scholarly journals tRNA import across the mitochondrial inner membrane in T. brucei requires TIM subunits but is independent of protein import

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (21) ◽  
pp. 12269-12281
Author(s):  
Shikha Shikha ◽  
Jonathan L Huot ◽  
André Schneider ◽  
Moritz Niemann
Keyword(s):  
Protein Import ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Matrix Proteins ◽  
Trna Genes ◽  
Mitochondrial Trna ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Trna Import ◽  
Inner Membrane Protein

Abstract Mitochondrial tRNA import is widespread, but mechanistic insights of how tRNAs are translocated across mitochondrial membranes remain scarce. The parasitic protozoan T. brucei lacks mitochondrial tRNA genes. Consequently, it imports all organellar tRNAs from the cytosol. Here we investigated the connection between tRNA and protein translocation across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Trypanosomes have a single inner membrane protein translocase that consists of three heterooligomeric submodules, which all are required for import of matrix proteins. In vivo depletion of individual submodules shows that surprisingly only the integral membrane core module, including the protein import pore, but not the presequence-associated import motor are required for mitochondrial tRNA import. Thus we could uncouple import of matrix proteins from import of tRNAs even though both substrates are imported into the same mitochondrial subcompartment. This is reminiscent to the outer membrane where the main protein translocase but not on-going protein translocation is required for tRNA import. We also show that import of tRNAs across the outer and inner membranes are coupled to each other. Taken together, these data support the ‘alternate import model’, which states that tRNA and protein import while mechanistically independent use the same translocation pores but not at the same time.

scholarly journals tRNAs and proteins use the same import channel for translocation across the mitochondrial outer membrane of trypanosomes

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (37) ◽  
pp. E7679-E7687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Niemann ◽  
Anke Harsman ◽  
Jan Mani ◽  
Christian D. Peikert ◽  
Silke Oeljeklaus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Protein Import ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane ◽  
Trna Genes ◽  
Intermembrane Space ◽  
Mitochondrial Trna ◽  
Trna Import ◽  
Single Channel Currents

Mitochondrial tRNA import is widespread, but the mechanism by which tRNAs are imported remains largely unknown. The mitochondrion of the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei lacks tRNA genes, and thus imports all tRNAs from the cytosol. Here we show that in T. brucei in vivo import of tRNAs requires four subunits of the mitochondrial outer membrane protein translocase but not the two receptor subunits, one of which is essential for protein import. The latter shows that it is possible to uncouple mitochondrial tRNA import from protein import. Ablation of the intermembrane space domain of the translocase subunit, archaic translocase of the outer membrane (ATOM)14, on the other hand, while not affecting the architecture of the translocase, impedes both protein and tRNA import. A protein import intermediate arrested in the translocation channel prevents both protein and tRNA import. In the presence of tRNA, blocking events of single-channel currents through the pore formed by recombinant ATOM40 were detected in electrophysiological recordings. These results indicate that both types of macromolecules use the same import channel across the outer membrane. However, while tRNA import depends on the core subunits of the protein import translocase, it does not require the protein import receptors, indicating that the two processes are not mechanistically linked.

scholarly journals Identification of the essential yeast protein MIM17, an integral mitochondrial inner membrane protein involved in protein import

FEBS Letters ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 349 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ammy C. Maarse ◽  
Jolanda Blom ◽  
Petra Keil ◽  
Nikolaus Pfanner ◽  
Michiel Meijer
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Protein Import ◽  
Yeast Protein ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Inner Membrane Protein

scholarly journals The J-related Segment of Tim44 Is Essential for Cell Viability: A Mutant Tim44 Remains in the Mitochondrial Import Site, but Inefficiently Recruits mtHsp70 and Impairs Protein Translocation

1999 ◽  
Vol 145 (5) ◽  
pp. 961-972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessio Merlin ◽  
Wolfgang Voos ◽  
Ammy C. Maarse ◽  
Michiel Meijer ◽  
Nikolaus Pfanner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Import ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Adaptor Protein ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
J Proteins

Tim44 is a protein of the mitochondrial inner membrane and serves as an adaptor protein for mtHsp70 that drives the import of preproteins in an ATP-dependent manner. In this study we have modified the interaction of Tim44 with mtHsp70 and characterized the consequences for protein translocation. By deletion of an 18-residue segment of Tim44 with limited similarity to J-proteins, the binding of Tim44 to mtHsp70 was weakened. We found that in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae the deletion of this segment is lethal. To investigate the role of the 18-residue segment, we expressed Tim44Δ18 in addition to the endogenous wild-type Tim44. Tim44Δ18 is correctly targeted to mitochondria and assembles in the inner membrane import site. The coexpression of Tim44Δ18 together with wild-type Tim44, however, does not stimulate protein import, but reduces its efficiency. In particular, the promotion of unfolding of preproteins during translocation is inhibited. mtHsp70 is still able to bind to Tim44Δ18 in an ATP-regulated manner, but the efficiency of interaction is reduced. These results suggest that the J-related segment of Tim44 is needed for productive interaction with mtHsp70. The efficient cooperation of mtHsp70 with Tim44 facilitates the translocation of loosely folded preproteins and plays a crucial role in the import of preproteins which contain a tightly folded domain.

