Mitochondrial proteins essential for viability mediate protein import into yeast mitochondria

Only five mitochondrial proteins are known to be essential for viability of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; all of them are key components of the mitochondrial protein import system. Other components of this system are not essential for life; they include functionally redundant import receptors on the mitochondrial surface and enzymes acting upon only a few precursor proteins.     

Mapping of the protein import machinery in the mitochondrial outer membrane by crosslinking of translocation intermediates.

Mitochondria contain a complex machinery for the import of nuclear-encoded proteins. Receptor proteins exposed on the outer membrane surface are required for the specific binding of precursor proteins to mitochondria, either by binding of cytosolic signal recognition factors or by direct recognition of the precursor polypeptides. Subsequently, the precursors are inserted into the outer membrane at the general insertion site GIP (general insertion protein). Here we report the analysis of receptors and GIP by crosslinking of translocation intermediates and by coimmunoprecipitation. Surface-accumulated precursors were crosslinked to the receptors MOM19 and MOM72, suggesting a direct interaction of preproteins with surface receptors. We identified three novel mitochondrial outer membrane proteins, MOM7, MOM8, and MOM30 that, together with the previously identified MOM38, seem to form the GIP site and are present in the mitochondrial receptor complex.     

Machinery for protein sorting and assembly in the mitochondrial outer membrane

Mitochondria contain translocases for the transport of precursor proteins across their outer and inner membranes. It has been assumed that the translocases also mediate the sorting of proteins to their submitochondrial destination. Here we show that the mitochondrial outer membrane contains a separate sorting and assembly machinery (SAM) that operates after the translocase of the outer membrane (TOM). Mas37 forms a constituent of the SAM complex. The central role of the SAM complex in the sorting and assembly pathway of outer membrane proteins explains the various pleiotropic functions that have been ascribed to Mas37 (refs 4, 11-15). These results suggest that the TOM complex, which can transport all kinds of mitochondrial precursor proteins, is not sufficient for the correct integration of outer membrane proteins with a complicated topology, and instead transfers precursor proteins to the SAM complex.     

A 42K outer-membrane protein is a component of the yeast mitochondrial protein import site

An engineered precursor protein that sticks in the import site of isolated yeast mitochondria can be specifically photo-crosslinked to a mitochondrial outer-membrane protein of relative molecular mass 42,000 (42K). This protein (termed import-site protein 42 or ISP 42) is exposed on the mitochondrial surface; antibodies against it block protein import into mitochondria. ISP 42 is the first identified component of the putative transmembrane machinery that imports proteins into mitochondria.     

Isolation and characterization of the gene for a yeast mitochondrial import receptor

We have previously identified an integral membrane protein (p32) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a receptor for protein import into mitochondria, and have localized it to the mitochondrial outer membrane at contact sites. Here we report isolation of the corresponding mitochondrial import receptor gene, termed MIR1. The deduced amino-acid sequence of p32 shows roughly 40% identity with proteins of bovine heart and rat liver that have been suggested to be mitochondrial phosphate carriers. Haploid cells carrying a disrupted MIR1 allele were unable to grow on a non-fermentable carbon source but grew in media containing glucose, indicating that the MIR1 protein is essential for mitochondrial function. Compared with wild type, amounts of some mitochondrial proteins were markedly reduced in cells containing a disrupted MIR1 allele, whereas levels of others were unchanged. This indicates that yeast contains more than one pathway for protein import into mitochondria.     

Rapid regulation of steroidogenesis by mitochondrial protein import

Most mitochondrial proteins are synthesized on cytoplasmic ribosomes and imported into mitochondria. The imported proteins are directed to one of four submitochondrial compartments--the outer mitochondrial membrane, the inner mitochondrial membrane, the intramembraneous space, or the matrix--where the protein then functions. Here we show that the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), a mitochondrial protein required for stress responses, reproduction, and sexual differentiation of male fetuses, exerts its activity transiently at the outer mitochondrial membrane rather than at its final resting place in the matrix. We also show that its residence time at this outer membrane and its activity are regulated by its speed of mitochondrial import. This may be the first example of a mitochondrial protein exerting its biological activity in a compartment other than that to which it is finally targeted. This system enables steroidogenic cells to initiate and terminate massive levels of steroidogenesis within a few minutes, permitting the rapid regulation of serum steroid hormone concentrations.     

