Protein complex

Protein complex or protein assembly is a group of two or more proteins that bind together, often to carry out a specific function. There are several different types of protein complexes, including enzyme complexes, structural protein complexes, and transport protein complexes.

Structure

Protein complexes can be composed of identical proteins (homomers) or different proteins (heteromers). The proteins in a complex are held together by protein-protein interactions, which can involve hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, disulfide bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.

Function

Protein complexes carry out a wide range of functions in the cell. Some protein complexes, such as ribosomes, are involved in protein synthesis. Others, like the proteasome, are involved in protein degradation. Protein complexes also play key roles in cell signaling, DNA replication, and cell division.

Examples

Some examples of protein complexes include:

• Hemoglobin, a protein complex that carries oxygen in the blood
• Photosystem II, a protein complex involved in photosynthesis
• DNA polymerase, a protein complex involved in DNA replication
• ATP synthase, a protein complex that generates ATP

See also

• Protein structure
• Protein-protein interaction
• Protein folding
• Protein function

External links

• Protein Complexes and Functional Genomics - An article from the National Center for Biotechnology Information
• Protein Complex - A topic page from ScienceDirect

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