Calcium-binding protein that interacts with newly synthesized glycoproteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. It may act in assisting protein assembly and/or in the retention within the ER of unassembled protein subunits. It seems to play a major role in the quality control apparatus of the ER by the retention of incorrectly folded proteins. Partial T-cell antigen receptor complexes can escape the ER of immature thymocytes in association with their molecular chaperone to be expressed at low levels on the cell surface where they may function as a signaling complex to regulate thymocyte maturation.
Specificity
Natural and recombinant Mouse Calnexin
Subcellular Location
Endoplasmic reticulum membrane Single-pass type I membrane protein Melanosome When bound to CD3 epsilon chains, calnexin's ER retention signal can be masked, permitting it to escape ER retention.