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MuRF-1

Meaning

MuRF-1, or Muscle Ring Finger 1, is a specific E3 ubiquitin ligase enzyme that is highly and predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle tissue. This enzyme functions as a critical, rate-limiting component of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, the main cellular pathway responsible for targeted protein degradation. MuRF-1 is a potent catabolic signal, playing a major role in the pathological process of muscle atrophy and wasting, which frequently accompanies conditions of hormonal deficiency, chronic illness, or physical disuse. Its measurable activity is a key molecular biomarker for assessing the rate of muscle protein breakdown.