Sec53, a protein required for an early step in secretory protein processing and transport in yeast, interacts with the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum.

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The sec53 mutant is a conditional lethal yeast secretory mutant. At 37 degrees C, precursors to exported proteins become firmly attached to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and are not released into the lumen in a soluble form. The accumulated precursors are insoluble in the detergent Triton X-100; however, urea, a known protein denaturant, solubilizes them. Using antibody directed against the Sec53 protein, we found that a substantial portion of the Sec53 protein is associated with the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Membrane-bound Sec53 protein is largely insoluble in Triton X-100, but the protein is effectively released from the membrane by urea. We propose that the Sec53 protein may be a member of a complex of proteins required for an early step in protein processing and transport.