molecular biology and biochemistry, the C-terminus is the end of the polypeptide chain opposite the N-terminus, and C-terminal phenomena can influence localization, interaction networks, stability, and activity of proteins.

A central aspect of Cterminaalisista are motifs and signals located at the extreme C-terminus. Examples include PDZ-binding motifs that recruit scaffolding proteins, and specific tail sequences that direct proteins to cellular compartments such as mitochondria or peroxisomes. The peroxisomal targeting signal type 1, often represented by a C-terminal tripeptide such as SKL, is another well-known C-terminal targeting feature.

Post-translational modifications and processing at the C-terminus also fall under this concept. C-terminal amidation of peptides, for instance, is important for the activity and stability of many neuropeptides and hormones. In other contexts, C-terminal proteolytic processing generates mature, functional protein forms, and C-terminal degrons can influence ubiquitin-mediated degradation.

In research and biotechnology, C-terminal tagging and fusion strategies are commonly used to study protein expression, localization, and interactions. The study of Cterminaalisista intersects proteomics, cell biology, and protein engineering, helping to understand how C-terminal features shape protein function and cellular pathways.