Protein translocation through the Sec61/SecY channel

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiliang Cheng

Special codes are embedded in the primary sequence of newly synthesized proteins to determine their final destination. Protein translocation across biological membranes requires co-operation between the targeting and translocation machineries. A conserved membrane channel, the Sec61/SecY complex, mediates protein translocation across or integration into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane in eukaryotes and the plasma membrane in prokaryotes. A combination of recent biochemical and structural data provides novel insights into the mechanism of how the channel allows polypeptide movement into the exoplasmic space and the lipid bilayer.

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1243-1247 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Martoglio

Signal sequences are the addresses of proteins destined for secretion. In eukaryotic cells, they mediate targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and insertion into the translocon. Thereafter, signal sequences are cleaved from the pre-protein and liberated into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. We have recently reported that some liberated signal peptides are further processed by the intramembrane-cleaving aspartic protease signal peptide peptidase. Cleavage in the membrane-spanning portion of the signal peptide promotes the release of signal peptide fragments from the lipid bilayer. Typical processes that include intramembrane proteolysis is the regulatory or signalling function of cleavage products. Likewise, signal peptide fragments liberated upon intramembrane cleavage may promote such post-targeting functions in the cell.


2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1227-1231 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.E. Johnson

Many proteins are translocated across or integrated into a cellular membrane without disrupting its integrity, although it is difficult to imagine how such macromolecular transmembrane movement can occur without simultaneously allowing significant small-molecule and ion diffusion across the bilayer. Recent studies have identified some molecular mechanisms that are involved in maintaining the permeability barrier of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane during co-translational protein translocation and integration. These mechanisms are both simple and direct in concept, but are operationally complex and require the co-ordinated and regulated interaction of several multicomponent complexes.


1988 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 1093-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
P D Garcia ◽  
J H Ou ◽  
W J Rutter ◽  
P Walter

The major hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein is a viral structural protein involved in nucleic acid binding. Its coding sequence contains an extension of 29 codons (the "precore" region) at the amino terminus of the protein which is present in a fraction of the viral transcripts. This region is evolutionarily conserved among mammalian and avian HBVs, suggesting it has functional importance, although at least for duck HBV it has been shown to be nonessential for replication of infectious virions. Using in vitro assays for protein translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, we found that the precore region of the HBV genome encodes a signal sequence. This signal sequence was recognized by signal recognition particle, which targeted the nascent precore protein to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane with efficiencies comparable to those of other mammalian secretory proteins. A 19-amino acid signal peptide was removed by signal peptidase on the lumenal side of the microsomal membrane, generating a protein similar to the HBV major core protein, but containing 10 additional amino acids from the precore region at its amino terminus. Surprisingly, we found that 70-80% of this signal peptidase-cleaved product was localized on the cytoplasmic side of the microsomal vesicles and was not associated with the membranes. We conclude that translocation was aborted by an unknown mechanism, then the protein disengaged from the translocation machinery and was released back into the cytoplasm. Thus, a cytoplasmically disposed protein was created whose amino terminus resulted from signal peptidase cleavage. The remaining 20-30% appeared to be completely translocated into the lumen of the microsomes. A deletion mutant lacking the carboxy-terminal nucleic acid binding domain of the precore protein was similarly partitioned between the lumen of the microsomes and the cytoplasmic compartment, indicating that this highly charged domain is not responsible for the aborted translocation. We discuss the implications of our findings for the protein translocation process and suggest a possible role in the virus life cycle.


The nerve ending cytosol is bounded by the plasma membrane, the mitochondrial inner membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, transport across each of which is capable, in theory, of regulating the cytosolic free Ca 2+ concentration. By parallel monitoring of mitochondrial and plasma membrane potentials, ATP levels, Na + gradients and intrasynaptosomal Ca 2+ distribution in preparations of isolated synaptosomes, we conclude the following: ( a ) mitochondria in situ represent a major Ca 2+ pool, regulating the upper steady-state limit of the cytosolic free Ca 2+ concentration by sequestering Ca 2+ reversibly; ( b ) this limit is responsive to the cytosolic Na + concentration, but is below the concentration required for significant exocytosis; ( c ) plasma membrane Ca 2+ transport can be resolved into a constant slow influx, a voltage-dependent and verapamil-sensitive influx and an ATP-dependent efflux, while Ca 2+ efflux driven by the sodium electrochemical potential cannot be detected; ( d ) Ca 2+ regulation by intrasynaptosomal endoplasmic reticulum appears to be of minor significance in the present preparation.


Biochemistry ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 35 (47) ◽  
pp. 14717-14724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Beswick ◽  
Françoise Baleux ◽  
Tam Huynh-Dinh ◽  
François Képès ◽  
Jean-Michel Neumann ◽  
...  

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3859-3871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Wittke ◽  
Martin Dünnwald ◽  
Nils Johnsson

SEC62 encodes an essential component of the Sec-complex that is responsible for posttranslational protein translocation across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The specific role of Sec62p in translocation was not known and difficult to identify because it is part of an oligomeric protein complex in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. An in vivo competition assay allowed us to characterize and dissect physical and functional interactions between Sec62p and components of the Sec-complex. We could show that Sec62p binds via its cytosolic N- and C-terminal domains to the Sec-complex. The N-terminal domain, which harbors the major interaction site, binds directly to the last 14 residues of Sec63p. The C-terminal binding site of Sec62p is less important for complex stability, but adjoins the region in Sec62p that might be involved in signal sequence recognition.


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