tailmediated

Tailmediated is a descriptive term used in the life sciences to denote processes or interactions that are governed by the tail region of a molecule, most commonly the C-terminal tail of a protein. The phrase is not a formal nomenclature but a way to describe mechanisms in which tail domains influence binding, localization, modification, or activity.

In proteins, tail regions often harbor motifs and post-translational modification sites that recruit partner proteins, lipids, or nucleic acids. Examples include PDZ-binding motifs at protein C-termini, phosphorylation sites that regulate activity, and proline-rich segments that engage SH3 domains. Tail-mediated interactions can determine subcellular localization, complex assembly, and signal propagation.

Tail-anchored proteins carry a hydrophobic C-terminal segment that anchors them to membranes, a property that defines their targeting and function, for example in organelle membranes or the plasma membrane. In signaling, tail domains can recruit adaptors or effectors upon modification, acting as regulatory switches that respond to cellular cues.

In virology and bacteriophages, tail fibers or tubes mediate host recognition and entry, a form of tail-mediated interaction that is critical for infection. In research, tail-mapping or tail-truncation experiments help assign functional roles to tail regions and reveal interaction networks.

See also: tail domain, C-terminus, tail-anchored proteins, protein-protein interactions, membrane targeting.