title: The signal recognition particle.
abstract: The signal recognition particle (SRP) and its membrane-associated receptor (SR) catalyze targeting of nascent secretory and membrane proteins to the protein translocation apparatus of the cell. Components of the SRP pathway and salient features of the molecular mechanism of SRP-dependent protein targeting are conserved in all three kingdoms of life. Recent advances in the structure determination of a number of key components in the eukaryotic and prokaryotic SRP pathway provide new insight into the molecular basis of SRP function, and they set the stage for future work toward an integrated picture that takes into account the dynamic and contextual properties of this remarkable cellular machine.
authors.affiliation: Maxygen, 515 Galveston Drive, Redwood City, California 94063, USA. bob.keenan@maxygen.com
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Freymann
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Stroud
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walter
mesh_terms: D020087:Alu Elements; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D018271:Signal Recognition Particle / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D018271:Signal Recognition Particle; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases