ER retention
Encyclopedia
ER retention refers to proteins that are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum
, or ER, after folding
; these are known as ER resident proteins.
Their localization to the ER often depends on certain sequences of amino acids located at the N-terminal or C-terminal. The classical ER retention signal is the C-terminal KDEL sequence. These signals allow for retrieval from the Golgi apparatus
, effectively maintaining the protein in the ER. Other mechanisms for ER retention are being studied but are not as well characterized as signal retention.
Endoplasmic reticulum
The endoplasmic reticulum is an organelle of cells in eukaryotic organisms that forms an interconnected network of tubules, vesicles, and cisternae...
, or ER, after folding
Protein folding
Protein folding is the process by which a protein structure assumes its functional shape or conformation. It is the physical process by which a polypeptide folds into its characteristic and functional three-dimensional structure from random coil....
; these are known as ER resident proteins.
Their localization to the ER often depends on certain sequences of amino acids located at the N-terminal or C-terminal. The classical ER retention signal is the C-terminal KDEL sequence. These signals allow for retrieval from the Golgi apparatus
Golgi apparatus
The Golgi apparatus is an organelle found in most eukaryotic cells. It was identified in 1898 by the Italian physician Camillo Golgi, after whom the Golgi apparatus is named....
, effectively maintaining the protein in the ER. Other mechanisms for ER retention are being studied but are not as well characterized as signal retention.