SEC11C (SPC21, SEC11L3; EC 3.4.21.89) is a single-pass type II endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein and one of the two catalytic serine-endopeptidase subunits of the human signal peptidase complex (SPC). As the proteolytic subunit of the SPC-C paralog (with accessory subunits SPCS1, SPCS2 and SPCS3), SEC11C catalyzes cleavage of N-terminal signal (leader) peptides from secretory and membrane pre-proteins as they are translocated into the ER lumen. It belongs to peptidase family S26B and uses a Ser/His/Asp-type charge-relay catalytic system (Ser-68 nucleophile). Its active site abuts the ER membrane, where the complex locally thins the lipid bilayer, conferring selectivity for signal peptides whose hydrophobic h-region is shorter than ~18-20 residues. SEC11C is the paralog of the more broadly expressed SEC11A; the two catalytic subunits form distinct but functionally analogous SPC paralogs.
| GO Term | Evidence | Action | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GO:0005787
signal peptidase complex
|
IBA
GO_REF:0000033 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: SEC11C is the catalytic subunit of the signal peptidase complex (SPC-C paralog); membership in the SPC is its defining, conserved cellular component.
Reason: Core cellular component; SEC11C is the proteolytic subunit of the signal peptidase complex.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
Component of the signal peptidase complex paralog C (SPC-C)
|
|
GO:0008233
peptidase activity
|
IBA
GO_REF:0000033 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: SEC11C is a peptidase; "peptidase activity" is a correct but generic parent of the specific serine-type endopeptidase/signal peptidase activity.
Reason: Correct general molecular function; the specific serine-type endopeptidase activity (GO:0004252) better captures SEC11C's catalytic role.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
Belongs to the peptidase S26B family
|
|
GO:0004252
serine-type endopeptidase activity
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000120 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: SEC11C is a serine-type endopeptidase that uses a Ser/His/Asp charge-relay catalytic triad to cleave signal peptides; this is its core molecular function.
Reason: Core molecular function; experimentally established serine-endopeptidase (signal peptidase) activity, supported by IDA/EXP and the catalytic triad.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:34388369
The active site is formed by a
|
|
GO:0005787
signal peptidase complex
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000117 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: ARBA electronic assignment of signal peptidase complex membership, redundant with the experimental IDA evidence.
Reason: Correct core cellular component; redundant with IDA/IBA evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
Component of the signal peptidase complex paralog C (SPC-C)
|
|
GO:0005789
endoplasmic reticulum membrane
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000044 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Electronic assignment of ER membrane localization from the UniProt subcellular location, consistent with the single-pass type II ER membrane topology.
Reason: Correct core localization; SEC11C is a single-pass ER membrane protein.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane
|
|
GO:0008233
peptidase activity
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000002 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: InterPro-based electronic assignment of peptidase activity; a generic parent of the specific serine-type endopeptidase activity.
Reason: Correct general molecular function; GO:0004252 is the informative specific term.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
Belongs to the peptidase S26B family
|
|
GO:0009003
signal peptidase activity
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000003 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: EC-based electronic assignment of signal peptidase activity (EC 3.4.21.89); this is SEC11C's specific catalytic function and is experimentally supported (EXP).
Reason: Core molecular function; SEC11C is the catalytic signal peptidase of the SPC-C complex (EC 3.4.21.89).
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
EC=3.4.21.89
|
|
GO:0016020
membrane
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000002 |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: SEC11C is a membrane protein; "membrane" is a correct but generic parent of the specific ER membrane localization.
Reason: Correct but generic; ER membrane (GO:0005789) is the specific and informative localization.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
Single-pass type II membrane protein
|
|
GO:0005515
protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:28514442 Architecture of the human interactome defines protein commun... |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: BioPlex (HCIP) high-throughput interactome capture; bare protein binding is uninformative for core function.
Reason: High-throughput interactome interaction; uninformative bare term not elevated to core per guidelines.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
Q9BY50; P61009: SPCS3
|
|
GO:0005515
protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:32296183 A reference map of the human binary protein interactome. |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Binary interactome (HuRI) high-throughput capture; bare protein binding is uninformative.
Reason: High-throughput interactome interaction; uninformative bare term not elevated to core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
Q9BY50; P61009: SPCS3
|
|
GO:0005515
protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:33961781 Dual proteome-scale networks reveal cell-specific remodeling... |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: BioPlex proteome-scale interactome capture; bare protein binding is uninformative.
Reason: High-throughput interactome interaction; uninformative bare term not elevated to core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
Q9BY50; P61009: SPCS3
|
|
GO:0005515
protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:34388369 Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the ... |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: SEC11C interacts with the SPC accessory subunits SPCS2 and SPCS3 within the signal peptidase complex; the bare protein binding term is uninformative, but the SPC assembly is captured better by the signal peptidase complex part_of annotation.
Reason: Records genuine intra-complex interactions (SPCS2/SPCS3), but bare protein binding is uninformative; the functional content is captured by the signal peptidase complex CC.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
with SPCS2 and SPCS3
|
|
GO:0005515
protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:40205054 Multimodal cell maps as a foundation for structural and func... |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Multimodal cell-map (proteomics/imaging) high-throughput capture; bare protein binding is uninformative for core function.
Reason: High-throughput interactome/cell-map interaction; uninformative bare term not elevated to core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
Q9BY50; P61009: SPCS3
|
|
GO:0005787
signal peptidase complex
|
IPI
PMID:34388369 Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the ... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: The cryo-EM structure identifies SEC11C within the assembled signal peptidase complex (SPC-C) with SPCS1/2/3; defining cellular component.
Reason: Core cellular component; SEC11C is the catalytic subunit of the structurally resolved SPC-C complex.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
Component of the signal peptidase complex paralog C (SPC-C)
|
|
GO:0005789
endoplasmic reticulum membrane
|
IDA
PMID:34388369 Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the ... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: The SPC structure places SEC11C in the ER membrane, with the active site abutting the bilayer; direct experimental localization.
Reason: Core localization with direct experimental support; SEC11C acts at the ER membrane.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane
|
|
GO:0016485
protein processing
|
IDA
PMID:34388369 Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the ... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: SEC11C processes pre-proteins by cleaving their signal peptides; "protein processing" is a correct but generic parent of the specific signal peptide processing.
Reason: Correct biological process; the specific signal peptide processing (GO:0006465) better captures SEC11C's role.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:34388369
it removes signal peptides (SPs) from a large
|
|
GO:0005789
endoplasmic reticulum membrane
|
ISS
GO_REF:0000024 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Sequence-similarity (ISS) transfer of ER membrane localization, consistent with the experimental IDA evidence.
