Trans-membrane translocation of proteins. A detailed physico-chemical analysis

A detailed, computerized procedure for analysing the translocation process of any protein with known sequence from a physico-chemical point of view is presented and used to gain a better understanding of the molecular 'rules' that govern the final outcome of the process. With the aid of this prodedure a number of testable predictions of the orientations of particular membrane-bound proteins can be made. It is also suggested that ovalbumin, the only known secreted protein lacking a cleavable prepiece, initiates translocation in a way that differs from other secreted proteins.