Theory 23/Competing Rates/Protein aggregation
Aggregation Is Clearance Against Growth
The claim
Whether a protein aggregates in vivo is set by the ratio of clearance rate to aggregation rate rather than by intrinsic aggregation propensity.
01Mechanism
Aggregates accumulate only when they form faster than they are cleared; a sticky protein with fast clearance can stay soluble.
02Prediction
Aggregation should track the ratio across tissues.
03Refutation
Aggregation tracking intrinsic propensity would remove the clearance term.