A Type II integral membrane protein has which orientation?

A Type II integral membrane protein is characterized by having its N-terminus oriented toward the cytoplasm and the C-terminus exposed to the extracellular space. This arrangement is a result of how the protein is synthesized and inserted into the membrane during translation.

In these proteins, the signal sequence that directs their insertion into the endoplasmic reticulum often emerges first during translation, leading to the N-terminus being positioned inside before the rest of the protein is translocated across the membrane. The rest of the protein then folds in such a way that the N-terminus is oriented in the cytosol, while the C-terminus ends up outside the cell.

This distinct orientation is important for the protein's function, as it determines the accessibility of the amino acids on either side of the membrane and contributes to how the protein interacts with other molecules in the cell's environment.