izoforma

An izoforma is a distinct molecular variant of a protein or RNA molecule that arises from the same gene. These variations can occur through several mechanisms, including alternative splicing in RNA processing, post-translational modifications of proteins, or variations in gene expression. While izoformas share a common origin, they can exhibit different biochemical properties, functions, or cellular locations. For example, in RNA, alternative splicing can lead to different exons being included or excluded in the final messenger RNA, resulting in proteins with altered amino acid sequences and thus potentially different functions. In proteins, post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, glycosylation, or ubiquitination can create different izoformas from the same polypeptide chain. These modifications can affect protein stability, activity, or interaction with other molecules. The existence of izoformas allows for a greater diversity of protein and RNA functions than would be possible from a single gene alone, contributing to the complexity and adaptability of biological systems. Studying izoformas is crucial for understanding cellular processes, disease mechanisms, and developing targeted therapies.