How the Sec translocon recognises transmembrane α-helices in newly synthesised proteins is revealed by the analysis of a large number of hydrophobic segments and presentation of a quantitative analysis of the position-dependent contribution of efficiency of membrane insertion for all amino acids. The results support the idea that recognition of transmembrane helices by the Sec translocon is a lipid-partitioning process.
- Tara Hessa
- Nadja M. Meindl-Beinker
- Gunnar von Heijne
