HRDing to the slaughter :the destruction of a translocon-clogging protein

Proper protein synthesis and degradation is essential to cell health. A number of human diseases and pathologies can be attributed to improper protein creation and destruction. Historically, the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used to elucidate the biochemical pathways involved in protein degradation. In cells, proteins are degraded via the ubiquitin-proteasome system at several locations, including the cytosol, nucleus, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Recently, a novel form of endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation (ERAD) was discovered. This novel degradation system was found to be related to proteins clogging an essential endoplasmic reticulum channel, known as the translocon, and thus termed ERAD-T. We attempted to develop a yeast growth based assay in order to facilitate the characterization and identification of the genetic requirements of ERAD-T. Additionally, we endeavored to isolate a model ERAD-T substrate through immunoprecipitation so that the post-translation modifications possibly involved with ERAD-T can be determined.Honors CollegeThesis (B.?