İkincil İşlevli Proteinler: Biyoloji Felsefesi Bağlamında İşlev Problemine Bütünlüklü Bir Bakış

Abstract

This study aims to trace the concept of function and functional explanation in the history of philosophy, and to put forward the thesis that moonlighting proteins have changed the paradigm of molecular biological function by addressing the current problem field in the philosophy of biology. After the basic structure of the issue is presented in the introductory chapter, some historically important points of the philosophy of biology, the conceptual framework of the problem of function and the progress of the thesis are discussed in the general information section. In the third part, the foundations of the problem are laid through a reflection on the determination of the concept of function in the philosophies of Aristotle, Kant, and Hegel, and by considering how the function–teleology debates are represented with respect to the domain of nature. In the fourth part, information is provided on moonlighting proteins, which challenge the idea of one gene–one protein–one function and show multifunctionality in biochemical or biophysical contexts through their structure that performs distinct functions. In order to comprehend the mechanisms of functional change, their interactions, differences in cellular and phylogenetic contexts, and functional diversity, 100 moonlighting proteins are discussed according to prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, organisms, cellular localizations, and their primary and moonlighting functions. In the last part, encompassing the previous two parts, normativity, the etiological, functional analysis, and organizational views in the philosophy of biology are revealed, and the limits faced by functional approaches in explaining moonlighting proteins are critiqued. Ultimately, by showing how the problem of function has been shaped from its inception to the present day, it is intended that the perspective offered by moonlighting proteins be introduced into the literature and spark new discussions.