What are the Implications of Defective Protein Degradation?
Defects in protein degradation pathways can lead to various diseases:
Neurodegenerative Diseases: Accumulation of misfolded proteins, such as amyloid-beta in Alzheimer's disease and alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease, is linked to defective protein degradation. Cancer: Dysregulation of the UPS can lead to the accumulation of oncoproteins or the degradation of tumor suppressor proteins, contributing to cancer development and progression. Muscle Disorders: Impaired autophagy can result in the accumulation of damaged organelles and proteins, leading to muscle atrophy and weakness.
