title: A common mechanism for posttranslational activation of plasma membrane receptors?
abstract: The process for posttranslational acquisition of ligand binding function is remarkably similar for three receptors with dissimilar structures, namely, the insulin, epidermal growth factor, and acetylcholine receptors. These receptors lack the ability to bind ligand immediately after translation, but slowly (t1/2 = 30-45 min) acquire this capacity while in the endoplasmic reticulum. This activation step occurs with similar kinetics for all three receptors and, in each case, required N-linked glycosylation. Several lines of evidence suggest a common mechanism for the acquisition of ligand binding function that involves the rearrangement of metastable disulfide bonds formed during or immediately after translation. This process precedes subunit assembly of both insulin and acetylcholine receptors, which also occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum. The posttranslational processing steps leading to the acquisition of ligand binding function may be an example of a more general process affecting cell surface proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lane
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011972:Receptor, Insulin