Protein metabolism modulation

Protein metabolism modulation refers to the therapeutic regulation of the balance between protein synthesis (anabolism) and protein degradation (catabolism), a state often termed proteostasis (Balch et al., Science, 2008). This is not a single molecular target but a broad biological process involving multiple pathways, including the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) for synthesis and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) for degradation (Saxton & Sabatini, Cell, 2017). In clinical practice, drugs like bortezomib target the 26S proteasome to treat multiple myeloma by preventing the breakdown of regulatory proteins, thereby inducing apoptosis (Richardson et al., NEJM, 2003). Conversely, mTOR inhibitors like sirolimus are used to modulate protein synthesis for immunosuppression and oncology. Dysregulation of these processes is a hallmark of various diseases, including neurodegeneration where misfolded proteins accumulate, and muscle wasting where catabolism exceeds anabolism. Because the term describes a systemic metabolic process rather than a specific protein or receptor, it is classified as a therapeutic category or biological pathway rather than a discrete drug target.

Other names

ProteostasisProtein turnoverProtein homeostasis regulationProteome maintenance

Modulation of protein turnover through the inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system or the regulation of the mTOR signaling pathway to balance protein synthesis and degradation.