Introduction
After synthesis, proteins typically fold into a particular three-dimensional conformation: their native state. Only in their native state are they functional. This folding process is driven by the hydrophobic effect: a tendency for hydrophobic (i.e., “oil-ly”) portions of the protein to shield itself from the hydrophilic interior of the cell by burying into the interior of the protein. Thus, the exterior of a protein is typically hydrophilic, whereas the interior is typically hydrophobic.
However, newly synthesized proteins may not fold correctly, or properly folded proteins can spontaneously misfold. In these cases, if the cell does not assist the protein in re-folding, or degrade the unfolded protein, the unfolded protein may aggregate. In this process, exposed hydrophobic portions of the unfolded protein may interact with the exposed hydrophobic patches of other unfolded proteins, spontaneously leading to protein aggregation.
Read more about this topic: Protein Aggregation
Famous quotes containing the word introduction:
“Do you suppose I could buy back my introduction to you?”
—S.J. Perelman, U.S. screenwriter, Arthur Sheekman, Will Johnstone, and Norman Z. McLeod. Groucho Marx, Monkey Business, a wisecrack made to his fellow stowaway Chico Marx (1931)
“Such is oftenest the young man’s introduction to the forest, and the most original part of himself. He goes thither at first as a hunter and fisher, until at last, if he has the seeds of a better life in him, he distinguishes his proper objects, as a poet or naturalist it may be, and leaves the gun and fish-pole behind. The mass of men are still and always young in this respect.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The role of the stepmother is the most difficult of all, because you can’t ever just be. You’re constantly being tested—by the children, the neighbors, your husband, the relatives, old friends who knew the children’s parents in their first marriage, and by yourself.”
—Anonymous Stepparent. Making It as a Stepparent, by Claire Berman, introduction (1980, repr. 1986)