Reason: Correct core localization; redundant with IDA/IEA ER membrane evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane
|
|
GO:0009003
signal peptidase activity
|
EXP
PMID:34388369 Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the ... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Experimental demonstration (structure + catalytic-activity/mutagenesis of the catalytic triad including Ser-68) that SEC11C is a catalytic signal peptidase of the SPC. This is the core molecular function.
Reason: Core molecular function with direct experimental support; SEC11C is a catalytic signal peptidase subunit of the SPC.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:34388369
human SPC exists in two functional paralogs with distinct proteolytic subunits
|
|
GO:0004252
serine-type endopeptidase activity
|
IDA
PMID:34388369 Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the ... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Direct experimental demonstration of SEC11C serine-type endopeptidase (signal peptidase) activity via the resolved catalytic triad and catalytic-activity assays; core molecular function.
Reason: Core molecular function with direct experimental (IDA) support.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:34388369
The active site is formed by a
|
|
GO:0005787
signal peptidase complex
|
IDA
PMID:34388369 Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the ... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Direct structural demonstration that SEC11C is the catalytic subunit within the assembled SPC-C; defining cellular component.
Reason: Core cellular component with direct experimental (IDA) support.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
Component of the signal peptidase complex paralog C (SPC-C)
|
|
GO:0051604
protein maturation
|
IDA
PMID:34388369 Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the ... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: By cleaving signal peptides from pre-proteins, SEC11C contributes to maturation of secretory/membrane proteins; "protein maturation" is a correct but generic parent of the specific signal peptide processing.
Reason: Correct biological process; the specific signal peptide processing (GO:0006465) better captures SEC11C's role.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:34388369
it removes signal peptides (SPs) from a large
|
|
GO:0005789
endoplasmic reticulum membrane
|
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-422051 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Reactome curation of SEC11C ER membrane localization (preproghrelin signal peptide cleavage).
Reason: Correct core localization; redundant with experimental ER membrane evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane
|
|
GO:0005789
endoplasmic reticulum membrane
|
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-9918795 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Reactome curation of SEC11C ER membrane localization (flaviviral polyprotein signalase cleavage).
Reason: Correct core localization; redundant with experimental ER membrane evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane
|
|
GO:0005789
endoplasmic reticulum membrane
|
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-9918871 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Reactome curation of SEC11C ER membrane localization (NS4B signalase cleavage).
Reason: Correct core localization; redundant with experimental ER membrane evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane
|
Q: What distinguishes the substrate specificity of the SEC11C (SPC-C) versus SEC11A (SPC-A) paralogous signal peptidase complexes, and do they serve distinct subsets of the secretory proteome or distinct tissues?
Q: How does the SPC's local thinning of the ER membrane mechanistically couple signal-peptide h-region length to catalytic engagement by SEC11C?
Experiment: Reconstitute purified SPC-C (SEC11C + SPCS1/2/3) and assay cleavage of a panel of signal peptides varying in h-region length to quantify SEC11C's length-dependent specificity, comparing wild-type Ser-68 to the catalytic-dead S68A mutant.
Experiment: Acute degron depletion of SEC11C versus SEC11A followed by N-terminomics (e.g. TAILS) to define the paralog-specific repertoire of cleaved signal-peptide substrates in human cells.
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SEC11C (UniProt Q9BY50; also referred to as SPC21/SEC11 homolog C) is a catalytic subunit of the endoplasmic-reticulum (ER) signal peptidase complex (SPC) in Homo sapiens. Multiple primary sources describing the human SPC explicitly place SEC11C as one of the two alternative proteolytic (catalytic) subunits (the other being SEC11A) that define two functional SPC paralogs (SPC-C vs SPC-A). (liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4, liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3)
The SPC is an essential ER membrane protease responsible for removing signal peptides from secretory-pathway preproteins. In humans, structural and biochemical work supports that the SPC exists as two paralogous heterotetramers that differ in the catalytic SEC11 subunit. (liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4, liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3)
The SPC is a serine protease that hydrolyzes the peptide bond at the signal peptide cleavage site of secretory preproteins after they enter the ER lumen, i.e., signal peptide removal (EC 3.4.21.89). Structural modeling and functional assays support that SEC11C-containing SPC is catalytically active and carries the protease active site. (liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3, liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4)
Beyond canonical signal peptide cleavage, recent work shows a post-translocational “quality-control” (QC) function in which SPC can cleave cryptic/noncanonical sites in membrane proteins—particularly when proteins fail to fold/assemble properly—thereby facilitating ER-associated degradation (ERAD). (zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 1-8, zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 53-57)
High-confidence structural proteomics indicates that the human SPC exists as two functional paralogs:
- SPC-A: SPC12 + SPC22/23 + SPC25 + SEC11A
- SPC-C: SPC12 + SPC22/23 + SPC25 + SEC11C
Both paralogs can be purified as near-stoichiometric complexes from HEK293 cells and both are enzymatically active in vitro, demonstrating that SEC11C supports an active SPC protease complex. (liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4, liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3)
Cryo-EM and modeling support that the SPC catalytic center (including in SEC11C) uses a Ser–His–Asp catalytic triad positioned in a c-region binding pocket that accommodates the signal peptide cleavage region and places the scissile bond near catalytic residues. (liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3, liaci2021structureofthe pages 7-8)
Figure evidence (cropped panels) from the structural study depicts (i) SPC-A vs SPC-C paralogs and (ii) the active-site architecture and membrane-thinning context. (liaci2021structureofthe media edf6a0de, liaci2021structureofthe media e833f187, liaci2021structureofthe media 63103722, liaci2021structureofthe media d6c9aae3)
A central mechanistic insight is that the SPC forms a transmembrane “window” that locally thins the ER bilayer near the active site. This architecture acts as a “molecular ruler” that favors the shorter hydrophobic h-regions typical of signal peptides over longer transmembrane helices, supporting specificity across many substrates. (liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3, liaci2021structureofthe media edf6a0de)
Consistent with this model, both SEC11A- and SEC11C-containing paralogs process a model preprotein substrate (pre-β-lactamase) in vitro with similar efficiency, indicating that SEC11C supports canonical signal peptide cleavage. (liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4)
SEC11C functions in the ER membrane. Structural/topology inferences from digitonin-solubilized particles place the catalytic domain on the luminal side, positioned close to the membrane surface, with the C-terminus on the cytosolic side. SPCS3’s luminal domain helps stabilize and position the catalytic region of SEC11A/C near the luminal membrane interface. (liaci2021structureofthe pages 7-8, chung2024spc2modulatessubstrate pages 1-2)
A major conceptual advance is that the human SPC is not only a signal-peptide-removing enzyme but also a quality-control protease for membrane proteins, cleaving cryptic sites in misfolded/unassembled membrane proteins and synergizing with ERAD to maintain membrane proteostasis. (zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 1-8, zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 53-57)
SEC11C is implicated as part of the catalytic core in this QC activity because the catalytic core is described as SEC11A/C with SPCS3, and pharmacologic inhibition of SEC11 activity blocks noncanonical cleavage. (zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 53-57, zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 26-30)
Human SEC11A knockdown did not abolish cleavage of a noncanonical substrate (Cx32), and the authors propose compensation by SEC11C upregulation. However, SEC11C was reported as often difficult to detect in several cell lines when SEC11A levels are normal, suggesting SEC11C may act as a backup/conditionally expressed catalytic subunit depending on context. (zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 57-60, zanotti2023characterisationofthe pages 57-60)
A 2024 mechanistic study in yeast shows accessory subunits can modulate substrate and cleavage-site selection, and explicitly situates this in the context that higher eukaryotes have two SEC11 paralogs (SEC11A, SEC11C) within a four-subunit eukaryotic SPC. Quantitatively, the paper reports Sec11 abundance is reduced by ~10% in spc2Δ yeast, illustrating how non-catalytic subunits can affect catalytic subunit stability/assembly. (chung2024spc2modulatessubstrate pages 1-2)
SEC11C-containing SPC participates in co-/post-translational processing of proteins entering the secretory pathway by cleaving signal peptides after ER targeting/translocation. (liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3)
The QC role links SPC cleavage to ERAD: SPC can cleave membrane proteins that fail to fold/assemble, and SPC is reported to interact functionally with the ERAD E3 ligase Hrd1, facilitating degradation of problematic membrane proteins. (zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 57-60)
The natural product cavinafungin inhibits the host signal peptidase and selectively interferes with Zika and dengue virus replication by targeting SEC11-containing SPC activity.
