Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
08:33
Characterizing Histone Post-translational Modification Alterations in Yeast Neurodegenerative Proteinopathy Models
Published on: March 24, 2019
Protein farnesylation and disease
Giuseppe Novelli1, Maria Rosaria D'Apice
1Department of Biopathology and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. novelli@med.uniroma2.it
Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease
|February 7, 2012
Summary
Protein prenylation, a key modification, is vital for protein function and linked to diseases like cancer and aging. Targeting prenylation enzymes offers potential therapeutic strategies for these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Prenylation is a crucial enzymatic posttranslational modification involving the addition of isoprenoid groups to proteins.
- This process is essential for protein maturation, processing, and proper cellular localization and function.
- Deficiencies in prenylation enzymes lead to severe phenotypes and are implicated in human diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the fundamental aspects of protein isoprenylation and postprenylation.
- To integrate recent findings on isoprenylation in pathological conditions.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of progeroid syndromes and potential therapeutic avenues.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and data integration.
- Analysis of existing studies on protein prenylation and its role in disease.
- Evaluation of therapeutic strategies targeting prenylation enzymes.
Main Results:
- Prenylation is critical for protein-protein and membrane-protein interactions.
- Alterations in prenylation pathways are associated with cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and premature aging.
- Recent research highlights novel roles of prenylation in cellular pathways and identifies enzymes as therapeutic targets.
Conclusions:
- Protein prenylation and postprenylation are fundamental processes with significant implications for health and disease.
- Targeting prenylation enzymes shows promise as a therapeutic strategy for anti-cancer and anti-aging treatments.
- Further research into isoprenylation pathways may reveal new insights into cellular mechanisms and disease pathologies.
Related Concept Videos
03:03Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid fibrils are aggregates of misfolded proteins. Under most circumstances, misfolded proteins are either refolded by chaperone proteins or degraded by the proteasome. However, in the case of a mutation or a disease, these proteins can accumulate to form large clusters and often further assemble to form elongated fibers, called fibrils.
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
03:03Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid fibrils are aggregates of misfolded proteins. Under most circumstances, misfolded proteins are either refolded by chaperone proteins or degraded by the proteasome. However, in the case of a mutation or a disease, these proteins can accumulate to form large clusters and often further assemble to form elongated fibers, called fibrils.
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
01:31Translation
Lesson: Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
01:31Translation
Lesson: Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
02:04Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
01:02Phosphorylation
The addition or removal of phosphate groups from proteins is the most common chemical modification that regulates cellular processes. These modifications can affect the structure, activity, stability, and localization of proteins within cells as well as their interactions with other proteins.
During phosphorylation, protein kinases transfer the terminal phosphate group of ATP to specific amino acid side chains of substrate proteins. Serine, threonine, and tyrosine are the most commonly...
During phosphorylation, protein kinases transfer the terminal phosphate group of ATP to specific amino acid side chains of substrate proteins. Serine, threonine, and tyrosine are the most commonly...