“The
Orderly Chaos of Proteins”
A.
Dunker and R. Kriwacki
Scientific American
April
2011, 68-73
In “The Orderly Chaos of Proteins”, the main focus of
the article was proteins with disordered parts. Previous knowledge before this discovery
suggests that all proteins must “fold into a precise, rigid configuration” (68).
Now, from the compilation of many studies, it can be concluded that proteins
can have portions of their amino acid chain that doesn’t have a specific shape
all the time. The start of this notion was suggested in the 1940s, when Linus
Pauling observed that some antibodies can fold up in a multitude of ways to fit
the surface of the antigen, and since then certain proteins have been seen to
have unstructured parts that allow it to have a specific function. NMR
spectroscopy showed the amino acids moving a lot, and when it was performed on
the protein p21, which helps control the division of cells, he noticed the
protein was almost all disordered and can still perform its function. The
disordered parts of proteins give it the ability to be flexible and mold itself
to enzymes, which is why more disordered proteins generally are used for
signaling and regulation. The scientists
who have been working on researching disordered proteins believe that they have
more hydrophilic amino acids because hydrophobic amino acids have to be
inwards, limiting the variability of the protein. Research also suggests that
eukaryotes have more of these disordered proteins because they have more parts
that need regulation and signaling to coordinate among the various cells and
tissues.
This article, as it should go without saying, is very
important to not only biology, but also life as we know it. Proteins themselves
are arguably one of the most important units of life, since everything relates
to them including DNA and cells. Since
1/3 of all the proteins in our body have disordered parts, it seems
self-evident that we should know about this type of protein. Disordered
proteins and how they function can help explain how certain things in our body
happen, especially when it comes to signaling and regulating. If you know how
these things work, you can manipulate them to fit your own personal needs. A
more specific example of this involves proteins key involvement in disease. Disordered
proteins can be very dangerous when it comes to disease, because when they are
in excess they are more likely to mishmash and cause a plaque of sorts, which
can lead to Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s. If we can figure out
how to make disordered proteins more structured, in the brain especially, we
can possibly learn to prevent these neurodegenerative diseases. Scientists are
currently using disordered protein knowledge to fight cancer. Protein-protein relationships
are very common within biology and humans, making it an ideal way to treat
diseases, and proteins that are disordered can more easily interact with
structured proteins than another structured protein could. As of late, studies
have been going on in animals in which a molecule blocks an interaction between
a gene that suppresses cancer and its regulatory partner. This has been shown
to be successful in fighting cancer, and now this research has developed into
clinical trials for humans. A cure to these devastating diseases would be a
major breakthrough for science, and it would create a healthier society.
I recommend this article to those trying to find
cures to diseases or who have a disease. This protein-protein interaction that
is being suggested for cures is highly effective so far, and if tweaked a bit,
could be the new lead in fighting disease. I suggested this to anyone who has a
disease since it can help explain the cure that may be used on them, and I
strongly believe in understanding what is wrong with you and how it is going to
be fixed, as it helps you understand the implications behind it. This article
has a high lexile level, however, so make sure to allot yourself enough time to
read it.
Sincerely Sydney
Sincerely Sydney
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