N. Erwin Ivessa Lab

SYNTHESIS, FOLDING, TRANSPORT, AND DEGRADATION OF PROTEINS IN THE EARLY SECRETORY PATHWAY
 
 
In the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) a quality control system operates that ensures that only properly folded proteins will be released. Misfolded polypeptides are retro-translocated from the ER to the cytosol, and there become poly-ubiquitinated and destructed by proteasomes. ER-associated degradation (ERAD) is of relevance for a variety of genetically inherited, neurodegenerative, and virally transmitted diseases with protein folding defects. We are interested in the molecular characterization of the multi-step ERAD process, and attempt to elucidate requirements of the substrate (glyco)proteins and to detect factors involved.