A researcher investigates neurodegenerative disease protein aggregates in brain tissue. Why does ubiquitin-proteasome system impairment increase the risk of pathological aggregate accumulation?

💡 Explanation

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is the primary mechanism for degrading intracellular proteins. Its impairment reduces the cell's capacity for aggregate clearance, because ubiquitination marks proteins for proteasomal degradation; therefore, aggregates accumulate, rather than being broken down by normal cellular processes.

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