Many proteins destined for secretion are initially made as large, precursor molecules that are not functionally active. Portions of the protein must be removed by specialized endoproteases, resulting in the release of an active molecule. The cellular site of the cleavage reaction depends on the protein to be modified. Some precursor proteins are cleaved in the RER or the Golgi; others are cleaved in developing secretory vesicles (for example, insulin; see Fig. 23.4, p. 309); and still others, such as collagen (see p. 47), are cleaved after secretion.
B. Covalent attachments
Protein function can be affected by the covalent attachment of a variety of chemical groups (Fig. 32.16). Examples include the following.
1.
Phosphorylation: Phosphorylation occurs on the hydroxyl groups of serine, threonine, or, less frequently, tyrosine residues in a protein. It is catalyzed by one of a family of protein kinases and may be reversed by the action of protein phosphatases. The phosphorylation may increase or decrease the functional activity of the protein. Several examples of phosphorylation reactions have been previously discussed (for example, see Chapter 11, p. 132, for the regulation of glycogen synthesis and degradation).
2.
Glycosylation: Many of the proteins that are destined to become part of a membrane or to be secreted from a cell have carbohydrate chains added en bloc to the amide nitrogen of an asparagine (N-linked) or built sequentially on the hydroxyl groups of a serine, threonine, or hydroxylysine (O-linked). N-glycosylation occurs in the RER and Oglycosylation in the Golgi. (The process of producing such glycoproteins was discussed on p. 165.) N-glycosylated acid hydrolases are targeted to the matrix of lysosomes by the phosphorylation of mannose residues at carbon 6 (see p. 169).
3.
Hydroxylation: Proline and lysine residues of the α chains of collagen are extensively hydroxylated by vitamin C–dependent hydroxylases in the RER (see p. 47).
4.
Other covalent modifications: These may be required for the functional activity of a protein. For example, additional carboxyl groups can be added to glutamate residues by vitamin K–dependent carboxylation (see p. 393). The resulting γ-carboxyglutamate (Gla) residues are essential for the activity of several of the blood-clotting proteins. (See online Chapter 35.) Biotin is covalently bound to the ε-amino groups of lysine residues of biotin-dependent enzymes that catalyze carboxylation reactions such as pyruvate carboxylase (see Fig. 10.3 on p. 119). Attachment of lipids, such as farnesyl groups, can help anchor proteins to membranes (see p. 221). Many eukaryotic proteins are cotranslationally acetylated at the N-end. [Note: Reversible acetylation of histone proteins influences gene expression (see p. 476).]
C. Protein degradation