title: Export of proteins across membranes: the helix reversion hypothesis.
abstract: A model is presented which explains the biological role of the leader peptide in protein export. Along the lines of this model, the conformational changes of a protein with environment serves as a general mechanism for translocation. The leader peptide in the cytoplasm takes a hairpin like conformation which reverts to an extended helix upon integration into the membrane. The essential features of this model are in accord with recent results of protein export.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemical Engineering, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India.
authors.forename: U P
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Shinde
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Guru Row
authors.forename: Y R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Mawal
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D007930:Leucine / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals / Q000502:physiology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000502:physiology; D018271:Signal Recognition Particle
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D011506:Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D018271:Signal Recognition Particle; D007930:Leucine