Membrane Insertion of Tail‐anchored Proteins

Abstract

AbstractTail‐anchored (TA) proteins are a special class of transmembrane proteins, which harbour only a single hydrophobic segment adjacent to their mostC‐terminus. This anchor must be inserted into membranes posttranslationally to allow for their correct cellular localization. Although TA proteins have essential cellular roles such as signal transduction, apoptosis and vesicle fusion, their biogenesis route has for many years remained unknown. Recently, several advances have created a new understanding of the TA protein insertion machinery. Uncovering the machinery responsible for the biogenesis of TA proteins should further our ability to understand a wide variety of diseases such as forms of cancer caused by activation of the TA protein oncogeneBCL2.Key concepts:Tail‐anchored proteins haveC‐terminal hydrophobic domains.Tail‐anchored proteins are inserted posttranslationally into the membrane.The GET complex inserts tail‐anchored proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane in yeast.The TRC complex chaperones tail‐anchored proteins into membranes in humans.