Many current and potential drug targets are membrane-bound or secreted proteins that are expressed and transported via the Sec61 secretory pathway. They are targeted to translocon channels across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by signal peptides (SPs), which are temporary structures on the N-termini of their nascent chains. During translation, such proteins enter the lumen and membrane of the ER by a process known as co-translational translocation. Small molecules have been found that interfere with this process, decreasing protein expression by recognizing the unique structures of the SPs of particular proteins. The SP may thus become a validated target for designing drugs for numerous disorders, including certain hereditary diseases.

许多当前和潜在的药物靶标是膜结合蛋白或分泌蛋白，它们通过 Sec61 分泌途径表达和运输。它们通过信号肽 (SP) 靶向跨内质网 (ER) 膜的易位子通道，信号肽是其新生链 N 末端的临时结构。在翻译过程中，此类蛋白质通过称为共翻译易位的过程进入内质网的腔和膜。人们发现小分子可以干扰这一过程，通过识别特定蛋白质的 SP 的独特结构来减少蛋白质表达。因此，SP 可能成为设计治疗多种疾病（包括某些遗传性疾病）药物的有效靶标。