Lecture VI Flashcards
(108 cards)
What 3 compartments does protein synthesis and folding occur in eukaryotic cells?
cytosol
ER
mitochondria
What is the native structure?
correct #d structure of a protein
What is RNAse like in its native structure?
contains 4 disulfite bonds
What experiment first explained how proteins fold?
RNase folding studied by Anfinsen
Where is folding information found?
inside the primary structure (aminoacidic sequence of the protein)
What is the Levinthal Paradox?
mathematical calculation to try all the possible random conformation that can occur for 1000 amino acids (10²⁷)
Does protein folding occur by chance?
no, it is driven by forces that are able to overcome Levinthal Paradox (information inside the primary structure)
What kind of process is protein folding?
thermodynamic process
When are proteins most stable?
in their native conformation (lowest energy)
What is the misfoldeing confirmation?
when proteins have problems folding the correct way
What is more stable: misfolded or unfolded proteins?
misfolded proteins
Review the diagram and observe the energy levels with respect to the protein’s conformation:
What are the forces that drive protein folding?
hydrophobic interactions
electrostatic interactions
hydrogen bonds (formed on the lateral residues of different amino acids, that are a part of the protein, and among the atoms of the peptide backbone of the protein)
What helps proteins fold?
chaperone proteins
What are heatshock proteins (Hsp)?
chaperone proteins discovered in the late 70’s by Kelley and Schlesinger who were studying protein folding when cells were subjected to heatshock
What is the primary site of the secretory pathway?
ER
What happens at the ER?
proteins that have to be secreted are exposed to the plasma membrane
enzymes that are involved in the secretory pathway are synthesized
Why is protein folding in the ER difficult?
there is a high probability of being trapped in “energy traps”, so misfolded conformation is high due to different covalent modifications in the ER
What are the different covalent modifications in the ER?
cleavage of the leader peptide
N-Glycosylation
GPI anchors
SS bond formation
Hydroxylation (Pro and Lys)
Why is it so hard for proteins to fold in the ER?
it is a crowded environment
high protein concentrations
specific enzymes or chaperones are needed to help proteins fold in the ER
What are the different families of chaperones and enzymes that assist protein folding in the ER?
chaperones
lectins
redox enzymes
proline isomerases
sugar processing
What are “private chaperones”?
chaperones that are used by specific proteins that are more difficult to fold
What is Hsp47 a private chaperone for?
collagen
What is BiP (immunoglobulin binding protein)?
most famous chaperone in the ER (aka Hsp70) that is the most abundant chaperone in all cells