title: Intrinsically disordered proteins: administration not executive.
abstract: IDPs (intrinsically disordered proteins) are common in eukaryotic genomes and have regulatory roles. In the cell, they are disordered, although not completely random. They bind weakly, but specifically, often remaining partially disordered even when bound. Whereas folded globular proteins have 'executive' roles in the cell, IDPs have an essential administrative function, making sure that the executive functions are properly co-ordinated. This makes them a good target for pharmaceutical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, U.K. m.williamson@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mike P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Potts
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017510:Protein Folding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins