Structural basis of signal-sequence recognition by the signal recognition particle

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Hainzl ◽  
Shenghua Huang ◽  
Gitte Meriläinen ◽  
Kristoffer Brännström ◽  
A Elisabeth Sauer-Eriksson
1993 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 1113-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Zopf ◽  
H D Bernstein ◽  
P Walter

The 54-kD subunit of the signal recognition particle (SRP54) binds to signal sequences of nascent secretory and transmembrane proteins. SRP54 consists of two separable domains, a 33-kD amino-terminal domain that contains a GTP-binding site (SRP54G) and a 22-kD carboxy-terminal domain (SRP54M) containing binding sites for both the signal sequence and SRP RNA. To examine the function of the two domains in more detail, we have purified SRP54M and used it to assemble a partial SRP that lacks the amino-terminal domain of SRP54 [SRP(-54G)]. This particle recognized signal sequences in two independent assays, albeit less efficiently than intact SRP. Analysis of the signal sequence binding activity of free SRP54 and SRP54M supports the conclusion that SRP54M binds signal sequences with lower affinity than the intact protein. In contrast, when SRP(-54G) was assayed for its ability to promote the translocation of preprolactin across microsomal membranes, it was completely inactive, apparently because it was unable to interact normally with the SRP receptor. These results imply that SRP54G plays an essential role in SRP-mediated targeting of nascent chain-ribosome complexes to the ER membrane and also influences signal sequence recognition, possibly by promoting a tighter association between signal sequences and SRP54M.


1994 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 887-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
P J Rapiejko ◽  
R Gilmore

The identification of GTP-binding sites in the 54-kDa subunit of the signal recognition particle (SRP) and in both the alpha and beta subunits of the SRP receptor has complicated the task of defining the step in the protein translocation reaction that is controlled by the GTP-binding site in the SRP. Ribonucleotide binding assays show that the purified SRP can bind GDP or GTP. However, crosslinking experiments show that SRP54 can recognize the signal sequence of a nascent polypeptide in the absence of GTP. Targeting of SRP-ribosome-nascent polypeptide complexes, formed in the absence of GTP, to microsomal membranes likewise proceeds normally. To separate the GTPase cycles of SRP54 and the alpha subunit of the SRP receptor (SR alpha), we employed an SR alpha mutant that displays a markedly reduced affinity for GTP. We observed that the dissociation of SRP54 from the signal sequence and the insertion of the nascent polypeptide into the translocation site could only occur when GTP binding to SR alpha was permitted. These data suggest that the GTP binding and hydrolysis cycles of both SRP54 and SR alpha are initiated upon formation of the SRP-SRP receptor complex.


Nature ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 340 (6233) ◽  
pp. 482-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harris D. Bernstein ◽  
Mark A. Poritz ◽  
Katharina Strub ◽  
Patricia J. Hoben ◽  
Sydney Brenner ◽  
...  

Science ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 344 (6179) ◽  
pp. 101-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Timo Grotwinkel ◽  
Klemens Wild ◽  
Bernd Segnitz ◽  
Irmgard Sinning

The signal recognition particle (SRP) is central to membrane protein targeting; SRP RNA is essential for SRP assembly, elongation arrest, and activation of SRP guanosine triphosphatases. In eukaryotes, SRP function relies on the SRP68-SRP72 heterodimer. We present the crystal structures of the RNA-binding domain of SRP68 (SRP68-RBD) alone and in complex with SRP RNA and SRP19. SRP68-RBD is a tetratricopeptide-like module that binds to a RNA three-way junction, bends the RNA, and inserts an α-helical arginine-rich motif (ARM) into the major groove. The ARM opens the conserved 5f RNA loop, which in ribosome-bound SRP establishes a contact to ribosomal RNA. Our data provide the structural basis for eukaryote-specific, SRP68-driven RNA remodeling required for protein translocation.


eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R Noriega ◽  
Jin Chen ◽  
Peter Walter ◽  
Joseph D Puglisi

The signal recognition particle (SRP) directs translating ribosome-nascent chain complexes (RNCs) that display a signal sequence to protein translocation channels in target membranes. All previous work on the initial step of the targeting reaction, when SRP binds to RNCs, used stalled and non-translating RNCs. This meant that an important dimension of the co-translational process remained unstudied. We apply single-molecule fluorescence measurements to observe directly and in real-time E. coli SRP binding to actively translating RNCs. We show at physiologically relevant SRP concentrations that SRP-RNC association and dissociation rates depend on nascent chain length and the exposure of a functional signal sequence outside the ribosome. Our results resolve a long-standing question: how can a limited, sub-stoichiometric pool of cellular SRP effectively distinguish RNCs displaying a signal sequence from those that are not? The answer is strikingly simple: as originally proposed, SRP only stably engages translating RNCs exposing a functional signal sequence.


2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C1161-C1161
Author(s):  
Irmgard Sinning

More than 25% of the cellular proteome comprise membrane proteins that have to be inserted into the correct target membrane. Most membrane proteins are delivered to the membrane by the signal recognition particle (SRP) pathway which relies on the recognition of an N-terminal signal sequence. In contrast to this co-translational mechanism, which avoids problems due to the hydrophobic nature of the cargo proteins, tail-anchored (TA) membrane proteins utilize a post-translational mechanism for membrane insertion – the GET pathway (guided entry of tail-anchored membrane proteins). The SRP and GET pathways are both regulated by GTP and ATP binding proteins of the SIMIBI family. However, in the SRP pathway the SRP RNA plays a unique regulatory role. Recent insights into eukaryotic SRP will be discussed.


1989 ◽  
Vol 109 (6) ◽  
pp. 2617-2622 ◽  
Author(s):  
S L Wolin ◽  
P Walter

Signal recognition particle (SRP) is a ribonucleoprotein that functions in the targeting of ribosomes synthesizing presecretory proteins to the ER. SRP binds to the signal sequence as it emerges from the ribosome, and in wheat germ extracts, arrests further elongation. The translation arrest is released when SRP interacts with its receptor on the ER membrane. We show that the delay of elongation mediated by SRP is not unique to wheat germ translation extracts. Addition of mammalian SRP to reticulocyte lysates resulted in a delay of preprolactin synthesis due to increased ribosome pausing at specific sites on preprolactin mRNA. Addition of canine pancreatic microsomal membranes to reticulocyte lysates resulted in an acceleration of preprolactin synthesis, suggesting that the endogenous SRP present in the reticulocyte lysate also delays synthesis of secretory proteins.


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