N-alpha Acetylation

N-alpha acetylation is a common biological process where a small chemical group called an acetyl group is added to the nitrogen atom at the start (N-terminus) of a protein. This modification occurs after the protein is made and can influence its stability, activity, and interactions within the cell. Essentially, it acts like a molecular "tag" that helps determine how the protein functions and how long it lasts inside the body. This process is important for proper cellular operations and is common in many organisms.