DERL3

DERL3, also known as Derlin-3, is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) protein. It plays a crucial role in recognizing misfolded glycoproteins in the ER and targeting them for proteasomal degradation. This process helps maintain the proper function of the ER and overall cellular homeostasis. It is involved in the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway, a key signaling cascade for dealing with ER stress.
Alterations in DERL3 have been linked to certain neurodegenerative diseases, as the accumulation of misfolded proteins is a hallmark of these conditions. In drug development, researchers are exploring agents that can modulate DERL3 activity to enhance ERAD and potentially treat related diseases, though significant progress is still awaited.