Structural highlights
Function
[SECY_ECOLI] The central subunit of the protein translocation channel SecYEG. Consists of two halves formed by TMs 1-5 and 6-10. These two domains form a lateral gate at the front which open onto the bilayer between TMs 2 and 7, and are clamped together by SecE at the back. The channel is closed by both a pore ring composed of hydrophobic SecY resides and a short helix (helix 2A) on the extracellular side of the membrane which forms a plug. The plug probably moves laterally to allow the channel to open. The ring and the pore may move independently. SecY is required to insert newly synthesized SecY into the inner membrane. Overexpression of some hybrid proteins has been thought to jam the protein secretion apparatus resulting in cell death; while this may be true, overexpression also results in FtsH-mediated degradation of SecY.[HAMAP-Rule:MF_01465]
