The nonlinear cysteine redox dynamics in the i-space: A proteoform-centric theory of redox regulation.

ABSTRACT: The post-translational redox regulation of protein function by cysteine oxidation controls diverse biological processes, from cell division to death. However, most current site-centric paradigms fail to capture the nonlinear and emergent nature of redox regulation in proteins with multiple cysteines. Here, we present a proteoform-centric theory of redox regulation grounded in the i-space. The i-space encapsulates the theoretical landscape of all possible cysteine proteoforms. Using computational approaches, we quantify the vast size of the abstract i-space, revealing its scale-free architecture-elucidating the disproportionate influence of cysteine-rich proteins. We define mathematical rules governing cysteine proteoform dynamics. Their dynamics are inherently nonlinear, context-dependent,

SUBMITTER: Cobley JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11849597 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature