Fehérjemódosítások

Fehérjemódosítások refers to the alterations that occur to proteins after their synthesis through translation. These modifications are crucial for protein function, stability, localization, and interaction with other molecules. They can be reversible or irreversible and significantly expand the functional diversity of the proteome beyond what is encoded by the genome alone.

Common types of fehérjemódosítások include phosphorylation, where a phosphate group is added, often acting as a switch to turn protein activity on or off. Glycosylation, the addition of carbohydrate chains, plays roles in protein folding, cell-cell recognition, and immune responses. Ubiquitination involves the attachment of ubiquitin, a small protein, which can target proteins for degradation or alter their function and localization. Acetylation, methylation, and lipidation are other prevalent modifications affecting a wide range of cellular processes.

These modifications are often carried out by specific enzymes and are tightly regulated within the cell. Dysregulation of fehérjemódosítások can lead to various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic diseases. Studying these modifications provides insights into cellular mechanisms and can be a target for therapeutic interventions. The dynamic nature of these changes makes the proteome highly adaptable to environmental stimuli and cellular needs.