Key quantitative/implementation-relevant results include:
- Dose-response metrics in HCT116 cells: IC10 = 450 nM, IC30 = 600 nM, IC50 = 710 nM (cell viability assay used for chemogenomic profiling). (estoppey2017thenaturalproduct pages 4-5)
- Genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 chemogenomic profiling identifies signal peptidase components among top hits, including SEC11A and SEC11C and accessory subunits (e.g., SPCS3), linking drug sensitivity to the catalytic core and complex integrity. (estoppey2017thenaturalproduct pages 4-5)
In the SPC-QC context, cavinafungin (reported at 1 µM in HEK293T experiments) produces complete loss of a noncanonical SPC cleavage fragment (Cx32 C201R), establishing practical use of SPC inhibition to interrogate membrane-protein QC cleavage. (zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 26-30)
Earlier biochemical work supports that inhibiting ER signal peptidase impairs maturation of secretory and viral proteins, motivating a host-targeted antiviral concept for SEC11-family catalytic subunits. (cui2015competitiveinhibitionof pages 1-2)
The strongest direct mechanistic evidence for SEC11C comes from structural and biochemical demonstration that SEC11C defines a functional paralog (SPC-C) with an intact catalytic machinery and the same overall architecture and activity class as SEC11A-containing SPC. (liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4, liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3)
However, functional studies expanding SPC’s biology into membrane-protein QC emphasize potential paralog redundancy and report difficulty detecting SEC11C in some cell lines under baseline conditions—suggesting SEC11C’s contribution could vary with tissue/cell state, stress, or SEC11A availability. (zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 57-60, zanotti2023characterisationofthe pages 57-60)
Human SPC biology now includes both canonical signal peptides and a substantial predicted landscape of cryptic cleavage sites in membrane proteins, with validated substrates including connexins and other membrane proteins (e.g., PMP22, iRhom2, Hrd1). This reframes SEC11C-containing SPC not only as a housekeeping signal-peptide peptidase but also as a potential node in membrane-protein homeostasis. (zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 1-8, zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 53-57)
The following tables summarize the evidence base and key studies with DOI URLs and dates.
| Year (month) | Citation (first author et al.) | Title (short) | Study type | Key SEC11C-relevant takeaways | URL (DOI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 (Nov) | Cui et al. | Competitive inhibition of ER signal peptidase | inhibitor/antiviral | Defines mammalian ER signal peptidase as a five-subunit complex including SEC11C and SEC11A; supports the catalytic importance of SEC11-family subunits and shows that blocking signal peptidase impairs maturation of secretory and viral proteins, motivating host-targeted antiviral interest (cui2015competitiveinhibitionof pages 1-2). | https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m115.692350 |
| 2021 (Jan) | Liaci et al. | Human SPC structure and signal peptide cleavage determinants | structure/mechanism | Structural anchor for human SEC11C: shows two human SPC paralogs, SPC-A and SPC-C, each with either SEC11A or SEC11C plus SPC12/SPC22-23/SPC25; supports a Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad, luminal catalytic domain, ER-membrane-proximal active site, and local membrane thinning that helps discriminate signal peptides by hydrophobic segment length; SEC11C-containing SPC is active in vitro (liaci2021structureofthe pages 7-8, liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4, liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3, liaci2021structureofthe media edf6a0de). | https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304 |
| 2022 (Dec) | Zanotti et al. | Human SPC as membrane-protein quality control enzyme | QC | Expands SPC biology beyond canonical signal peptide removal: identifies a post-translocational QC role in cleaving cryptic sites in misfolded or surplus membrane proteins and coupling this to ERAD; reports ~1,500 membrane proteins with putative cryptic SPC cleavage sites and notes SEC11A knockdown can be buffered by SEC11C, implying paralog redundancy in mammalian cells (zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 57-60, zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 53-57, zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 1-8, zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 26-30). | https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo5672 |
| 2023 (Jan) | Zanotti | Characterisation of the human SPC as a QC enzyme | QC / subunit function | Thesis-level expansion of the 2022 Science study: states the catalytic core is formed by SEC11A/C with SPCS3, proposes SEC11C may serve as a backup catalytic subunit when SEC11A is limiting, and notes SEC11C is often hard to detect in some cell lines with normal SEC11A levels; cavinafungin is discussed as likely inhibiting SEC11C as well as SEC11A (zanotti2023characterisationofthe pages 57-60, zanotti2023characterisationofthe pages 53-57). | https://doi.org/10.11588/heidok.00033417 |
| 2024 (Nov) | Chung et al. | Spc2 modulates substrate and cleavage-site selection | subunit function / mechanism | Although performed in yeast, this recent mechanistic study is relevant to human SEC11C because it explicitly frames higher-eukaryote SPC as a heterotetramer containing SEC11A or SEC11C and shows how accessory subunits shape substrate and cleavage-site selection, reinforcing that catalytic SEC11 paralogs act within a coordinated multi-subunit membrane-thinning machine rather than alone (chung2024spc2modulatessubstrate pages 1-2). | https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202211035 |
Table: This table summarizes the main publications needed to annotate human SEC11C in context of the signal peptidase complex. It highlights the structural basis, quality-control function, subunit redundancy, and translational relevance of SEC11C/SPC across foundational and recent studies.
