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Proteasomes Destroy Marked Proteins

One important mechanism of protein regulation is the controlled degradation of proteins by large protein complexes called proteasomes.

Proteasomes recognize and degrade proteins that have been tagged with the molecule ubiquitin. This way, only the unneeded proteins are destroyed.

A diagram of a protein being degraded by a large protein complex called a proteasome.
Proteasome (green and red) degrading a protein (yellow)


A diagram of a large, three-part structure labeled Proteasome. The structure has green, boot-shaped ends and a coiled red center. The left boot has its toe pointing up and the right boot points down. There is a gap between the left boot and the left side of the center segment. A small yellow structure with a long tail labeled Protein appears below the left boot. The tip of the tail extends into the gap between the left boot and the center segment.