Structural Biochemistry, The "fuzzy" interactome

The "fuzzy" interactome refers to the concept that the current protein-protein interactome is inaccurate. The research suggests that scientists are satisfied with the protein-protein interactome acquired through insufficient data and inconclusive lab results. Additionally, the study suggests that the current model for defining protein-protein interactions is overly simplified as it neglects several physiological variables.

The main foundation of the "fuzzy" interactome theory is the inability to perfectly replicate all physiological protein-protein interactions in the a lab setting. For example, many experiments do not consider the importance of unstable intermediates, which cannot be isolated. Additionally, results wrongly suggest that protein-protein interactions are extremely simple and can be mapped and identified through simple experimentation. As a result, the current protein-protein interactome tends to reflect the results of technology driven experiments as opposed to hypothesis driven experiments.

This conclusion emphasizes the difference between physiological conditions and what can be replicated in the laboratory.

References

• G. Rickey Welch, The `fuzzy' interactome, Trends in Biochemical Sciences, Volume 34, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages 1-2, ISSN 0968-0004, DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2008.10.007. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TCV-4V03JYW-1/2/286f850f0f310d9acb0f379eede62c0f)

Where this page came from

This page was imported from Wikibooks. From “Structural Biochemistry” on Wikibooks, by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changed here: set as a page; navigation and edit links left out; each image under its own licence, credited in its caption.

Nobody has written it yet — it is the source material at a new address, which is why search engines are asked to skip it and why no one earns from it. It is up for grabs: take it on, and it is yours to rewrite and to earn from.