HDEL (amino acid sequence)

HDEL is a target peptide sequence in plants and yeasts[1][2][3] located on the C-terminal end of the amino acid structure of a protein. The HDEL sequence prevents a protein from being secreted from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and facilitates its return if it is accidentally exported.

The similar sequence KDEL performs the same function in animals, while plants are known to utilize both KDEL and HDEL signaling sequences.[4][5]

The abbreviation HDEL is as follows.

• H—Histidine
• D—Aspartic acid
• E—Glutamic acid
• L—Leucine

Three letter code is: His-Asp-Glu-Leu.

References

1. Denecke J.; De Rycke R.; Botterman J. (Jun 1992). "Plant and mammalian sorting signals for protein retention in the endoplasmic reticulum contain a conserved epitope". EMBO Journal. 11 (6): 2345–2355. doi:10.1002/j.1460-2075.1992.tb05294.x. PMC 556702. PMID 1376250.
2. Dean N.; Pelham HR. (Aug 1990). "Recycling of proteins from the Golgi compartment to the ER in yeast". The Journal of Cell Biology. 111 (2): 369–377. doi:10.1083/jcb.111.2.369. PMC 2116185. PMID 2199456.
3. Napier R.M.; Fowke L.C.; Hawes C.; Lewis M.; Pelham H.R. (Jun 1992). "Immunological evidence that plants use both HDEL and KDEL for targeting proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum". Journal of Cell Science. 102: 261–271. PMID 1383243.
4. Napier R.M.; Fowke L.C.; Hawes C.; Lewis M.; Pelham H.R. (Jun 1992). "Immunological evidence that plants use both HDEL and KDEL for targeting proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum". Journal of Cell Science. 102: 261–271. PMID 1383243.
5. Denecke J.; De Rycke R.; Botterman J. (Jun 1992). "Plant and mammalian sorting signals for protein retention in the endoplasmic reticulum contain a conserved epitope". EMBO Journal. 11 (6): 2345–2355. doi:10.1002/j.1460-2075.1992.tb05294.x. PMC 556702. PMID 1376250.