Dislocation and Degradation of Proteins from the Endoplasmic Reticulum

The present volume of Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology contains seven chapters that illuminate various aspects of a protein's genesis and terminal fate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This area is of immediate medical relevance since the malfunctioning of proper quality control during protein synthesis, and the lack of sufficient degradation of improper proteins from the ER forms the basis of many human diseases. The study of viruses and bacteria has significantly contributed to the understanding of the processes going on at the ER membrane, which is illustrated in several chapters of the volume. The field of protein degradation from the ER touches upon many other fields of cell biology, such as immunology, pathology, microbiology, and embryology.