Protein translocation and turnover in eukaryotic cells.

Although most eukaryotic proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm from mRNAs originating in the nucleus, many function in specialized compartments and must be specifically translocated co- or post-translationally. A variety of signals contained within the amino acid sequence guide these processes as well as direct turnover by different proteolytic schemes. Several properties of the mature protein are determined as a result of translocation and can serve as predictors of cellular localization.