Ejhj. Wiertz et al., SEC61-MEDIATED TRANSFER OF A MEMBRANE-PROTEIN FROM THE ENDOPLASMIC-RETICULUM TO THE PROTEASOME FOR DESTRUCTION, Nature, 384(6608), 1996, pp. 432-438
The human cytomegalovirus genome encodes proteins that trigger destruc
tion of newly synthesized major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class
I molecules. The human cytomegalovirus gene US2 specifies a product c
apable of dislocating MHC class I molecules from the endoplasmic retic
ulum to the cytosol and delivering them to the proteasome. This proces
s involves the Sec61 complex, in what appears to be a reversal of the
reaction by which it translocates nascent chains into the endoplasmic
reticulum.