APPROACHING THE MECHANISM OF PROTEIN-TRANSPORT ACROSS THE ER MEMBRANE

Since the identification of essential protein-translocation components in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, research efforts have concentr ated on the elucidation of the molecular mechanism of protein transpor t across this membrane. Recent results have provided new information a s to how proteins are targeted to, and inserted into, the translocatio n site during translation. Post-translational translocation has also b een examined and is distinct from cotranslational translocation with r espect to the mechanism and membrane protein components involved.