The Role of Intracellular Membranes in Protein Processing

Abstract

Most polypeptides destined for secretion are synthesized on polyribosomes bound to the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum (E.R.), in contrast, cytosolic proteins are made on free ribosomes. When the messenger RNA (mRNA) for a secretory protein is translated in a cell-free protein synthesizing system, the product is usually larger than the mature protein by about 3,000 daltons. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the higher molecular weight of the cell-free translation product can be attributed to an amino terminal extension of about 20-30 amino acids termed the “signal peptide”. This signal peptide is thought to mediate binding of ribosomes bearing the nascent polypeptide chain to the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. Upon interaction with the E.R., the polypeptide chain is translocated across the membrane usually resulting in proteolytic removal of the signal peptide and segregation of the “processed” polypeptide into the ER. cisternae. This series of reactions can be followed in vitro by supplementing the cell-free protein synthesizing system with heterologous microsomal membranes which have been stripped of their endogenous ribosomes.