Endocrine Abstracts

A significant portion of intercellular communication depends on protein secretion and interpretation of extracellular signals by transmembrane receptors. Proteins of both classes fold into their functional state in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a process that is assisted by a dedicated machinery of ER-associated chaperones, enzymes and other components. The magnitude of this apparatus is matched to the load of unfolded proteins confronting the ER by a cell auton...