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MuRF1

Meaning

MuRF1, or Muscle Ring Finger 1, is a critical E3 ubiquitin ligase enzyme that functions as a major molecular determinant and biomarker of muscle protein breakdown. As a central component of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, this enzyme is directly responsible for tagging myofibrillar proteins in skeletal muscle for degradation. Clinically, a measurable upregulation of MuRF1 expression is strongly associated with muscle wasting conditions, including disuse atrophy, cancer cachexia, and the progression of age-related sarcopenia.