Effector (biology)
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An effector is a molecule (originally referring to small molecules but now encompassing any regulatory molecule, including proteins) that binds to a protein and thereby alters the activity of that protein. A modulator molecule binds to a regulatory site during allosteric modulation and allosterically modulates the shape of the protein.
An effector can also be a protein that is secreted from a pathogen, which alters the host organism to enable infection, e.g. by suppressing the host's immune system capabilities.
[edit] Examples for effectors
Allosteric effectors can bind to regulatory proteins involved in RNA transcription in order to change its activity.[1] In this way activator proteins become active to bind to the DNA to promote RNA Polymerase and repressor proteins become inactive and RNA polymerase can bind to the DNA.
[edit] Types of effectors
[edit] References
- ^ Introduction to genetic analysis (10. ed. ed.). New York, NY: Freeman. pp. 410–411. ISBN 1429276347.
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