scholarly journals The major chloroplast envelope polypeptide is the phosphate translocator and not the protein import receptor

Nature ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 353 (6342) ◽  
pp. 364-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulf-Ingo Flügge ◽  
Andreas Weber ◽  
Karsten Fischer ◽  
Fritz Lottspeich ◽  
Christoph Eckerskorn ◽  
...  
1990 ◽  
Vol 111 (5) ◽  
pp. 1825-1838 ◽  
Author(s):  
D J Schnell ◽  
G Blobel ◽  
D Pain

A chloroplast import receptor from pea, previously identified by antiidiotypic antibodies was purified and its primary structure deduced from its cDNA sequence. The protein is a 36-kD integral membrane protein (p36) with eight potential transmembrane segments. Fab prepared from monospecific anti-p36 IgG inhibits the import of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit precursor (pS) by interfering with pS binding at the chloroplast surface. Anti-p36 IgGs are able to immunoprecipitate a Triton X-100 soluble p36-pS complex, suggesting a direct interaction between p36 and pS. This immunoprecipitation was specific as it was abolished by a pS synthetic transit peptide, consistent with the transit sequence receptor function of p36. Immunoelectron microscopy localized p36 to regions of the outer chloroplast membrane that are in close contact with the inner chloroplast membrane. Comparison of the deduced sequence of pea p36 to that of other known proteins indicates a striking homology to a protein from spinach chloroplasts that was previously suggested to be the triose phosphate-3-phosphoglycerate-phosphate translocator (phosphate translocator) (Flügge, U. I., K. Fischer, A. Gross, W. Sebald, F. Lottspeich, and C. Eckerskorn. 1989. EMBO (Eur. Mol. Biol. Organ.) J. 8:39-46). However, incubation of Triton X-100 solubilized chloroplast envelope material with hydroxylapatite indicated that p36 was quantitatively absorbed, whereas previous reports have shown that phosphate translocator activity does not bind to hydroxylapatite (Flügge, U. I., and H. W. Heldt. 1981. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 638:296-304. These data, in addition to the topology and import inhibition data presented in this report support the assignment of p36 as a receptor for chloroplast protein import, and argue against the assignment of the spinach homologue of this protein as the chloroplast phosphate translocator.


2002 ◽  
Vol 159 (5) ◽  
pp. 845-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Bauer ◽  
Andreas Hiltbrunner ◽  
Petra Weibel ◽  
Pierre-Alexandre Vidi ◽  
Mayte Alvarez-Huerta ◽  
...  

Two homologous GTP-binding proteins, atToc33 and atToc159, control access of cytosolic precursor proteins to the chloroplast. atToc33 is a constitutive outer chloroplast membrane protein, whereas the precursor receptor atToc159 also exists in a soluble, cytosolic form. This suggests that atToc159 may be able to switch between a soluble and an integral membrane form. By transient expression of GFP fusion proteins, mutant analysis, and biochemical experimentation, we demonstrate that the GTP-binding domain regulates the targeting of cytosolic atToc159 to the chloroplast and mediates the switch between cytosolic and integral membrane forms. Mutant atToc159, unable to bind GTP, does not reinstate a green phenotype in an albino mutant (ppi2) lacking endogenous atToc159, remaining trapped in the cytosol. Thus, the function of atToc159 in chloroplast biogenesis is dependent on an intrinsic GTP-regulated switch that controls localization of the receptor to the chloroplast envelope.


2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4243-4255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie E. Legakis ◽  
Jay I. Koepke ◽  
Chris Jedeszko ◽  
Ferdous Barlaskar ◽  
Laura J. Terlecky ◽  
...  

