Chemical process of decomposition during early decomposition, while others are degraded during later stages of decomposition. During the early stages of decomposition, soft tissue proteins are broken down. These include proteins that: During later stages of decomposition, more resistant tissue proteins are degraded by the effects of putrefaction. These include: Keratin is a protein which is found in skin, hair, and nails. It is most resistant to the enzymes involved in proteolysis and must be broken down by special keratinolytic microorganisms. This is the reason that hair and nails are commonly found with skeletal remains. In general, proteolysis breaks down proteins into: Continuing proteolysis
YqaJ protein domain YqaJ protein domain In molecular biology, the YqaJ refers to the YqaJ/K domain from the "skin" prophage of the bacterium, "Bacillus subtilis". This protein domain, often found in bacterial species, is actually of viral origin. The protein forms an oligomer and functions as an alkaline exonuclease, or in simpler terms, an enzyme that digests double-stranded DNA. It is a reaction which is dependent on Magnesium. It has a preference for 5'-phosphorylated DNA ends. It thus forms part of the two-component SynExo viral recombinase functional unit. The function of this protein domain is to digest DNA. Most viruses, inject their host