L17: Proteolysis Flashcards
What is proteolysis?
The breakdown of proteins into polypeptides or amino acids through enzymatic cleavage of peptide bonds.
What is the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS)?
A system controlling protein degradation via the 26S proteasome, targeting proteins for breakdown into small polypeptides and amino acids.
What roles does the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) play?
It ensures protein quality control, regulates biological processes, recycles peptides and amino acids, and generates peptides for antigen presentation.
What is ubiquitination?
The process by which ubiquitin, a small protein, is covalently attached to a target protein, often tagging it for degradation.
What are lysine 11 and lysine 48 linkages significant for?
They are important in ubiquitin chains for recognition by the 26S proteasome and subsequent protein degradation.
How is ubiquitin activated and attached to target proteins?
Through a three-step process involving E1 activating enzymes, E2 conjugating enzymes, and E3 ubiquitin ligases.
What is the role of E3 ubiquitin ligases?
They determine substrate specificity in the ubiquitination process and are highly diverse, with over 700 types in the human proteome.
What is the 26S proteasome composed of?
A 20S proteolytic core capped by 19S regulatory particles that control substrate recognition, unfolding, and entry.
What are the proteolytic activities of the 20S core proteasome?
Beta subunits exhibit caspase-like, trypsin-like, and chymotrypsin-like activities to cleave specific amino acid residues.
What is autophagy’s role in cellular health?
It clears damaged organelles like mitochondria through lysosomes, recycling their components for reuse.
What is the lysosome, and what is its pH?
A membrane-bound organelle involved in macromolecule degradation with an acidic internal pH of 4.5-5.
How are lysosomal hydrolases targeted to lysosomes?
Through the mannose-6-phosphate pathway.
How does ubiquitin influence the lysosomal degradation pathway?
Mono-ubiquitination regulates protein localization and substrate targeting for lysosomal degradation.
What diseases are linked to dysfunctions in the ubiquitin-proteasome system?
Cancer, neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s, and cardiovascular diseases.
What is the significance of pink1 and Parkin in Parkinson’s disease?
They mediate mitochondrial clearance via autophagy, with mutations linked to early-onset Parkinson’s.
What is the function of ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs)?
USPs reverse ubiquitination by cleaving ubiquitin from substrates, modifying ubiquitin chains, and regulating their function.
What are the two main components of the 26S proteasome?
The 20S proteolytic core and the 19S regulatory particle.
How does the 19S regulatory particle assist the proteasome?
It recognizes ubiquitinated substrates, unfolds them using ATP, and translocates them into the 20S core for degradation.
What are some known functions of polyubiquitin chains with specific linkages?
- Lysine 48: Targets proteins for proteasomal degradation.
• Lysine 63: Involved in DNA repair and lysosomal targeting.
• Mono-ubiquitination: Regulates protein localization and interactions.
What is the function of lysosomal hydrolases?
They degrade macromolecules such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids into simpler components for recycling.