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How are isoprenoids attached to some animal proteins after the proteins are made?
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Isoprenoid
Camphor, an isoprenoid compound classified as a terpenoid ketone, is used in incense and certain medicinal compounds. It is a natural substance obtained from the camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), a species of evergreen.
In animals, certain proteins undergo a post-translational modification process known as prenylation, where isoprenoid structures containing 15 or 20 carbon atoms are attached to specific side chains of the protein. This modification occurs after the protein has been fully synthesized. These prenylated proteins require the attached isoprenoid to function correctly. Because this process is involved in proteins that can induce cancers, researchers are investigating drugs that block protein prenylation as a potential strategy to prevent the spread of the disease.1