Calnexin and Calregulin (also called calreticulin) are calcium-binding proteins that are localized to the endoplasmic reticulum, Calnexin to the membrane and Calregulin to the lumen. Calnexin is a type I membrane protein that interacts with newly synthesized glycoproteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. It may play a role in assisting with protein assembly and in retaining unassembled protein subunits in the endoplasmic reticulum. Calregulin has both low- and high-affinity calcium-binding sites. Neither Calnexin nor Calregulin contains the calcium-binding E-F hand motif found in calmodulins. Calnexin and Calregulin are important for the maturation of glycoproteins in the endoplasmic reticulum and appear to bind many of the same proteins.
