Zalucki YM, Beacham IR, Jennings MP. Coupling between codon usage, translation and protein export in Escherichia coli.
Biotechnol J 2011;
6:660-7. [PMID:
21567959 DOI:
10.1002/biot.201000334]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2011] [Revised: 04/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Proteins destined for export via the Sec-dependent pathway are synthesized with a short N-terminal signal peptide. A requirement for export is that the proteins are in a translocationally competent state. This is a loosely folded state that allows the protein to pass through the SecYEG apparatus and pass into the periplasm. In order to maintain pre-secretory proteins in an export-competent state, there are many factors that slow the folding of the pre-secretory protein in the cytoplasm. These include cytoplasmic chaperones, such as SecB, and the signal recognition particle, which bind the pre-secretory protein and direct it to the cytoplasmic membrane for export. Recently, evidence has been published that non-optimal codons in the signal sequence are important for a time-critical early event to allow the correct folding of pre-secretory proteins. This review details the recent developments in folding of the signal peptide and the pre-secretory protein.
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