Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
What is the role of proteasomes?
A
They inject double-stranded RNA into a cell, turning off a gene with the same sequence.
B
They encode for products that help prevent uncontrolled cell growth.
C
They are segments of noncoding DNA that help regulate transcription by binding certain proteins.
D
None of the listed responses is correct.
E
They are giant protein complexes that recognize ubiquitin and degrade the tagged proteins.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the function of proteasomes: Proteasomes are large protein complexes found within cells that play a crucial role in degrading unneeded or damaged proteins by proteolysis, a chemical reaction that breaks peptide bonds.
Recognize the process of ubiquitination: Proteins that need to be degraded are tagged with a small protein called ubiquitin. This tagging process is known as ubiquitination and serves as a signal for the proteasome to recognize and bind to the protein.
Learn how proteasomes recognize tagged proteins: Once a protein is tagged with ubiquitin, the proteasome identifies the ubiquitin tag and binds to the protein, preparing it for degradation.
Understand the degradation process: The proteasome unfolds the tagged protein and translocates it into its core, where proteolytic enzymes break down the protein into small peptides.
Clarify the role of proteasomes in cellular regulation: By degrading proteins, proteasomes help regulate various cellular processes, including the cell cycle, apoptosis, and DNA repair, ensuring that damaged or unnecessary proteins do not accumulate and disrupt cellular function.