Protein-catalysed protein folding

Abstract

A number of proteins, termed chaperonins, have been identified as part of the mechanism of folding other proteins into their biologically active forms. The role of chaperonins appears to be twofold--to prevent illegitimate interactions with other proteins and to facilitate folding, possibly through an energy-dependent, catalytic function. Controlled overexpression of chaperonins may be of therapeutic value in manipulating human immune response and rescuing certain inherited human mutations.