Protein aggregation
Protein aggregation
Protein aggregation (pronunciation: proh-teen ag-rih-gay-shun) is a biological phenomenon that occurs when misfolded proteins accumulate in cells. This process is associated with a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, and systemic amyloidosis.
Etymology
The term "protein aggregation" is derived from the Latin word 'proteina', meaning 'of first importance', and 'aggregare', meaning 'to come together'.
Definition
Protein aggregation is a process where misfolded proteins clump together, forming aggregates or plaques in cells. These aggregates can disrupt the normal functioning of cells and lead to cell death.
Related Terms
- Misfolded proteins: Proteins that have not correctly formed their 3-dimensional structure. These proteins can cause a variety of diseases when they accumulate in cells.
- Neurodegenerative diseases: A group of disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the nervous system. These diseases are often associated with protein aggregation.
- Amyloidosis: A group of diseases characterized by the accumulation of amyloid proteins in various organs and tissues in the body. Amyloid proteins are a type of misfolded protein that can form aggregates.
- Alzheimer's disease: A neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques, a type of protein aggregate, in the brain.
- Parkinson's disease: A neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of alpha-synuclein, a type of protein aggregate, in the brain.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Protein aggregation
- Wikipedia's article - Protein aggregation
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