Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kir2.1

Title: A sequence motif responsible for ER export and surface expression of Kir2.0 inward rectifier K(+) channels.

Authors: C Stockklausner, J Ludwig, J P Ruppersberg, N Klöcker

Journal, date & volume: FEBS Lett., 2001 Mar 30 , 493, 129-33

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11287009

Abstract
Integral membrane proteins are sorted via the secretory pathway. It was proposed that this pathway is non-selective provided that the cargo protein is properly assembled and lacks an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal. However, recent experimental evidence suggests that efficient export of proteins from the ER to the Golgi complex is not simply a default pathway. Here we demonstrate a novel sequence motif (FxYENEV) in the cytoplasmic C-terminus of mammalian inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channels which determines ER export. This motif is found to be both necessary and sufficient for efficient export from the ER that eventually leads to efficient surface expression of Kir2.1 channels.