SEC11C

UniProt ID: Q9BY50
Organism: Homo sapiens
Review Status: COMPLETE
πŸ“ Provide Detailed Feedback

Gene 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 Review

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

Core Functions

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.

Supporting Evidence:
  • file:human/SEC11C/SEC11C-uniprot.txt
    catalyzes the cleavage of N-terminal signal sequences
  • PMID:34388369
    The active site is formed by a

References

Loading supporting content…

Download this section (compressed HTML)

Suggested Questions for Experts

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?

Suggested Experiments

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.

Deep Research

Falcon

(SEC11C-deep-research-falcon.md)

Loading supporting content…

Download this section (compressed HTML)

πŸ“š Additional Documentation

Notes

(SEC11C-notes.md)

Loading supporting content…

Download this section (compressed HTML)

Pn Notes

(SEC11C-pn-notes.md)

Loading supporting content…

Download this section (compressed HTML)

πŸ“„ View Raw YAML

Loading supporting content…

Download this section (compressed HTML)