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Protein Folding

Meaning

Protein folding is the highly precise biophysical process by which a linear polypeptide chain, newly synthesized from a specific sequence of amino acids, spontaneously and rapidly assumes its unique and biologically functional three-dimensional structure, known as its native conformation. This intricate process is absolutely essential because a protein’s biological activity, including the ability of a peptide hormone to bind its specific receptor, is entirely dependent on achieving this correct spatial arrangement. Errors in this folding process can lead to misfolded proteins, which are often non-functional and can contribute to various endocrine and neurodegenerative diseases.