| Claim/Topic | Key findings (1-2 sentences) | Evidence type | Primary source (first author, journal) | Pub year/month | DOI URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity | SEC11C matches UniProt Q9BY50 as the human signal peptidase complex catalytic subunit also called SPC21; it is one of two alternative proteolytic SPC subunits, the other being SEC11A, and belongs to the conserved Sec11/S26 signal peptidase family (liaci2021structureofthe pages 7-8, liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4, liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3). | Cryo-EM, proteomics, review/background | Liaci, SSRN Electronic Journal | 2021/01 | https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304 |
| Complex composition | Human SPC forms two heterotetrameric paralogs, SPC-A and SPC-C, each composed of SPC12, SPC22/23, SPC25, and either SEC11A or SEC11C; co-expression and affinity purification from HEK293 cells recovered near-stoichiometric complexes for each paralog (liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4, liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3, liaci2021structureofthe media edf6a0de). | Cryo-EM, affinity purification, MS | Liaci, SSRN Electronic Journal | 2021/01 | https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304 |
| Catalytic mechanism | SEC11C is the catalytic protease of the ER SPC (EC 3.4.21.89). Structural analysis supports a Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad positioned in a c-region binding pocket adjacent to the membrane, with signal-peptide scissile bonds modeled near the catalytic residues (liaci2021structureofthe pages 7-8, liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3, liaci2021structureofthe media edf6a0de). | Cryo-EM, modeling, structural proteomics | Liaci, SSRN Electronic Journal | 2021/01 | https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304 |
| Localization/topology | SEC11C acts in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane with its catalytic domain exposed on the luminal side near the membrane surface, whereas its C terminus lies on the cytosolic side; the luminal domain of SPCS3 helps stabilize and position the catalytic core (liaci2021structureofthe pages 7-8, liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4, chung2024spc2modulatessubstrate pages 1-2). | Cryo-EM, topology inference, comparative analysis | Liaci, SSRN Electronic Journal | 2021/01 | https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304 |
| Substrate recognition | The SPC creates a locally thinned membrane window that acts as a molecular ruler favoring shorter hydrophobic h-regions typical of signal peptides over longer transmembrane helices. Both SEC11A- and SEC11C-containing complexes cleaved a pre-β-lactamase substrate with similar efficiency in vitro (liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4, liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3, liaci2021structureofthe media edf6a0de). | Cryo-EM, molecular dynamics, in vitro cleavage assay | Liaci, SSRN Electronic Journal | 2021/01 | https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304 |
| Quality-control role | Beyond canonical signal peptide removal, the human SPC can cleave cryptic sites in misfolded or surplus membrane proteins, promoting their degradation and membrane proteostasis. SEC11C is part of this catalytic machinery, and the 2023 characterization proposed SEC11C may provide backup catalytic capacity when SEC11A is limiting (zanotti2023characterisationofthe pages 57-60, zanotti2023characterisationofthe pages 53-57). | Cell biology, genetic/knockdown interpretation, thesis synthesis | Zanotti, Science; Zanotti, thesis | 2022/12; 2023/01 | https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo5672 ; https://doi.org/10.11588/heidok.00033417 |
| Inhibitor/antiviral relevance | Eukaryotic SPase is a plausible antiviral target because inhibition impairs maturation of secretory and viral proteins. Cavinafungin inhibits host signal peptidase by targeting SEC11-containing SPC, and reviews note the complex contains SEC11A and SEC11C; the 2023 thesis states cavinafungin should in principle also bind SEC11C (zanotti2023characterisationofthe pages 57-60, cui2015competitiveinhibitionof pages 1-2). | Small-molecule inhibition, virology, review/background | Cui, JBC; Zanotti, thesis | 2015/11; 2023/01 | https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m115.692350 ; https://doi.org/10.11588/heidok.00033417 |
| Quantitative data | Cryo-EM structures were determined at about 4.9 Å resolution for the human paralogs, and membrane thickness near the active site was reported to decrease from ~4 nm to ~2.3 nm. In yeast, loss of Spc2 reduced Sec11 abundance by ~10%, supporting accessory-subunit effects on catalytic-subunit stability (liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4, chung2024spc2modulatessubstrate pages 1-2, liaci2021structureofthe media edf6a0de). | Cryo-EM, molecular dynamics, quantitative MS | Liaci, SSRN Electronic Journal; Chung, Journal of Cell Biology | 2021/01; 2024/11 | https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304 ; https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202211035 |
Table: This table summarizes functional annotation evidence for human SEC11C (UniProt Q9BY50), covering identity, complex membership, catalytic mechanism, localization, substrate recognition, quality-control function, and translational relevance. It is designed to support a concise, citation-backed report using only validated context IDs from the gathered literature.
References
(liaci2021structureofthe pages 3-4): A. Manuel Liaci, Barbara Steigenberger, Sem Tamara, Paulo Cesar Telles de Souza, Mariska Gröllers-Mulderij, Patrick Ogrissek, Siewert Jan Marrink, Richard Scheltema, and Friedrich Förster. Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the determinants for signal peptide cleavage. SSRN Electronic Journal, Jan 2021. URL: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304, doi:10.2139/ssrn.3778304. This article has 148 citations.
(liaci2021structureofthe pages 1-3): A. Manuel Liaci, Barbara Steigenberger, Sem Tamara, Paulo Cesar Telles de Souza, Mariska Gröllers-Mulderij, Patrick Ogrissek, Siewert Jan Marrink, Richard Scheltema, and Friedrich Förster. Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the determinants for signal peptide cleavage. SSRN Electronic Journal, Jan 2021. URL: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304, doi:10.2139/ssrn.3778304. This article has 148 citations.
(zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 1-8): Andrea Zanotti, João P. L. Coelho, Dinah Kaylani, Gurdeep Singh, Marina Tauber, Manuel Hitzenberger, Dönem Avci, Martin Zacharias, Robert B. Russell, Marius K. Lemberg, and Matthias J. Feige. The human signal peptidase complex acts as a quality control enzyme for membrane proteins. Science, 378:996-1000, Dec 2022. URL: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo5672, doi:10.1126/science.abo5672. This article has 41 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.
(zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 53-57): Andrea Zanotti, João P. L. Coelho, Dinah Kaylani, Gurdeep Singh, Marina Tauber, Manuel Hitzenberger, Dönem Avci, Martin Zacharias, Robert B. Russell, Marius K. Lemberg, and Matthias J. Feige. The human signal peptidase complex acts as a quality control enzyme for membrane proteins. Science, 378:996-1000, Dec 2022. URL: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo5672, doi:10.1126/science.abo5672. This article has 41 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.
