profesins
Profesins is a term used in speculative biology and science fiction to describe a proposed class of signaling biomolecules that blend features of proteins with modular architecture. In these conceptions, profesins are typically small to medium-sized polypeptides composed of interchangeable domains, allowing a single molecule to participate in multiple interactions. They can be produced inside the cell or secreted into the extracellular space, and their modularity enables functional diversity through domain swapping or context-dependent post-translational modifications.
Functionally, profesins are imagined to act as ligands for cell-surface receptors, intracellular modulators of signaling cascades,
It is important to note that profesins are not an established scientific term. There is no consensus
The concept serves as a tool for discussing modularity, protein engineering, and signaling network design without