线粒体蛋白转运系统的序列相似性分析

通过在27个不同进化层次物种的基因组和蛋白组中搜索酵母线粒体蛋白转运系统亚基的同源序列, 并进一步分析了同源亚基序列相似性与其所在线粒体位置的关系. 结果表明, 位于线粒体相同位置的模块有类似的序列相似性曲线, 相似性曲线在模块内部一般有波峰和波谷. 从线粒体外膜到基质, 序列相似性整体升高. 线粒体蛋白转运系统亚基与一些功能不相关的蛋白也表现出序列相似关系, 且这些亚基多集中在线粒体的内膜和外膜.     

Regulated import and degradation of a cytosolic protein in the yeast vacuole.

The key regulatory enzyme in gluconeogenesis, fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) is subject to glucose-stimulated proteolytic degradation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This process involves the regulated transfer of FBPase directly from the cytosol into the vacuole or a vacuole-related organelle. Glucose may regulate the production of an FBPase receptor or import factor that is transported to the vacuole through the secretory pathway.     

弧菌广谱性外膜蛋白抗原筛选及其单抗的交叉免疫原性研究

采用生物信息学方法分析几种病原性弧菌OmpK、OmpU和OmpW蛋白种间和种内的同源性,筛选高保守性蛋白OmpW.成功构建具备稳定分泌抗体IgG3的细胞株S5C10,鉴定其对5种弧菌具有特异性交叉免疫反应,而对9种非弧菌无免疫反应.研究结果显示OmpW可作为广谱性疫苗成分,其单抗可特异性检测多元弧菌.     

Bcl-2 is an inner mitochondrial membrane protein that blocks programmed cell death

The t(14; 18) chromosomal translocation of human follicular B-cell lymphoma juxtaposes the bcl-2 gene with the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus. The bcl-2 immunoglobulin fusion gene is markedly deregulated resulting in inappropriately elevated levels of bcl-2 RNA and protein. Transgenic mice bearing a bcl-2 immunoglobulin minigene demonstrate a polyclonal expansion of resting yet responsive IgM-IgD B cells which display prolonged cell survival but no increase in cell cycling. Moreover, deregulated bcl-2 extends the survival of certain haematopoietic cell lines following growth-factor deprivation. By using immunolocalization studies we now demonstrate that Bcl-2 is an integral inner mitochondrial membrane protein of relative molecular mass 25,000 (25k). Overexpression of Bcl-2 blocks the apoptotic death of a pro-B-lymphocyte cell line. Thus, Bcl-2 is unique among proto-oncogenes, being localized to mitochondria and interfering with programmed cell death independent of promoting cell division.     

副猪嗜血杆菌铁调节外膜蛋白的免疫原性研究

副猪嗜血杆菌感染已对世界养猪业造成巨大损失,作为一新发的细菌传染病,目前对其致病及免疫机理研究较少,故应用蛋白质组学及反向疫苗学技术有助于开发其新型疫苗.通过研究,鉴定出副猪嗜血杆菌的3种铁调节外膜蛋白IROMP1, IROMP B和HbpB.选择这3种蛋白进行免疫原性和攻毒保护试验研究,结果表明其中的HbpB能诱导明显的混合抗体(IgG1和IgG2a)应答,其高免血清具有明显的调理吞噬活性,HbpB能在小鼠攻毒试验中提供90%保护率,因此HbpB可成为开发副猪嗜血杆菌亚单位疫苗的候选免疫原性蛋白.     

An essential role for a phospholipid transfer protein in yeast Golgi function

Progression of proteins through the secretory pathway of eukaryotic cells involves a continuous rearrangement of macromolecular structures made up of proteins and phospholipids. The protein SEC14p is essential for transport of proteins from the yeast Golgi complex. Independent characterization of the SEC14 gene and the PIT1 gene, which encodes a phosphatidylinositol/phosphatidylcholine transfer protein in yeast, indicated that these two genes are identical. Phospholipid transfer proteins are a class of cytosolic proteins that are ubiquitous among eukaryotic cells and are distinguished by their ability to catalyse the exchange of phospholipids between membranes in vitro. We show here that the SEC14 and PIT1 genes are indeed identical and that the growth phenotype of a sec14-1ts mutant extends to the inability of its transfer protein to effect phospholipid transfer in vitro. These results therefore establish for the first time an in vivo function for a phospholipid transfer protein, namely a role in the compartment-specific stimulation of protein secretion.     