(liaci2021structureofthe pages 7-8): A. Manuel Liaci, Barbara Steigenberger, Sem Tamara, Paulo Cesar Telles de Souza, Mariska Gröllers-Mulderij, Patrick Ogrissek, Siewert Jan Marrink, Richard Scheltema, and Friedrich Förster. Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the determinants for signal peptide cleavage. SSRN Electronic Journal, Jan 2021. URL: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304, doi:10.2139/ssrn.3778304. This article has 148 citations.
(liaci2021structureofthe media edf6a0de): A. Manuel Liaci, Barbara Steigenberger, Sem Tamara, Paulo Cesar Telles de Souza, Mariska Gröllers-Mulderij, Patrick Ogrissek, Siewert Jan Marrink, Richard Scheltema, and Friedrich Förster. Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the determinants for signal peptide cleavage. SSRN Electronic Journal, Jan 2021. URL: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304, doi:10.2139/ssrn.3778304. This article has 148 citations.
(liaci2021structureofthe media e833f187): A. Manuel Liaci, Barbara Steigenberger, Sem Tamara, Paulo Cesar Telles de Souza, Mariska Gröllers-Mulderij, Patrick Ogrissek, Siewert Jan Marrink, Richard Scheltema, and Friedrich Förster. Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the determinants for signal peptide cleavage. SSRN Electronic Journal, Jan 2021. URL: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304, doi:10.2139/ssrn.3778304. This article has 148 citations.
(liaci2021structureofthe media 63103722): A. Manuel Liaci, Barbara Steigenberger, Sem Tamara, Paulo Cesar Telles de Souza, Mariska Gröllers-Mulderij, Patrick Ogrissek, Siewert Jan Marrink, Richard Scheltema, and Friedrich Förster. Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the determinants for signal peptide cleavage. SSRN Electronic Journal, Jan 2021. URL: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304, doi:10.2139/ssrn.3778304. This article has 148 citations.
(liaci2021structureofthe media d6c9aae3): A. Manuel Liaci, Barbara Steigenberger, Sem Tamara, Paulo Cesar Telles de Souza, Mariska Gröllers-Mulderij, Patrick Ogrissek, Siewert Jan Marrink, Richard Scheltema, and Friedrich Förster. Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the determinants for signal peptide cleavage. SSRN Electronic Journal, Jan 2021. URL: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3778304, doi:10.2139/ssrn.3778304. This article has 148 citations.
(chung2024spc2modulatessubstrate pages 1-2): Yeonji Chung, Chewon Yim, Gilberto P. Pereira, Sungjoon Son, Lisbeth R. Kjølbye, Lauren E. Mazurkiewicz, Amy M. Weeks, Friedrich Förster, Gunnar von Heijne, Paulo C.T. Souza, and Hyun Kim. Spc2 modulates substrate- and cleavage site-selection in the yeast signal peptidase complex. Journal of Cell Biology, Nov 2024. URL: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202211035, doi:10.1083/jcb.202211035. This article has 4 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.
(zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 26-30): Andrea Zanotti, João P. L. Coelho, Dinah Kaylani, Gurdeep Singh, Marina Tauber, Manuel Hitzenberger, Dönem Avci, Martin Zacharias, Robert B. Russell, Marius K. Lemberg, and Matthias J. Feige. The human signal peptidase complex acts as a quality control enzyme for membrane proteins. Science, 378:996-1000, Dec 2022. URL: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo5672, doi:10.1126/science.abo5672. This article has 41 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.
(zanotti2022thehumansignal pages 57-60): Andrea Zanotti, João P. L. Coelho, Dinah Kaylani, Gurdeep Singh, Marina Tauber, Manuel Hitzenberger, Dönem Avci, Martin Zacharias, Robert B. Russell, Marius K. Lemberg, and Matthias J. Feige. The human signal peptidase complex acts as a quality control enzyme for membrane proteins. Science, 378:996-1000, Dec 2022. URL: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo5672, doi:10.1126/science.abo5672. This article has 41 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.
(zanotti2023characterisationofthe pages 57-60): Andrea Zanotti. Characterisation of the human signal peptidase complex as a quality control enzyme for membrane proteins. Text, Jan 2023. URL: https://doi.org/10.11588/heidok.00033417, doi:10.11588/heidok.00033417. This article has 0 citations and is from a peer-reviewed journal.
(estoppey2017thenaturalproduct pages 4-5): David Estoppey, Chia Min Lee, Marco Janoschke, Boon Heng Lee, Kah Fei Wan, Hongping Dong, Philippe Mathys, Ireos Filipuzzi, Tim Schuhmann, Ralph Riedl, Thomas Aust, Olaf Galuba, Gregory McAllister, Carsten Russ, Martin Spiess, Tewis Bouwmeester, Ghislain M.C. Bonamy, and Dominic Hoepfner. The natural product cavinafungin selectively interferes with zika and dengue virus replication by inhibition of the host signal peptidase. Cell reports, 19 3:451-460, Apr 2017. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2017.03.071, doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2017.03.071. This article has 101 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.
(cui2015competitiveinhibitionof pages 1-2): Jingqiu Cui, Wei Chen, Jinhong Sun, Huan Guo, Rachel Madley, Yi Xiong, Xingyi Pan, Hongliang Wang, Andrew W. Tai, Michael A. Weiss, Peter Arvan, and Ming Liu. Competitive inhibition of the endoplasmic reticulum signal peptidase by non-cleavable mutant preprotein cargos. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 290:28131-28140, Nov 2015. URL: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m115.692350, doi:10.1074/jbc.m115.692350. This article has 33 citations and is from a domain leading peer-reviewed journal.
(zanotti2023characterisationofthe pages 53-57): Andrea Zanotti. Characterisation of the human signal peptidase complex as a quality control enzyme for membrane proteins. Text, Jan 2023. URL: https://doi.org/10.11588/heidok.00033417, doi:10.11588/heidok.00033417. This article has 0 citations and is from a peer-reviewed journal.
SEC11C is a single-pass type II ER membrane protein and one of the two catalytic serine-endopeptidase
subunits of the human signal peptidase complex (SPC). It is the proteolytic subunit of the SPC-C paralog
(with accessory subunits SPCS1, SPCS2, SPCS3) and cleaves N-terminal signal/leader peptides from secretory
and membrane pre-proteins as they are translocated into the ER lumen (EC 3.4.21.89). Peptidase family S26B;
Ser/His/Asp charge-relay catalytic triad (catalytic Ser-68). It is the paralog of SEC11A (SPC-A).
