Post-translational Modifications in Proteins: Prediction Methods, Biological Functions, and Diseases

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Proteomics
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) are critical regulators of protein function, influencing cellular signaling and epigenetic memory.
• Mass spectrometry-based proteomics has advanced the study of PTMs, but identifying disease-specific sites remains challenging.
• Erythropoiesis serves as an ideal model system for studying PTM dynamics due to its well-defined stages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the applications, detection, and prediction technologies for PTMs.
• To emphasize the roles of specific PTMs (phosphorylation, ubiquitination, methylation, SUMOylation, glycosylation, acetylation) in physiological and pathological erythropoiesis.
• To explore the clinical translation and drug development potential of PTMs in precision medicine.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on PTM applications, detection, and prediction.
• Analysis of PTM mechanisms, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, methylation, SUMOylation, glycosylation, and acetylation.
• Examination of PTM roles in erythroid specification, maturation, and disease pathogenesis.

Main Results:

• PTMs significantly impact erythropoiesis, with specific modifications playing key roles in cell development and function.
• Perturbations in PTM networks can lead to erythroid-related diseases.
• Significant progress has been made in understanding PTMs for clinical applications and drug development.

Conclusions:

• Dissecting PTM circuitry in erythropoiesis provides crucial insights into disease mechanisms.
• PTMs hold considerable potential for precision medicine, although challenges remain in their clinical translation.
• This review offers new perspectives on PTM research, highlighting their importance in health and disease.