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How could two different diseases be caused by a deficiency in the same protein?

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Final answer:

A single protein deficiency can lead to different diseases due to the protein’s involvement in multiple biological functions and pathways. The misfolding and malfunction of a protein can lead to loss of function and toxic accumulation, which manifest as diseases in various organs and tissues.

Step-by-step explanation:

Two different diseases can be caused by a deficiency in the same protein due to the protein's multifunctional roles and the complex nature of its interactions within various biological pathways. For instance, the same protein may play a role in different tissues or organs, so its deficiency might lead to respective diseases in those areas.

A deficiency in a single protein can manifest as multiple diseases because proteins are essential for numerous physiological processes. When a protein is not synthesized correctly due to a mutation, its structural alteration can interfere with its function, leading to functional loss or the accumulation of toxic forms of the protein in cells, a condition known as proteopathy. This can result in various diseases depending on where the dysfunctional protein accumulates or which physiological processes it disrupts.

For example, Alzheimer's disease and Creutzfeld-Jacob disease both involve the accumulation of toxic amyloid plaques due to protein misfolding, yet they affect different domains of neurological function. Similarly, conditions like cystic fibrosis result from a defective protein that causes mucus buildup, affecting lung function, whereas in diseases like type 2 diabetes, protein misfolding can interfere with cellular signaling leading to insulin resistance.

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