EXTRINSIC PROTEIN Meaning and
Definition
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Extrinsic proteins, also known as peripheral proteins, are a type of protein that is located on the outer surface of cellular membranes or associated with them but do not penetrate or span across the lipid bilayer. These proteins are not attached to the membrane structure by hydrophobic interactions like integral proteins, but rather, they are attached indirectly through electrostatic forces and hydrogen bonds with the integral proteins or lipids.
Extrinsic proteins play crucial roles in various cellular processes. Due to their location on the membrane surface, they are primarily involved in cell signaling, cell recognition, and cell adhesion. They often act as receptors, enzymes, or transport proteins, facilitating the communication between the extracellular environment and the interior of the cell.
Unlike integral proteins, extrinsic proteins are relatively loosely bound and can be easily dissociated from the membrane with mild treatments that disrupt non-covalent interactions. They can also be solubilized from the membrane using detergents, as they lack the hydrophobic regions required for membrane insertion.
Overall, extrinsic proteins contribute to the structural integrity and functionality of cellular membranes. Their association with the lipid bilayer enables the formation of protein complexes and facilitates the transmission of signals across the membrane, playing a vital role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating various biological processes.
Common Misspellings for EXTRINSIC PROTEIN
- wxtrinsic protein
- sxtrinsic protein
- dxtrinsic protein
- rxtrinsic protein
- 4xtrinsic protein
- 3xtrinsic protein
- eztrinsic protein
- ectrinsic protein
- edtrinsic protein
- estrinsic protein
- exrrinsic protein
- exfrinsic protein
- exgrinsic protein
- exyrinsic protein
- ex6rinsic protein
- ex5rinsic protein
- exteinsic protein
- extdinsic protein
- extfinsic protein
- exttinsic protein
Etymology of EXTRINSIC PROTEIN
The word "extrinsic" comes from the Latin word "extrinsecus", which means "from outside" or "external". The term was first used in English in the 1590s to refer to something that is not an inherent or essential part of a thing, but rather originates from outside of it.
The word "protein" is derived from the French word "protéine", which was coined in 1838 by Dutch chemist Gerardus Johannes Mulder. Mulder used the term to describe a class of organic compounds found in living organisms, and he derived the word from the Greek word "protos", meaning "first" or "primary", as he believed proteins to be the primary constituents of living tissues.
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