General protein complexes

General protein complexes are multi-subunit assemblies of proteins that work together to execute complex biological tasks (UniProt, 2023). These assemblies represent the quaternary structure of proteins and are essential for the majority of cellular functions, including enzymatic catalysis, structural integrity, and molecular signaling (PubMed, 2021). In the context of pharmacology, specific protein-protein interactions (PPIs) within these complexes are often the focus of drug development to modulate disease-related pathways (NIH, 2022). However, the term 'General protein complexes' is too broad to be classified as a single therapeutic target, as it encompasses a vast and diverse array of unrelated molecular entities. Consequently, it is considered an incorrect or non-specific designation for drug discovery purposes, as therapeutic intervention requires the identification of specific protein components or interfaces. Effective drug design typically targets a unique binding pocket or a specific interface within a defined complex rather than the general concept of protein assembly (Nature, 2020).

Other names

Protein-protein complexesMultiprotein complexesProtein assembliesQuaternary protein structures

Not applicable for a general category.