酿酒酵母线粒体蛋白转运系统在立克次体中的同源分析

进化分析表明,与线粒体亲缘关系最近的原核生物是立克次体(Rickettsia prowazekii).搜索酿酒酵母(Saccharom ycescerevisia)线粒体蛋白转运系统的35个亚基在立克次体中的同源蛋白质,仅发现了5个同源蛋白,且它们只属于转运系统在线粒体外膜和基质上的模块,没有发现转运系统在膜间隙和内膜...     

凋亡细胞线粒体膜电势与物理参数变化的可视化研究

目的: 通过放线菌酮(CHX)诱导HL-60细胞凋亡模型,探讨线粒体膜电势与细胞物理参数的变化.方法:建立CHX诱导HL-60细胞凋亡模型.于6和18 h时点,利用Annexin V-FITC/PI双染流式细胞术检测凋亡和晚期凋亡细胞及坏死细胞比率;利用JC-1染色流式细胞术,通过对对照组和CHX组FL1/FL2散点图上具有不同荧光强度的细胞群划分为R2,R3,R4 3个细胞群,并分别对这些细胞群在FSC/SSC二维散点图上进行反向设门,分析细胞凋亡过程中线粒体膜电势变化与细胞物理参数间的关系.通过透射电镜观察凋亡细胞形态结构改变.结果:CHX可引起HL-60细胞凋亡;与对照组相比,CHX组R2和R3细胞群物理参数为FSC和SSC均显著增高,但线粒体膜电势无显著性差异,P>0.05;R4细胞群则为FSC降低,SSC增高,P<0.05,且线粒体膜电势降低.CHX可诱导HL-60细胞体积变小,皱缩,并出现凋亡特征,如核固缩形成新月体和质膜"出芽"现象.结论:流式细胞仪FSC/SSC图可视为细胞指纹图谱.本模型中线粒体膜电势降低的细胞变小,且颗粒程度增加,可能与细胞凋亡过程中的结构改变有关.     

A forty-kilodalton protein of the inner membrane is the mitochondrial calcium uniporter

Mitochondrial Ca(2+) homeostasis has a key role in the regulation of aerobic metabolism and cell survival, but the molecular identity of the Ca(2+) channel, the mitochondrial calcium uniporter, is still unknown. Here we have identified in silico a protein (named MCU) that shares tissue distribution with MICU1 (also known as CBARA1), a recently characterized uniporter regulator, is present in organisms in which mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake was demonstrated and whose sequence includes two transmembrane domains. Short interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing of MCU in HeLa cells markedly reduced mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake. MCU overexpression doubled the matrix Ca(2+) concentration increase evoked by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-generating agonists, thus significantly buffering the cytosolic elevation. The purified MCU protein showed channel activity in planar lipid bilayers, with electrophysiological properties and inhibitor sensitivity of the uniporter. A mutant MCU, in which two negatively charged residues of the putative pore-forming region were replaced, had no channel activity and reduced agonist-dependent matrix Ca(2+) concentration transients when overexpressed in HeLa cells. Overall, these data demonstrate that the 40-kDa protein identified is the channel responsible for ruthenium-red-sensitive mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake, thus providing a molecular basis for this process of utmost physiological and pathological relevance.     

Extra-embryonic function of Rb is essential for embryonic development and viability

The retinoblastoma (Rb) gene was the first tumour suppressor identified. Inactivation of Rb in mice results in unscheduled cell proliferation, apoptosis and widespread developmental defects, leading to embryonic death by day 14.5 (refs 2-4). However, the actual cause of the embryonic lethality has not been fully investigated. Here we show that loss of Rb leads to excessive proliferation of trophoblast cells and a severe disruption of the normal labyrinth architecture in the placenta. This is accompanied by a decrease in vascularization and a reduction in placental transport function. We used two complementary techniques-tetraploid aggregation and conditional knockout strategies-to demonstrate that Rb-deficient embryos supplied with a wild-type placenta can be carried to term, but die soon after birth. Most of the neurological and erythroid abnormalities thought to be responsible for the embryonic lethality of Rb-null animals were virtually absent in rescued Rb-null pups. These findings identify and define a key function of Rb in extra-embryonic cell lineages that is required for embryonic development and viability, and provide a mechanism for the cell autonomous versus non-cell autonomous roles of Rb in development.     

Mitochondrial heat-shock protein hsp60 is essential for assembly of proteins imported into yeast mitochondria

A nuclear encoded mitochondrial heat-shock protein hsp60 is required for the assembly into oligomeric complexes of proteins imported into the mitochondrial matrix. hsp60 is a member of the 'chaperonin' class of protein factors, which include the Escherichia coli groEL protein and the Rubisco subunit-binding protein of chloroplasts.