Endoplasmic reticulum membrane and Golgi apparatus membrane (None)

The endoplasmic reticulum membrane is a lipid bilayer structure that encloses the rough and smooth ER, serving as the site for synthesis of transmembrane proteins and most cellular lipids[4][9]. The Golgi apparatus membrane forms stacked, flattened cisternae that sort, package, and modify proteins and lipids for delivery to other cell compartments[5][7]. Both are integral parts of the endomembrane system, involved in intracellular transport via vesicles, and are essential for secretory and membrane protein maturation[1][6][7]. These organelle membranes are not considered canonical drug targets—rather, proteins embedded in or associated with these membranes (such as ion channels, receptors, or enzymes) are typical therapeutic targets. Dysfunction of ER or Golgi membranes can contribute indirectly to various diseases, but they are not directly targeted by existing therapies. Note: This entry does not describe a receptor or single molecule and should ordinarily be excluded from a list of therapeutic drug targets. For drug target discovery, focus should be on specific membrane proteins, such as ER-resident enzymes or Golgi-resident glycosylation enzymes, not whole organelle membranes themselves.

Other names

ER membraneGolgi membraneendomembrane system

Not applicable for drugs targeting the membranes as a structure. Agents that disrupt membrane trafficking can block protein processing and secretion.