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Proteostasis

Meaning

Proteostasis, or protein homeostasis, is the highly coordinated and essential cellular process responsible for maintaining the correct concentration, conformation, and location of all proteins within a biological system. This complex network involves the integrated action of protein synthesis, folding chaperones, quality control mechanisms, and degradation pathways, such as the ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy. Optimal proteostasis is fundamental to cellular health, preventing the accumulation of misfolded or aggregated proteins that are characteristic features of aging and neurodegenerative diseases.