The Falcon report (Edison Scientific) for SEC11C is built almost entirely on literature already in
the review: Liaci 2021 SPC cryo-EM (PMID:34388369), the Zanotti/Feige SPC quality-control function
(PMID:36454823, Science 2022), Chung 2024 Spc2 yeast study (PMID:39565596), and cavinafungin
(PMID:28423309). All already incorporated.
ER proteostasis|Protein transport|ER signal peptidase; PN-node mapping: group mapped, ok_for_propagation_to_go, GO:0005787 (signal peptidase complex); class GO:0015031 (protein transport).This file is generated from the current PROTEOSTASIS phase-1 dossier and local gene-review artifacts. Edit the source review, PN mapping, or dossier rather than this generated note when correcting the underlying curation.
id: Q9BY50
gene_symbol: SEC11C
product_type: PROTEIN
status: COMPLETE
taxon:
id: NCBITaxon:9606
label: Homo sapiens
description: SEC11C (SPC21, SEC11L3; EC 3.4.21.89) is a single-pass type II endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein and one of the two catalytic serine-endopeptidase subunits of the human signal peptidase complex (SPC). As the proteolytic subunit of the SPC-C paralog (with accessory subunits SPCS1, SPCS2 and SPCS3), SEC11C catalyzes cleavage of N-terminal signal (leader) peptides from secretory and membrane pre-proteins as they are translocated into the ER lumen. It belongs to peptidase family S26B and uses a Ser/His/Asp-type charge-relay catalytic system (Ser-68 nucleophile). Its active site abuts the ER membrane, where the complex locally thins the lipid bilayer, conferring selectivity for signal peptides whose hydrophobic h-region is shorter than ~18-20 residues. SEC11C is the paralog of the more broadly expressed SEC11A; the two catalytic subunits form distinct but functionally analogous SPC paralogs.
existing_annotations:
- term:
id: GO:0005787
label: signal peptidase complex
evidence_type: IBA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000033
qualifier: part_of
review:
summary: SEC11C is the catalytic subunit of the signal peptidase complex (SPC-C paralog); membership in the SPC is its defining, conserved cellular component.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Core cellular component; SEC11C is the proteolytic subunit of the signal peptidase complex.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: Component of the signal peptidase complex paralog C (SPC-C)
- term:
id: GO:0008233
label: peptidase activity
evidence_type: IBA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000033
qualifier: enables
review:
summary: SEC11C is a peptidase; "peptidase activity" is a correct but generic parent of the specific serine-type endopeptidase/signal peptidase activity.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Correct general molecular function; the specific serine-type endopeptidase activity (GO:0004252) better captures SEC11C's catalytic role.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: Belongs to the peptidase S26B family
- term:
id: GO:0004252
label: serine-type endopeptidase activity
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000120
qualifier: enables
review:
summary: SEC11C is a serine-type endopeptidase that uses a Ser/His/Asp charge-relay catalytic triad to cleave signal peptides; this is its core molecular function.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Core molecular function; experimentally established serine-endopeptidase (signal peptidase) activity, supported by IDA/EXP and the catalytic triad.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:34388369
supporting_text: The active site is formed by a
- term:
id: GO:0005787
label: signal peptidase complex
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000117
qualifier: part_of
review:
summary: ARBA electronic assignment of signal peptidase complex membership, redundant with the experimental IDA evidence.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Correct core cellular component; redundant with IDA/IBA evidence.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: Component of the signal peptidase complex paralog C (SPC-C)
- term:
id: GO:0005789
label: endoplasmic reticulum membrane
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000044
qualifier: located_in
review:
summary: Electronic assignment of ER membrane localization from the UniProt subcellular location, consistent with the single-pass type II ER membrane topology.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Correct core localization; SEC11C is a single-pass ER membrane protein.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: 'SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane'
- term:
id: GO:0008233
label: peptidase activity
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000002
qualifier: enables
review:
summary: InterPro-based electronic assignment of peptidase activity; a generic parent of the specific serine-type endopeptidase activity.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Correct general molecular function; GO:0004252 is the informative specific term.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: Belongs to the peptidase S26B family
- term:
id: GO:0009003
label: signal peptidase activity
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000003
qualifier: enables
review:
summary: EC-based electronic assignment of signal peptidase activity (EC 3.4.21.89); this is SEC11C's specific catalytic function and is experimentally supported (EXP).
action: ACCEPT
reason: Core molecular function; SEC11C is the catalytic signal peptidase of the SPC-C complex (EC 3.4.21.89).
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: EC=3.4.21.89
- term:
id: GO:0016020
label: membrane
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000002
qualifier: located_in
review:
summary: SEC11C is a membrane protein; "membrane" is a correct but generic parent of the specific ER membrane localization.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: Correct but generic; ER membrane (GO:0005789) is the specific and informative localization.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: Single-pass type II membrane protein
- term:
id: GO:0005515
label: protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:28514442
qualifier: enables
review:
summary: BioPlex (HCIP) high-throughput interactome capture; bare protein binding is uninformative for core function.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: High-throughput interactome interaction; uninformative bare term not elevated to core per guidelines.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: 'Q9BY50; P61009: SPCS3'
- term:
id: GO:0005515
label: protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:32296183
qualifier: enables
review:
summary: Binary interactome (HuRI) high-throughput capture; bare protein binding is uninformative.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: High-throughput interactome interaction; uninformative bare term not elevated to core.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: 'Q9BY50; P61009: SPCS3'
- term:
id: GO:0005515
label: protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:33961781
qualifier: enables
review:
summary: BioPlex proteome-scale interactome capture; bare protein binding is uninformative.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: High-throughput interactome interaction; uninformative bare term not elevated to core.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: 'Q9BY50; P61009: SPCS3'
- term:
id: GO:0005515
label: protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:34388369
qualifier: enables
review:
summary: SEC11C interacts with the SPC accessory subunits SPCS2 and SPCS3 within the signal peptidase complex; the bare protein binding term is uninformative, but the SPC assembly is captured better by the signal peptidase complex part_of annotation.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: Records genuine intra-complex interactions (SPCS2/SPCS3), but bare protein binding is uninformative; the functional content is captured by the signal peptidase complex CC.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: with SPCS2 and SPCS3
- term:
id: GO:0005515
label: protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:40205054
qualifier: enables
review:
summary: Multimodal cell-map (proteomics/imaging) high-throughput capture; bare protein binding is uninformative for core function.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: High-throughput interactome/cell-map interaction; uninformative bare term not elevated to core.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: 'Q9BY50; P61009: SPCS3'
- term:
id: GO:0005787
label: signal peptidase complex
