The evolution of AAA ATPase nanomachines in protein quality control

As central elements of life, proteins fulfill a plethora of functions in cells and organisms. Not only their synthesis, but also their degradation has to be carefully regulated. Networks of ring-shaped AAA ATPases use energy to unfold proteins and deliver them into the interior of cylindrical proteasome complexes, where the disentangled proteins get degraded down to their basic components. Biochemical, bioinformatic and structural methods allow a deeper understanding of these processes on a molecular level and give insight into the evolution of complex protein nanomachines.