A review of ERGIC-53: its structure, functions, regulation and relations with diseases.

ERGIC-53 is a type I transmembrane protein. It includes an N-terminal signal sequence, a carbohydrate recognition domain, which is calcium-dependent and pH-sensitive, a stalk region, a transmembrane domain, and a short cytoplasmic domain; ERGIC-53 mainly acts as a receptor of a limited number of glycoprotein and transports them from ER to ERGIC and Golgi, meanwhile it has a secondary glycoprotein quality control function. Recent research has revealed that UPR, heat shock and VIPL may regulate the expression of ERGIC-53. F5F8D, and some ER storage diseases have relationship with ERGIC-53.