Amino Acid Sequence
signal peptide
[ sig-nl pep-tahyd ]
Definitions related to signal peptides:
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The N-terminal sequence of a secreted protein that interacts with a signal recognition particle and is required for transport through the cell membrane.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Highly hydrophobic amino acid sequences of proteins that must cross through membranes to arrive at their functioning cellular location (such as secreted and membrane proteins). They are 15 to 60 amino acids long and reside at the amino-terminus (leader signal peptides) or internally. By binding to signal recognition particles, these sequences direct nascent protein-ribosome complexes to a membrane where the protein is inserted during translation. Signal peptides direct translational uptake of the protein by various membranes -endoplamic reticulum, mitochondrial, chloroplast, peroxisomal, etc. Leader signal sequences on non-membrane proteins are ultimately removed by specific peptidases.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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(protein signal sequence) N-terminal, hydrophobic sequences which mediate the attachment of newly translated polypeptide chains to intracellular membranes; in some membrane proteins the signal peptide remains as a permanent anchor, while in secretory proteins it is cleaved.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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