The molecular mechanisms of peroxisome biogenesis have begun to emerge; in contrast, relatively little is known about how the organelle functions as cells age. In this report, we characterize age-related changes in peroxisomes of human cells. We show that aging compromises peroxisomal targeting signal 1 (PTS1) protein import, affecting in particular the critical antioxidant enzyme catalase. The number and appearance of peroxisomes are altered in these cells, and the organelles accumulate the PTS1-import receptor, Pex5p, on their membranes. Concomitantly, cells produce increasing amounts of the toxic metabolite hydrogen peroxide, and we present evidence that this increased load of reactive oxygen species may further reduce peroxisomal protein import and exacerbate the effects of aging.


Cell ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 551-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshito Abe ◽  
Toshihiro Shodai ◽  
Takanori Muto ◽  
Katsuyoshi Mihara ◽  
Hisayoshi Torii ◽  
...  

2000 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 485-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Chen ◽  
X. Chen ◽  
D. J. Schnell

The development and maintenance of chloroplasts relies on the contribution of protein subunits from both plastid and nuclear genomes. Most chloroplast proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and are post-translationally imported into the organelle across the double membrane of the chloroplast envelope. Protein import into the chloroplast consists of two essential elements: the specific recognition of the targeting signals (transit sequences) of cytoplasmic preproteins by receptors at the outer envelope membrane and the subsequent translocation of preproteins simultaneously across the double membrane of the envelope. These processes are mediated via the co-ordinate action of protein translocon complexes in the outer (Toe apparatus) and inner (Tic apparatus) envelope membranes.


Genetics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
T A Harkness ◽  
R L Metzenberg ◽  
H Schneider ◽  
R Lill ◽  
W Neupert ◽  
...  

Abstract We have used a technique referred to as "sheltered RIP" (repeat induced point mutation) to create mutants of the mom-19 gene of Neurospora crassa, which encodes an import receptor for nuclear encoded mitochondrial precursor proteins. Sheltered RIP permits the isolation of a mutant gene in one nucleus, even if that gene is essential for the survival of the organism, by sheltering the nucleus carrying the mutant gene in a heterokaryon with an unaffected nucleus. Furthermore, the nucleus harboring the RIPed gene contains a selectable marker so that it is possible to shift nuclear ratios in the heterokaryons to a state in which the nucleus containing the RIPed gene predominates in cultures grown under selective conditions. This results in a condition where the target gene product should be present at very suboptimal levels and allows the study of the mutant phenotype. One allele of mom-19 generated by this method contains 44 transitions resulting in 18 amino acid substitutions. When the heterokaryon containing this allele was grown under conditions favoring the RIPed nucleus, no MOM19 protein was detectable in the mitochondria of the strain. Homokaryotic strains containing the RIPed allele exhibit a complex and extremely slow growth phenotype suggesting that the product of the mom-19 gene is important in N. crassa.


2010 ◽  
Vol 429 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna C. Y. Fan ◽  
Lisandra M. Gava ◽  
Carlos H. I. Ramos ◽  
Jason C. Young

The mitochondrial import receptor Tom70 (translocase of the mitochondrial outer membrane 70) interacts with chaperone–preprotein complexes through two domains: one that binds Hsp70 (heat-shock protein 70)/Hsc70 (heat-shock cognate 70) and Hsp90, and a second that binds preproteins. The oligomeric state of Tom70 has been controversial, with evidence for both monomeric and homodimeric forms. In the present paper, we report that the functional state of human Tom70 appears to be a monomer with mechanistic implications for its function in mitochondrial protein import. Based on analytical ultracentrifugation, cross-linking, size-exclusion chromatography and multi-angle light scattering, we found that the soluble cytosolic fragment of human Tom70 exists in equilibrium between monomer and dimer. A point mutation introduced at the predicted dimer interface increased the percentage of monomeric Tom70. Although chaperone docking to the mutant was the same as to the wild-type, the mutant was significantly more active in preprotein targeting. Cross-linking also demonstrated that the mutant formed stronger contacts with preprotein. However, cross-linking of full-length wild-type Tom70 on the mitochondrial membrane showed little evidence of homodimers. These results indicate that the Tom70 monomers are the functional form of the receptor, whereas the homodimers appear to be a minor population, and may represent an inactive state.


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