Membrane translocation at the ER: with a little help from my friends

FEBS J. 2020 Nov;287(21):4607-4611. doi: 10.1111/febs.15309. Epub 2020 Apr 16.

Abstract

The Sec61 complex is the proteinaceous pore through which one-third of mammalian polypeptides access the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during their translocation across, or insertion into, the ER membrane. N-terminal ER signal peptides mediate polypeptide targeting to, and opening of, the Sec61 channel in a substrate-specific manner. Here, we discuss the recently defined features of ER signal peptides which necessitate the use of the accessory components Sec62 and Sec63 during the Sec61-mediated cotranslational translocation of newly synthesized secretory proteins.

Keywords: Sec61 complex; Sec62/Sec63; endoplasmic reticulum; signal peptides; translocon gating.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Sorting Signals*
  • Protein Transport
  • SEC Translocation Channels / genetics
  • SEC Translocation Channels / metabolism
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Protein Sorting Signals
  • SEC Translocation Channels
  • SEC62 protein, human