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, or transcriptional regulators when they localize to the nucleus. Their domain architecture, in theory, permits rapid evolution of new interactions, contributing to signaling specificity and network robustness in complex cells. In thought experiments and fictional settings, researchers explore how profesins could enable programmable cellular responses, synthetic signaling circuits, and adaptable developmental programs.

It is important to note that profesins are not an established scientific term. There is no consensus in current biology about this molecule class; the term may appear in speculative literature or as a fictional concept, and it is sometimes used informally as a misspelling or misnomer related to proteins.

The concept serves as a tool for discussing modularity, protein engineering, and signaling network design without asserting real-world validation.