Biosynthesis of Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Proteins

Abstract

The intent of this review is to discuss recent literature on the biosynthesis of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane proteins, with a focus on two mechnisms that appear to be operative during insertion of these proteins into the ER membrane (i.e., cotranslational and posttranslational insertion). During the past few years, the biosynthesis of membrane proteins in general has received much attention, particularly in regard to the events involved in the synthesis, processing, transfer, and insertion of proteins into or across their appropriate membrane (for reviews, see [1–5]). Although a significant literature has accumulated on the biosynthesis of secretory proteins, only a limited number of studies to date have focused on the biosynthesis of ER membrane proteins. This has been due, in part, to the inherent difficulties in purifying to homogeneity many intrinsic ER membrane proteins.KeywordsEpoxide HydrolaseMicrosomal MembraneSignal Recognition ParticlePrimary Translation ProductEndoplasmic Reticulum Membrane ProteinThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.