The endoplasmic reticulum: integration of protein folding, quality control, signaling and degradation

The endoplasmic reticulum is the entry point into the secretory pathway. To acquire a correct conformation, secretory proteins encounter the endoplasm ic reticulum molecular machines of folding, quality control, signaling and disposal, which function as an integrated mechanism. The creation of such a molecular network, spatially regulated, suggests how the endoplasmic retic ulum promotes the release of correctly folded secretory proteins.