Proteostasissäätely

Proteostasissäätely refers to the intricate cellular process that maintains the proteome, the complete set of proteins produced by an organism, in a stable and functional state. This regulation is crucial for cellular health and organismal survival, as the accumulation of damaged or misfolded proteins can lead to cellular dysfunction and disease. The proteostasissäätely system involves a complex interplay of mechanisms that control protein synthesis, folding, and degradation.

Protein synthesis is tightly regulated to ensure that only necessary proteins are produced at the appropriate times and in the correct quantities. This is achieved through transcriptional and translational control mechanisms. Once synthesized, proteins must fold into their correct three-dimensional structures to become functional. This process is often assisted by molecular chaperones, which prevent misfolding and aggregation.

Despite these safeguards, proteins can become damaged or misfolded due to various cellular stresses, such as oxidative stress or heat shock. The cell has dedicated pathways to deal with these aberrant proteins. The ubiquitin-proteasome system is the primary machinery for degrading short-lived and misfolded proteins. Damaged or aggregated proteins that escape the proteasome can be cleared by autophagy, a process where cellular components are enclosed in vesicles and delivered to lysosomes for degradation. Maintaining the balance between protein synthesis, folding, and degradation is essential for cellular homeostasis and preventing the onset of proteotoxicity-related diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.