Reconstitution of Protein Translocation Activity into Lipid Vesicles

Translocating a protein across a membrane, or getting one assembled into it, is one of the most complex—yet routine—activities that cells are called upon to perform. It is a form of transport that transports transporters, uses receptors to assemble other receptors, and represents one of the most ancient forms of signal transduction. It is one of the best characterized intracellular traffic routes, and most importantly, the mechanism of its action is on the verge of becoming accessible to study by functional reassembly from isolated components. This exciting prospect raises several questions that bear on everything from the approaches and systems being used, to the final interpretation of the results.