title: Biogenesis of tail-anchored proteins: the beginning for the end?
abstract: Tail-anchored proteins are a distinct class of integral membrane proteins located in several eukaryotic organelles, where they perform a diverse range of functions. These proteins have in common the C-terminal location of their transmembrane anchor and the resulting post-translational nature of their membrane insertion, which, unlike the co-translational membrane insertion of most other proteins, is not coupled to ongoing protein synthesis. The study of tail-anchored proteins has provided a paradigm for understanding the components and pathways that mediate post-translational biogenesis of membrane proteins at the endoplasmic reticulum. In this Commentary, we review recent studies that have converged at a consensus regarding the molecular mechanisms that underlie this process--namely, that multiple pathways underlie the biogenesis of tail-anchored proteins at the endoplasmic reticulum.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rabu
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Blanche
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schwappach
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: High
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D021381:Protein Transport; D018271:Signal Recognition Particle / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018271:Signal Recognition Particle