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Protein splicing--the lengths some proteins will go to
1Laboratory for Leprosy and Mycobacterial Research, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, England.
Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Protein splicing is a novel biological process where internal protein sequences are excised post-translationally. This review covers inteins, their identification, and autocatalytic mechanisms, distinguishing it from RNA splicing.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
Background:
- Protein splicing is a recently discovered phenomenon.
- It involves the excision of internal protein sequences.
- This occurs at the protein level, not the RNA level.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the phenomenon of protein splicing.
- To describe methods for identifying protein splicing.
- To compare inteins with group I RNA introns.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of protein splicing.
- Analysis of intein similarities.
- Examination of proposed autocatalytic mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Protein splicing involves excision of inteins.
- Inteins show similarities to group I RNA introns.
- Evidence supports post-translational autocatalytic excision.
Conclusions:
- Protein splicing is an autocatalytic process.
- Inteins are excised via a post-translational mechanism.
- This mechanism differs from traditional RNA splicing.