Final answer:
Post-translational control refers to the regulation of protein activity after its synthesis, through various modifications like enzyme inhibition or the addition of functional groups that affect the protein's function and location within the cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
Post-translational control refers to the regulation of protein activity after synthesis. It involves modifying the protein after its creation to affect its activity. This can include additions such as methyl, phosphate, or acetyl groups, among others. For example, enzyme inhibition, whether competitive or allosteric, is a form of post-translational control that prevents an enzyme from binding to its substrate. The changes in protein may impact its stability, localization within the cell, and ultimately its function.
It's important to differentiate this from post-transcriptional regulation, which involves controls on mRNA processing, stability, and translation into protein, occurring between transcription and the final protein synthesis.