Which protein mediates retrograde transport of ER proteins from the Golgi?
Maintaining ER proteome against continuous leakage via bulk flow into Golgi relies active retrieval preventing depletion resident chaperones folding enzymes. ER membrane proteins expose C-terminal dilysine motif KKXX or KXKXX with two lysines at -3 -4 positions relative extreme C-terminus recognized directly WD40 beta-propeller domains COPI subunits alpha-COP beta prime-COP binding dilysine pH independent. Soluble ER luminal residents like BiP HSPA5 GRP94 PDI calreticulin bear C-terminal KDEL; after escape bind KDEL receptor family Erd2 homologs KDELR1-3 seven transmembrane proteins concentrat
Ref: Bethune et al., Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2006: COPI retrieval of ER proteins from Golgi.