What Are the Functions of Peripheral Membrane Proteins?
Peripheral membrane proteins play a variety of roles, including: 1. Signal Transduction: They can act as intermediates in signaling pathways. For instance, some proteins associate with receptor proteins and help relay signals from the extracellular environment to the intracellular machinery. 2. Cytoskeletal Attachment: These proteins often link the cell membrane to the cytoskeleton, providing structural support and facilitating cell shape changes. 3. Enzymatic Activity: Many peripheral membrane proteins have enzymatic functions. For example, some act as kinases or phosphatases that modify other proteins by adding or removing phosphate groups. 4. Cell-Cell Interaction: They are involved in cell adhesion and communication by interacting with other cells or the extracellular matrix.