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:34388369
qualifier: part_of
review:
summary: The cryo-EM structure identifies SEC11C within the assembled signal peptidase complex (SPC-C) with SPCS1/2/3; defining cellular component.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Core cellular component; SEC11C is the catalytic subunit of the structurally resolved SPC-C complex.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: Component of the signal peptidase complex paralog C (SPC-C)
- term:
id: GO:0005789
label: endoplasmic reticulum membrane
evidence_type: IDA
original_reference_id: PMID:34388369
qualifier: located_in
review:
summary: The SPC structure places SEC11C in the ER membrane, with the active site abutting the bilayer; direct experimental localization.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Core localization with direct experimental support; SEC11C acts at the ER membrane.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: 'SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane'
- term:
id: GO:0016485
label: protein processing
evidence_type: IDA
original_reference_id: PMID:34388369
qualifier: involved_in
review:
summary: SEC11C processes pre-proteins by cleaving their signal peptides; "protein processing" is a correct but generic parent of the specific signal peptide processing.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Correct biological process; the specific signal peptide processing (GO:0006465) better captures SEC11C's role.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:34388369
supporting_text: it removes signal peptides (SPs) from a large
- term:
id: GO:0005789
label: endoplasmic reticulum membrane
evidence_type: ISS
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000024
qualifier: located_in
review:
summary: Sequence-similarity (ISS) transfer of ER membrane localization, consistent with the experimental IDA evidence.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Correct core localization; redundant with IDA/IEA ER membrane evidence.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: 'SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane'
- term:
id: GO:0009003
label: signal peptidase activity
evidence_type: EXP
original_reference_id: PMID:34388369
qualifier: enables
review:
summary: Experimental demonstration (structure + catalytic-activity/mutagenesis of the catalytic triad including Ser-68) that SEC11C is a catalytic signal peptidase of the SPC. This is the core molecular function.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Core molecular function with direct experimental support; SEC11C is a catalytic signal peptidase subunit of the SPC.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:34388369
supporting_text: human SPC exists in two functional paralogs with distinct proteolytic
subunits
- term:
id: GO:0004252
label: serine-type endopeptidase activity
evidence_type: IDA
original_reference_id: PMID:34388369
qualifier: enables
review:
summary: Direct experimental demonstration of SEC11C serine-type endopeptidase (signal peptidase) activity via the resolved catalytic triad and catalytic-activity assays; core molecular function.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Core molecular function with direct experimental (IDA) support.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:34388369
supporting_text: The active site is formed by a
- term:
id: GO:0005787
label: signal peptidase complex
evidence_type: IDA
original_reference_id: PMID:34388369
qualifier: part_of
review:
summary: Direct structural demonstration that SEC11C is the catalytic subunit within the assembled SPC-C; defining cellular component.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Core cellular component with direct experimental (IDA) support.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: Component of the signal peptidase complex paralog C (SPC-C)
- term:
id: GO:0051604
label: protein maturation
evidence_type: IDA
original_reference_id: PMID:34388369
qualifier: involved_in
review:
summary: By cleaving signal peptides from pre-proteins, SEC11C contributes to maturation of secretory/membrane proteins; "protein maturation" is a correct but generic parent of the specific signal peptide processing.
action: ACCEPT
reason: Correct biological process; the specific signal peptide processing (GO:0006465) better captures SEC11C's role.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:34388369
supporting_text: it removes signal peptides (SPs) from a large
- term:
id: GO:0005789
label: endoplasmic reticulum membrane
evidence_type: TAS
original_reference_id: Reactome:R-HSA-422051
qualifier: located_in
review:
summary: Reactome curation of SEC11C ER membrane localization (preproghrelin signal peptide cleavage).
action: ACCEPT
reason: Correct core localization; redundant with experimental ER membrane evidence.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: 'SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane'
- term:
id: GO:0005789
label: endoplasmic reticulum membrane
evidence_type: TAS
original_reference_id: Reactome:R-HSA-9918795
qualifier: located_in
review:
summary: Reactome curation of SEC11C ER membrane localization (flaviviral polyprotein signalase cleavage).
action: ACCEPT
reason: Correct core localization; redundant with experimental ER membrane evidence.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: 'SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane'
- term:
id: GO:0005789
label: endoplasmic reticulum membrane
evidence_type: TAS
original_reference_id: Reactome:R-HSA-9918871
qualifier: located_in
review:
summary: Reactome curation of SEC11C ER membrane localization (NS4B signalase cleavage).
action: ACCEPT
reason: Correct core localization; redundant with experimental ER membrane evidence.
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: 'SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane'
references:
- id: GO_REF:0000002
title: Gene Ontology annotation through association of InterPro records with GO
terms
findings: []
- id: GO_REF:0000003
title: Gene Ontology annotation based on Enzyme Commission mapping
findings: []
- id: GO_REF:0000024
title: Manual transfer of experimentally-verified manual GO annotation data to orthologs
by curator judgment of sequence similarity
findings: []
- id: GO_REF:0000033
title: Annotation inferences using phylogenetic trees
findings: []
- id: GO_REF:0000044
title: Gene Ontology annotation based on UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot Subcellular Location
vocabulary mapping, accompanied by conservative changes to GO terms applied by
UniProt
findings: []
- id: GO_REF:0000117
title: Electronic Gene Ontology annotations created by ARBA machine learning models
findings: []
- id: GO_REF:0000120
title: Combined Automated Annotation using Multiple IEA Methods
findings: []
- id: PMID:28514442
title: Architecture of the human interactome defines protein communities and disease
networks.
findings: []
reference_review:
relevance: LOW
correctness: VERIFIED
review_notes: BioPlex (HCIP) interactome; source of a generic protein-binding IPI annotation.
- id: PMID:32296183
title: A reference map of the human binary protein interactome.
findings: []
reference_review:
relevance: LOW
correctness: VERIFIED
review_notes: High-throughput binary (HuRI/Y2H) interactome; source of a generic protein-binding IPI annotation.
- id: PMID:33961781
title: Dual proteome-scale networks reveal cell-specific remodeling of the human
interactome.
findings: []
reference_review:
relevance: LOW
correctness: VERIFIED
review_notes: BioPlex proteome-scale interactome; source of a generic protein-binding IPI annotation.
- id: PMID:34388369
title: Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the determinants
for signal peptide cleavage.
findings:
- statement: The human signal peptidase complex exists in two functional paralogs with distinct proteolytic subunits (SEC11A and SEC11C); the active site is formed by a catalytic triad abutting the ER membrane, where a transmembrane window thins the bilayer to generate specificity for signal peptides based on the length of their hydrophobic segments.
reference_section_type: ABSTRACT
- statement: SEC11C is the catalytic subunit of SPC-C (with accessory subunits SPCS1, SPCS2, SPCS3); Ser-68 is the catalytic nucleophile and the C-terminal short (CTS) helix is essential for catalytic activity.
reference_section_type: RESULTS
reference_review:
relevance: HIGH
correctness: VERIFIED
review_notes: Definitive structural/mechanistic study establishing SEC11C as a catalytic SPC paralog subunit, its catalytic triad, EC 3.4.21.89, and the membrane-thinning specificity mechanism.
