What is the Difference Between Co and Post Translational Modification?

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The main difference between co- and post-translational modifications lies in the timing of these protein modifications.

Co-translational modifications occur during the translation process, while the polypeptide chains are still being synthesized. These modifications mainly take place in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and include processes such as regulation of translation, protein folding and processing, myristoylation, prenylation, and palmitoylation.

Post-translational modifications, on the other hand, occur after the translation process is complete. These modifications can take place in various cellular compartments, including the Golgi apparatus, endosomes, lysosomes, and secretory vesicles. Examples of post-translational modifications include phosphorylation, glycosylation, ubiquitination, nitrosylation, methylation, acetylation, lipidation, and proteolysis.

In summary, the key difference between co- and post-translational modifications is the timing of these processes, with co-translational modifications occurring during translation and post-translational modifications occurring after translation.

Comparative Table: Co vs Post Translational Modification

Co- and post-translational modifications are two types of protein modifications that occur during and after translation. Here is a table comparing the differences between them:

Feature Co-translational Modification Post-translational Modification
Definition Occurs during protein synthesis. Occurs after protein synthesis is completed.
Location Mainly takes place in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER). Takes place in the Golgi, endosomes, lysosomes, and secretory vesicles.
Examples Regulation of translation, protein folding and processing, myristoylation, prenylation, and palmitoylation. Phosphorylation, glycosylation, ubiquitination, nitrosylation, methylation, acetylation, lipidation, and proteolysis.

Both co- and post-translational modifications are structural modifications that take place during and after translation. They play crucial roles in various biological processes and contribute to the complexity of the proteome.