Protein disaggregation by the metazoan Hsp70-system
Protein disaggregation by the metazoan Hsp70-system
The human cell is filled with proteins. These proteins enable almost all important functions and processes that are important to the cell. To be able to fulfill these functions, proteins need to fold into a complex three-dimensional structure. While proteins are able to spontaneously fold into these structures in a test tube, in the crowded environment of a cell they need assistance to fold properly. When, for whatever reason, a protein does not fold properly fold or unfold it loses its function. However, unfolded proteins can also clump together and aggregate.
These protein aggregates can stick to other proteins and structures in the cell which can ultimately lead to the death of these cells. Protein aggregation is the cause of several brain disorders, such as Parkinson’s Disease or ALS. To prevent protein aggregation from happening the cell contains a vast quality control system that helps fold or refolds proteins, or clears proteins that are incapable of folding. In this thesis of Niels Albert-Visscher we demonstrate that, when protein aggregates do form, this quality control system is capable of disassembling these proteins aggregates. To do so, the cell contains various so-called “protein disaggregation systems” that are capable of targeting various types of aggregates to ensure that cells can handle multiples types of protein aggregates that can form during someone's life.