Protein sorting signals: simple peptides with complex functions

Protein sorting signals provide good examples of peptides that can be studied both from a chemical and a biochemical perspective. Their simple designs and low degree of sequence conservation suggest that they are involved in rather non-specific peptide-lipid interactions, yet their ability to discriminate efficiently between the import machineries of different subcellular compartments rather points to the importance of peptide-receptor interactions. The study of protein sorting signals thus invites a cross-disciplinary approach.