Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Cycloheximide Chase Analysis of Protein Degradation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Published on: April 18, 2016
Homocysteine effect on protein degradation rates
Felicia Stern1, Yitshal N Berner, Zeev Polyak
1Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Objectives:
To show the effect of homocysteine (Hcy) on the degradation rates of proteins.
Design And Methods:
Degradation rates of short-lived proteins in neutrophils were measured in in vivo human model of elevated plasma Hcy and lower vitamin status and in animal model of Hcy added in vitro to rat neutrophils.
Results:
In the human study, we found significant coefficients of correlation between plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and the degradation rates of 21 protein fractions. In the animal model, Hcy significantly increased degradation rates of 57 protein fractions.
Conclusions:
The increase in protein degradation rates, induced by Hcy, may provide a clue to our understanding of the mechanism of Hcy detrimental effects. Hcy may amplify the specific effect of cellular solutes on protein conformation, thereby monitor protein degradation rates to control enzyme activity. Consequently, the cell may lose its ability to maintain an efficient control of some crucial metabolic pathways, possibly leading to atherogenesis.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Regulated Protein Degradation
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
The Proteasome
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. This involves participation of a series of enzymes including— E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3 (ubiquitin...
The Proteasome
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. A series of enzymes carry out the ubiquitination of the target proteins - E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3...
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Proteins: From Genes to Degradation
Transcription is the synthesis of RNA molecules by RNA...
Protein Denaturation

