proteolysis
|pro-te-o-ly-sis|
🇺🇸
/ˌproʊtiˈɑːləsɪs/
🇬🇧
/ˌprəʊtiˈɒləsɪs/
breaking down proteins
Etymology
'proteolysis' originates from modern scientific formation combining Greek elements: 'proteo-' from Greek 'proteios' (related to 'protos' meaning 'first', giving rise to 'protein') and 'lysis' from Greek 'lusis' meaning 'loosening' or 'breaking up'.
'proteolysis' was formed in scientific English in the late 19th to early 20th century by joining the noun 'protein' (coined in the 19th century from Greek 'proteios') with the suffix 'lysis' (used in scientific and medical terminology from Greek 'lusis'), producing the term for protein breakdown used in modern biochemistry.
Initially, combining these elements gave the literal sense 'breaking up of protein(s)'; over time it became the standard technical term for enzyme-catalyzed protein degradation and regulated proteolytic processing.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the biochemical process by which proteins are broken down into smaller polypeptides or amino acids by hydrolysis of peptide bonds, typically catalyzed by enzymes called proteases (peptidases).
Proteolysis is essential for many cellular processes, including protein turnover, signal transduction, and apoptosis.
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Noun 2
the enzymatic cleavage of specific peptide bonds in proteins, often a regulated process that activates, deactivates, or targets proteins for further degradation.
The proteolysis of the precursor protein produced the active hormone.
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Last updated: 2025/09/09 18:56