Post-translational modification
Post-translational modification
Post-translational modification (pronunciation: post-tran-slay-shuh-nul mod-uh-fi-kay-shun) is a biological process that alters proteins after their synthesis.
Etymology
The term "post-translational modification" is derived from the Latin words "post" meaning "after", "translatio" meaning "transfer", and "modificatio" meaning "change". It refers to the changes that occur to a protein after its translation during protein synthesis.
Definition
Post-translational modification (PTM) refers to the covalent and generally enzymatic modification of proteins following protein biosynthesis. Proteins are synthesized by ribosomes translating mRNA into polypeptide chains, which may then undergo PTM to form the mature protein product.
Types of Post-translational modifications
There are many types of post-translational modifications, including but not limited to:
- Phosphorylation: The addition of a phosphate group to a protein.
- Acetylation: The addition of an acetyl group to a protein.
- Methylation: The addition of a methyl group to a protein.
- Ubiquitination: The addition of ubiquitin, a small protein, to a protein.
- Glycosylation: The addition of a sugar molecule to a protein.
Importance
Post-translational modifications are critical for many cellular functions such as protein-protein interactions, protein stability, and protein activity. They play a key role in a wide range of biological processes, including cell signaling, immune responses, and the regulation of gene expression.
Related Terms
- Protein synthesis
- Phosphorylation
- Acetylation
- Methylation
- Ubiquitination
- Glycosylation
- Gene expression
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Post-translational modification
- Wikipedia's article - Post-translational modification
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