Functional Amyloids Are the Rule Rather Than the Exception in Cellular Biology.

ABSTRACT: Amyloids are a class of protein aggregates that have been historically characterized by their relationship with human disease. Indeed, amyloids can be the result of misfolded proteins that self-associate to form insoluble, extracellular plaques in diseased tissue. For the first 150 years of their study, the pathogen-first definition of amyloids was sufficient. However, new observations of amyloids foster an appreciation for non-pathological roles for amyloids in cellular systems. There is now evidence from all domains of life that amyloids can be non-pathogenic and functional, and that their formation can be the result of purposeful and controlled cellular processes. So-called functional amyloids fulfill an assortment of biological functions including acting as structural scaffolds, regula

SUBMITTER: Balistreri A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7764130 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature