Protein degradation is tightly regulated by various mechanisms to ensure cellular homeostasis:
Post-translational Modifications: Modifications such as phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination can alter the stability and degradation of proteins. Substrate Specificity: E3 ubiquitin ligases and autophagy receptors confer specificity by recognizing specific degradation signals on target proteins. Cellular Conditions: Stress conditions such as nutrient deprivation, oxidative stress, and infection can activate autophagy and alter protein degradation rates.
