Co-translational protein quality control
Débora B. Trentini Schmidt
Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC)
Phone: +49 221 478-42566
Email: d.trentini@uni-koeln.de
For more information and contact please visit the TRENTINI LAB
Abstract
Transmembrane proteins serve critical roles such as cell signaling, transport of molecules, and catalysis of chemical reactions – including the production of ATP in the mitochondria. The incorporation of proteins into the membrane entails overcoming important biophysical challenges: hydrophobic segments must be shielded from the crowded aqueous cytosol as well as transported past the highly polar surface into the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer. Therefore, the majority of transmembrane proteins are assembled co-translationally at the ER and mitochondrial membranes. Our research group is currently investigating how the challenges of transmembrane protein synthesis influence translational fitness and organellar homeostasis.