Endoplasmic reticulum protein processing

COPII vesicles are transport intermediates from the endoplasmic reticulum. The process is driven by recruitment of the soluble proteins that form the coat structure called COPII from the cytoplasm to the membrane. 

We are now beginning to understand this complex and fascinating process. Proteins destined for secretion, integration in the plasma membrane, or inclusion in lyso-somes generally share the first few steps of a pathway that begins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Proteins destined for mitochondria, chloroplasts, or the nucleus use three separate mechanisms. And proteins destined for the cytosol simply remain where they are synthesized. 

FIGURE 27-33 Directing eukaryotic proteins with the appropriate signals to the endoplasmic reticulum. This process involves the SRP cycle and translocation and cleavage of the nascent polypeptide. The steps are described in the text. SRP is a rod-shaped complex containing a 300 nucleotide RNA (7SL-RNA) and six different proteins (combined Mr 325,000). One protein subunit of SRP binds directly to... 

FiGURE 27-33 Directing eukaryotic proteins with the appropriate signals to the endoplasmic reticulum. This process involves the SRP... 

Proteasomes are the major cytosolic and nuclear protein degradation machineries and they are also responsible for the proteolysis of misfolded, ER-dislocated (endoplasmic reticulum) proteins [1-3]. Proteasomal protein turnover takes place in an ubiquitin-dependent manner. The proteasome-generated products - ohgopeptides varying in length from 3 to up to 30 amino acid residues - are further processed by aminopeptidases. In higher vertebrates, antigenic peptides are selected from the peptide pool produced by proteasomes and downstream aminopeptidases for presentation on the outer cell surface by major histocompatibility class 1 (MHCl) protein complexes. In this way, proteasomes are essential factors in the detection and eradication of virally infected cells. 

Glycosydphosphatidylinositolation The GlycoPho-sphatidyl Inositol moiety anchor of AChE consists exclusively of diacyl molecular species. Over 85% of the molecular species are composed of palmitoyl, stearoyl and oleoyl. The post-translational process of glypiation takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum, after completion of the polypeptide chain the newly synthesized protein interacts with a transamidase... 

Pathways are compartmentalized within the cell. Glycolysis, glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and fipogenesis occur in the cytosol. The mitochondrion contains the enzymes of the citric acid cycle, P-oxidation of fatty acids, and of oxidative phosphorylation. The endoplasmic reticulum also contains the enzymes for many other processes, including protein synthesis, glycerofipid formation, and dmg metabolism. 

The biosynthetic, secretory pathway is responsible for protein sorting and delivery and allows, among other functions, for cell-cell communication through secreted products. This delivery process starts at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), to finish in the cell plasma membrane or, in some cases, in specific intracellular organelles. To accomplish this, specific proteins must be properly directed to the correct destination, while other proteins are retained as residents within specific organelles along the way. 

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