scholarly journals Targeting of the hepatitis B virus precore protein to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane: after signal peptide cleavage translocation can be aborted and the product released into the cytoplasm.

1988 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 1093-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
P D Garcia ◽  
J H Ou ◽  
W J Rutter ◽  
P Walter
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Core Protein ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Signal Peptidase ◽  
Amino Terminus ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane ◽  
Nucleic Acid Binding ◽  
Precore Region ◽  
B Virus

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.

scholarly journals The influenza hemagglutinin insertion signal is not cleaved and does not halt translocation when presented to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane as part of a translocating polypeptide.

1987 ◽  
Vol 104 (6) ◽  
pp. 1705-1714 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Finidori ◽  
L Rizzolo ◽  
A Gonzalez ◽  
G Kreibich ◽  
M Adesnik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
In Vitro Translation ◽  
Signal Peptidase ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane ◽  
Hydrophobic Region ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Influenza Hemagglutinin

The co-translational insertion of polypeptides into endoplasmic reticulum membranes may be initiated by cleavable amino-terminal insertion signals, as well as by permanent insertion signals located at the amino-terminus or in the interior of a polypeptide. To determine whether the location of an insertion signal within a polypeptide affects its function, possibly by affecting its capacity to achieve a loop disposition during its insertion into the membrane, we have investigated the functional properties of relocated insertion signals within chimeric polypeptides. An artificial gene encoding a polypeptide (THA-HA), consisting of the luminal domain of the influenza hemagglutinin preceded by its amino-terminal signal sequence and linked at its carboxy-terminus to an intact prehemagglutinin polypeptide, was constructed and expressed in in vitro translation systems containing microsomal membranes. As expected, the amino-terminal signal initiated co-translational insertion of the hybrid polypeptide into the membranes. The second, identical, interiorized signal, however, was not recognized by the signal peptidase and was translocated across the membrane. The failure of the interiorized signal to be cleaved may be attributed to the fact that it enters the membrane as part of a translocating polypeptide and therefore cannot achieve the loop configuration that is thought to be adopted by signals that initiate insertion. The finding that the interiorized signal did not halt translocation of downstream sequences, even though it contains a hydrophobic region and must enter the membrane in the same configuration as natural stop-transfer signals, indicates that the HA insertion signal lacks essential elements of halt transfer signals that makes the latter effective membrane-anchoring domains. When the amino-terminal insertion signal of the THA-HA chimera was deleted, the interior signal was incapable of mediating insertion, probably because of steric hindrance by the folded preceding portions of the chimera. Several chimeras were constructed in which the interiorized signal was preceded by polypeptide segments of various lengths. A signal preceded by a segment of 111 amino acids was also incapable of initiating insertion, but insertion took place normally when the segment preceding the signal was only 11-amino acids long.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Sec62p, A Component of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein Translocation Machinery, Contains Multiple Binding Sites for the Sec-Complex

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3859-3871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Wittke ◽  
Martin Dünnwald ◽  
Nils Johnsson
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane ◽  
Sequence Recognition ◽  
Multiple Binding Sites ◽  
Oligomeric Protein ◽  
Multiple Binding ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein

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.

scholarly journals Direct probing of the interaction between the signal sequence of nascent preprolactin and the signal recognition particle by specific cross-linking.

1987 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Wiedmann ◽  
T V Kurzchalia ◽  
H Bielka ◽  
T A Rapoport
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Signal Recognition Particle ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane ◽  
Signal Recognition ◽  
Group 4 ◽  
Lysine Residues ◽  
Nascent Chain

We have studied the interaction between the signal sequence of nascent preprolactin and the signal recognition particle (SRP) during the initial events in protein translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. A new method of affinity labeling was used, whereby lysine residues, carrying the photoreactive group 4-(3-trifluoromethyldiazirino) benzoic acid in their side chains, are incorporated into a protein by means of modified lysyl-tRNA, and cross-linking to the interacting component is induced by irradiation. SRP interacts through its Mr 54,000 polypeptide component with the signal sequences of nascent preprolactin chains containing about 70 residues, and with decreasing affinity with longer chains as well; it causes inhibition of elongation. Binding of SRP is reversible and requires the nascent chain to be bound to a functional ribosome. SRP cross-linked to the signal sequence still inhibits elongation but does not prevent it completely. We conclude that SRP does not block the exit site of the polypeptide chain on the ribosome. The SRP receptor of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane displaces the signal sequence from SRP and, even if SRP is cross-linked, releases elongation arrest.

scholarly journals An ATP-binding membrane protein is required for protein translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.

