Chaperon
Chaperon
Chaperon (pronounced: /ˈʃæpərəʊn/) is a term used in the medical field, particularly in the context of molecular biology and biochemistry.
Etymology
The term "chaperon" is derived from the French word "chaperon", which means "hood" or "headdress". In the medical context, it was first used in the late 20th century to describe proteins that assist in the folding of other proteins.
Definition
In the field of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, a chaperon is a type of protein that assists in the non-covalent folding or unfolding and the assembly or disassembly of other macromolecular structures. Chaperons are not to be confused with enzymes as they do not carry out chemical reactions.
Function
Chaperons function by stabilizing new proteins to ensure correct folding or by helping to refold proteins that were damaged by the cell. If the wrong areas of a protein are exposed, it may lead to aggregation, where proteins clump together. Chaperons help prevent these incorrect interactions and are also involved in other cellular functions such as protein transport and signal transduction.
Related Terms
- Protein Folding: The process by which a protein structure assumes its functional shape or conformation.
- Molecular Chaperone: A protein that assists the non-covalent folding/unfolding and the assembly/disassembly of other macromolecular structures.
- Heat Shock Protein: A family of proteins that are produced by cells in response to exposure to stressful conditions.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Chaperon
- Wikipedia's article - Chaperon
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski