Protein targeting endoplasmic reticulum proteins

Proteins embedded in the shell of lipoproteins. They serve as scaffold for assembly of the lipoprotein particle in the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, they control metabolism of lipoproteins in the circulation by interaction with enzymes such as lipases. Finally, apolipoproteins determine cellular uptake of the particles by interaction with specific lipoprotein receptors expressed on the surface of target cells. 

Walter, P., andjohnson, A. E. (1994). Signal sequence recognition and protein targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Annu. Rev. Cell Biol. 10, 87—119. 

A subsequent study in 2002 of 27 families with a condition known as multiminicore disease (MmD) also linked mutations in SEPNl to disease pathology. Multiple mutations were identified in exons 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11, and the authors also mentioned that this region (RSMD) had been previously linked to MmD. Minicores are lesions by histochemistry of mitochondrial depletion within muscle tissue. The first biochemical study of selenoprotein N aimed to identify the protein localization by immunohistochemistry and found that the primary protein product of several identified mRNAs (splice variants) was a 70 kDa protein present in the endoplasmic reticulum. Two potential ER targeting domains were shown to be present and the peptide expressed from the first exon was shown to be required for localization into the ER. This study also revealed that selenoprotein N was an integral membrane protein that is N-glycosylated. Expression analysis showed pronounced levels in embryonic tissue with a reduction after development and differentiation. 

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