cytosolisches

Cytosolisches is an adjective used in biology to describe something that resides in or functions within the cytosol, the aqueous component of the cytoplasm. It is used to distinguish activities, proteins, or processes in the cytosol from those localized in organelles such as mitochondria, chloroplasts, or the endoplasmic reticulum.

The cytosol is the gel-like fluid surrounding organelles. It consists mainly of water, dissolved ions and small molecules, and a broad set of soluble proteins, enzymes, and cytoskeletal elements. It also contains free ribosomes and various macromolecular complexes. The cytosolic environment is highly crowded, which influences diffusion, reaction rates, and molecular interactions.

Cytosolische processes include central metabolic pathways such as glycolysis and parts of amino acid metabolism, as well as many signaling cascades that relay information within the cell. Cytosolic proteins perform folding, quality control with chaperones, and proteostasis, while ribosomes in the cytosol synthesize proteins destined to function there or be transported elsewhere. Lipid synthesis and other metabolic steps may involve cytosolic enzymes on membrane surfaces. The cytosol also hosts cytoskeletal networks that support shape, movement, and intracellular transport.

Localization can be cytosolisch or restricted to other compartments. Determining cytosolic localization relies on signal sequences, post-translational modifications, and transport mechanisms, as well as techniques such as subcellular fractionation, fluorescence tagging, and proteomic analysis.