Protein Aggregation in the Cell Nucleus: Structure, Function and Topology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Protein Aggregation in the Cell Nucleus: Structure, Function and Topology

Anna von Mikecz, * Open Modal
Authors Info & Affiliations
The Open Biology Journal 31 Dec 2009 RESEARCH ARTICLE DOI: 10.2174/1874196700902010193

Abstract

The nucleus represents a cellular control unit that regulates all events concerning the storage and processing of DNA and RNA. It is organized by highly crowded, dynamic assemblies of proteins and nucleic acids in molecular machines, ribonucleoprotein complexes, clusters of ongoing nuclear processes, nuclear bodies, and chromatin. This review discusses the occurrence of nuclear protein aggregation with special emphasis on the functional architecture of the nucleus, and quality control by the ubiquitin-proteasome system.

Keywords: Amyloid, gene expression, Huntington's disease, neurodegeneration, nucleus, polyglutamine, protein aggregation, trinucleotide repeat, ubiquitin-proteasome system.