Proteolysis

Proteolysis is the breakdown of <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">proteins</a> into smaller <a href="/facts/Polypeptide/C4ltc7UG">polypeptides</a> or <a href="/facts/Amino_acids/WDxYwBny">amino acids</a>. Protein degradation is a major regulatory mechanism of gene expression and contributes substantially to shaping mammalian proteomes. Uncatalysed, the <a href="/facts/Hydrolysis/JTvwIHPs">hydrolysis</a> of <a href="/facts/Peptide_bond/3FeX8M6q">peptide bonds</a> is extremely slow, taking hundreds of years. Proteolysis is typically <a href="/facts/Catalysed/LPBS7TQC">catalysed</a> by cellular <a href="/facts/Enzyme/DSI1Fh7y">enzymes</a> called <a href="/facts/Protease/G1ASdVat">proteases</a>, but may also occur by intra-molecular digestion.
Proteolysis in organisms serves many purposes; for example, <a href="/facts/Digestive_enzymes/aRYCbJHe">digestive enzymes</a> break down proteins in food to provide amino acids for the organism, while proteolytic processing of a polypeptide chain after its synthesis may be necessary for the production of an active protein. It is also important in the regulation of some physiological and cellular processes including <a href="/facts/Apoptosis/8dVzSm4y">apoptosis</a>, as well as preventing the accumulation of unwanted or misfolded proteins in cells. Consequently, abnormality in the regulation of proteolysis can cause diseases.
Proteolysis can also be used as an analytical tool for studying proteins in the laboratory, and it may also be used in industry, for example in food processing and stain removal.

Proteolysis open-in-new

Proteolysis