- id: PMID:40205054
title: Multimodal cell maps as a foundation for structural and functional genomics.
findings: []
reference_review:
relevance: LOW
correctness: VERIFIED
review_notes: Multimodal cell-map (proteomics/imaging) study; source of a generic protein-binding IPI annotation.
- id: PMID:36454823
title: The human signal peptidase complex acts as a quality control enzyme for membrane
proteins.
findings:
- statement: Beyond canonical N-terminal signal peptide removal, the human SPC (catalytic
core SEC11A/C with SPCS3) cleaves misfolded or unassembled membrane proteins
at otherwise hidden "cryptic" cleavage sites abundant in the human membrane proteome;
this post-translocational cleavage synergizes with ER-associated degradation
(ERAD) to maintain membrane protein homeostasis. SEC11A knockdown did not abolish
a noncanonical cleavage event, consistent with compensation by SEC11C.
reference_section_type: ABSTRACT
reference_review:
relevance: HIGH
correctness: VERIFIED
review_notes: PubMed-verified (DOI 10.1126/science.abo5672, Science 2022). Establishes
a membrane-protein quality-control function of the SPC catalytic core (SEC11A/C)
and implicates SEC11C as a redundant/backup catalytic subunit when SEC11A is
limiting. Not in GOA; informs BP context but no new SEC11C-specific GO annotation
added.
- id: PMID:28423309
title: The Natural Product Cavinafungin Selectively Interferes with Zika and Dengue
Virus Replication by Inhibition of the Host Signal Peptidase.
findings:
- statement: Genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 chemogenomic profiling in human cells and resistance
selection in yeast identified the catalytic subunit of the signal peptidase
(SEC11; human SEC11A and SEC11C) as the conserved efficacy target of cavinafungin,
which rapidly blocks signal-sequence cleavage of host and viral proteins.
reference_section_type: ABSTRACT
reference_review:
relevance: MEDIUM
correctness: VERIFIED
review_notes: PubMed-verified (DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.03.071, Cell Rep 2017).
Identifies human SEC11A/SEC11C as the conserved drug target; supports SEC11C's
essential signal peptidase activity and chemical-biology/antiviral relevance.
- id: PMID:39565596
title: Spc2 modulates substrate- and cleavage site-selection in the yeast signal
peptidase complex.
findings:
- statement: In yeast, the noncatalytic SPC subunit Spc2 (ortholog of human SPCS2)
modulates SPC discrimination between substrates and cleavage-site selection;
molecular dynamics indicates Spc2 contributes to the membrane thinning at the
center of the SPC that underlies substrate recognition, informing the conserved
mechanism by which accessory subunits support the SEC11 catalytic subunit.
reference_section_type: ABSTRACT
reference_review:
relevance: MEDIUM
correctness: VERIFIED
review_notes: PubMed-verified (DOI 10.1083/jcb.202211035, J Cell Biol 2024). Yeast
study; mechanistically relevant to human SEC11C by clarifying how noncatalytic
subunits shape substrate/cleavage-site selection of the SEC11 protease.
- id: PMID:26446786
title: Competitive Inhibition of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Signal Peptidase by Non-cleavable
Mutant Preprotein Cargos.
findings:
- statement: A non-cleavable variant preprotein (proline introduced immediately after
the signal-peptide cleavage site) is translocated across the ER membrane where
it binds the catalytic SPase subunit and inhibits signal peptidase activity in
a dose-dependent manner; this work directly implicates SEC11A as the catalytic
subunit and establishes eukaryotic SPase as a tractable antiviral target, informing
the shared catalytic mechanism of the SEC11A/SEC11C signal peptidase paralogs.
reference_section_type: ABSTRACT
reference_review:
relevance: LOW
correctness: VERIFIED
review_notes: PubMed-verified (PMID:26446786, DOI 10.1074/jbc.M115.692350, J Biol
Chem 2015). Abstract names SEC11A (not SEC11C) as the bound catalytic subunit;
relevant to SEC11C only as background for the conserved eukaryotic SPase catalytic
mechanism and druggability. Not in GOA; no new core GO annotation added.
- id: Reactome:R-HSA-422051
title: Cleavage of the signal peptide of Preproghrelin
findings: []
- id: Reactome:R-HSA-9918795
title: Signalase cleaves prM-E-NS1-NS2A
findings: []
- id: Reactome:R-HSA-9918871
title: Signalase cleaves prepro-NS4B
findings: []
- id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
title: UniProt entry Q9BY50 (SC11C_HUMAN), Signal peptidase complex catalytic subunit
SEC11C
findings:
- statement: SEC11C is the catalytic subunit of the signal peptidase complex paralog C (SPC-C) with SPCS1/2/3; cleaves N-terminal signal peptides (EC 3.4.21.89) from nascent proteins translocated into the ER lumen; single-pass type II ER membrane protein; peptidase S26B family; catalytic triad (Ser-68), selectivity for h-regions shorter than 18-20 residues via membrane thinning.
reference_section_type: OTHER
core_functions:
- description: Catalytic serine-endopeptidase subunit of the ER signal peptidase complex (SPC-C paralog) that cleaves N-terminal signal peptides from secretory and membrane pre-proteins as they are translocated into the ER lumen, using a Ser/His/Asp catalytic triad.
molecular_function:
id: GO:0004252
label: serine-type endopeptidase activity
in_complex:
id: GO:0005787
label: signal peptidase complex
supported_by:
- reference_id: file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
supporting_text: catalyzes the cleavage of N-terminal signal sequences
- reference_id: PMID:34388369
supporting_text: The active site is formed by a
directly_involved_in:
- id: GO:0016485
label: protein processing
proposed_new_terms: []
suggested_questions:
- question: What distinguishes the substrate specificity of the SEC11C (SPC-C) versus SEC11A (SPC-A) paralogous signal peptidase complexes, and do they serve distinct subsets of the secretory proteome or distinct tissues?
- question: How does the SPC's local thinning of the ER membrane mechanistically couple signal-peptide h-region length to catalytic engagement by SEC11C?
suggested_experiments:
- description: Reconstitute purified SPC-C (SEC11C + SPCS1/2/3) and assay cleavage of a panel of signal peptides varying in h-region length to quantify SEC11C's length-dependent specificity, comparing wild-type Ser-68 to the catalytic-dead S68A mutant.
- description: Acute degron depletion of SEC11C versus SEC11A followed by N-terminomics (e.g. TAILS) to define the paralog-specific repertoire of cleaved signal-peptide substrates in human cells.