1991 ◽  
Vol 2 (10) ◽  
pp. 851-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
D L Zimmerman ◽  
P Walter
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Microsomal Membrane ◽  
Atp Binding ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane ◽  
Receptor Complex

The role of nucleotides in providing energy for polypeptide transfer across the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane is still unknown. To address this question, we treated ER-derived mammalian microsomal vesicles with a photoactivatable analogue of ATP, 8-N3ATP. This treatment resulted in a progressive inhibition of translocation activity. Approximately 20 microsomal membrane proteins were labeled by [alpha 32P]8-N3ATP. Two of these were identified as proteins with putative roles in translocation, alpha signal sequence receptor (SSR), the 35-kDa subunit of the signal sequence receptor complex, and ER-p180, a putative ribosome receptor. We found that there was a positive correlation between inactivation of translocation activity and photolabeling of alpha SSR. In contrast, our data demonstrate that the ATP-binding domain of ER-p180 is dispensable for translocation activity and does not contribute to the observed 8-N3ATP sensitivity of the microsomal vesicles.

scholarly journals Identification of signal sequence binding proteins integrated into the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane

1987 ◽  
Vol 242 (3) ◽  
pp. 767-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Robinson ◽  
M A Kaderbhai ◽  
B M Austen
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Signal Peptide ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Secretory Protein ◽  
Phospholipid Bilayer ◽  
Signal Peptidase ◽  
Secretory Proteins ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane

An azidophenacyl derivative of a chemically synthesized consensus signal peptide has been prepared. The peptide, when photoactivated in the presence of rough or high-salt-stripped microsomes from pancreas, leads to inhibition of their activity in cotranslational processing of secretory pre-proteins translated from their mRNA in vitro. The peptide binds specifically with high affinity to components in the microsomal membranes from pancreas and liver, and photoreaction of a radioactive form of the azidophenacyl derivative leads to covalent linkage to yield two closely related radiolabelled proteins of Mr about 45,000. These proteins are integrated into the membrane, with large 30,000-Mr domains embedded into the phospholipid bilayer to which the signal peptide binds. A smaller, endopeptidase-sensitive, domain is exposed on the cytoplasmic surface of the microsomal vesicles. The specificity and selectivity of the binding of azidophenacyl-derivatized consensus signal peptide was demonstrated by concentration-dependent inhibition of photolabelling by the ‘cold’ synthetic consensus signal peptide and by a natural internal signal sequence cleaved and isolated from ovalbumin. The properties of the labelled 45,000-Mr protein-signal peptide complexes, i.e. mass, pI, ease of dissociation from the membrane by detergent or salts and immunological properties, distinguish them from other proteins, e.g. subunits of signal recognition particle, docking protein and signal peptidase, already known to be involved in targetting and processing of nascent secretory proteins at the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Although the 45,000-Mr signal peptide binding protein displays properties similar to those of the signal peptidase, a component of the endoplasmic reticulum, the azido-derivatized consensus signal peptide does not interact with it. It is proposed that the endoplasmic reticulum proteins with which the azidophenacyl-derivatized consensus signal peptide interacts to yield the 45,000-Mr adducts may act as receptors for signals in nascent secretory pre-proteins in transduction of changes in the endoplasmic reticulum which bring about translocation of secretory protein across the membrane.

Crystallization of hepatitis B virus core protein shells: determination of cryoprotectant conditions and preliminary X-ray characterization

1999 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 557-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Wynne ◽  
A. G. W. Leslie ◽  
P. J. G. Butler ◽  
R. A. Crowther
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Inner Core ◽  
Core Protein ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Icosahedral Symmetry ◽  
Nucleic Acid Binding ◽  
Cell Parameters ◽  
B Virus

Hepatitis B virus causes liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer and is a major cause of death, particularly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The virus consists of an inner core or nucleocapsid, which encloses the viral nucleic acid, with an outer lipid envelope containing surface-antigen proteins. The core protein, when expressed in E. coli, assembles into spherical shells containing 180 or 240 subunits, arranged with T = 3 or T = 4 icosahedral symmetry. The C-terminal region of the protein is involved in nucleic acid binding, and deletion of this region does not prevent capsid formation. C-terminally deleted hepatitis B core shells containing 240 subunits have been crystallized and data has been collected to 3.6 Å resolution from frozen crystals, using butanediol as a cryoprotectant. The crystals have C2 symmetry, with unit-cell parameters a = 538.0, b = 353.0, c = 369.6 Å, β = 132.3°.

Maintaining the permeability barrier during protein trafficking at the endoplasmic reticulum membrane

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1227-1231 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.E. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Protein Trafficking ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Cellular Membrane ◽  
Permeability Barrier ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane ◽  
Ion Diffusion

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document