Question

It is possible for a cell to make proteins that last for months; hemoglobin in red blood cells is a good example. however, many proteins are not this long-lasting. they may be degraded in days or even hours. why do you think cells make proteins with such short lifetimes if it is possible to make them last longer?

Answer 1

The cells of the body are perfectly capable of making proteins with a life span of many months, still the cells make proteins which are short-lived. On one hand, they make proteins like hemoglobin having a life span of approximately 120 days, and on the other hand, it makes proteins with life span of few days, such as a tumor suppressor protein. The short lived proteins have their own advantage, as they allow the cells to control their function, and amount precisely.