scholarly journals SMS1, a high-copy suppressor of the yeast mas6 mutant, encodes an essential inner membrane protein required for mitochondrial protein import.

1994 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 529-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
K R Ryan ◽  
M M Menold ◽  
S Garrett ◽  
R E Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Protein Import ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein Import ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Inner Membrane Protein ◽  
Membrane Spanning ◽  
Membrane Spanning Domains

MAS6 encodes an essential inner membrane protein required for mitochondrial protein import in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Emtage and Jensen, 1993). To identify new inner membrane import components, we isolated a high-copy suppressor (SMS1) of the mas6-1 mutant. SMS1 encodes a 16.5-kDa protein that contains several potential membrane-spanning domains. The Sms1 protein is homologous to the carboxyl-terminal domain of the Mas6 protein. Like Mas6p, Sms1p is located in the mitochondrial inner membrane and is an essential protein. Depletion of Sms1p from cells causes defects in the import of several mitochondrial precursor proteins, suggesting that Sms1p is a new inner membrane import component. Our observations raise the possibility that Sms1p and Mas6p act together to translocate proteins across the inner membrane.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Mitochondrial Inner Membrane Translocase Complex: the Tim23p Hydrophobic Domain Interacts with Tim17p but Not with Other Tim23p Molecules

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 178-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen R. Ryan ◽  
Roxanne S. Leung ◽  
Robert E. Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Protein Import ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Hydrophobic Domain ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Inner Membrane Protein

ABSTRACT Tim23p is a mitochondrial inner membrane protein essential for the import of proteins from the cytosol. Tim23p contains an amino-terminal hydrophilic segment and a carboxyl-terminal hydrophobic domain (Tim23Cp). To study the functions and interactions of the two parts of Tim23p separately, we constructed tim23N, encoding only the hydrophilic region of Tim23p, and tim23C, encoding only the hydrophobic domain of Tim23p. Only the Tim23C protein is imported into mitochondria, indicating that the mitochondrial targeting information in Tim23p resides in its membrane spans or intervening loops. Tim23Cp, however, cannot substitute for full-length Tim23p, suggesting that the hydrophilic portion of Tim23p also performs an essential function in mitochondrial protein import. We found that overexpression of Tim23Cp is toxic to yeast cells that carry the tim23-1 mutation. Excess Tim23Cp causes Tim23-1p to disappear, leavingtim23-1 cells without a full-length version of the Tim23 protein. If Tim17p, another inner membrane import component, is overexpressed along with Tim23Cp, the toxicity of Tim23Cp is largely reversed and the Tim23-1 protein no longer disappears. In coimmunoprecipitations from solubilized mitochondria, Tim17p associates with the Tim23C protein. In addition, we show that Tim23p and Tim17p can be chemically cross-linked to each other in intact mitochondria. We conclude that the hydrophobic domain encoded by tim23Ctargets Tim23p to the mitochondria and mediates the direct interaction between Tim23p and Tim17p. In contrast, Tim23Cp cannot be coimmunoprecipitated with Tim23p, raising the possibility that the hydrophobic domain of Tim23p does not interact with other Tim23 molecules.

scholarly journals Disrupted yeast mitochondria can import precursor proteins directly through their inner membrane.

1989 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 487-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Hwang ◽  
T Jascur ◽  
D Vestweber ◽  
L Pon ◽  
G Schatz
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Protein Import ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Precursor Proteins ◽  
Membrane Barrier ◽  
Complete Protein ◽  
Membrane Components

Import of precursor proteins into the yeast mitochondrial matrix can occur directly across the inner membrane. First, disruption of the outer membrane restores protein import to mitochondria whose normal import sites have been blocked by an antibody against the outer membrane or by a chimeric, incompletely translocated precursor protein. Second, a potential- and ATP-dependent import of authentic or artificial precursor proteins is observed with purified inner membrane vesicles virtually free of outer membrane components. Third, import into purified inner membrane vesicles is insensitive to antibody against the outer membrane. Thus, while outer membrane components are clearly required in vivo, the inner membrane contains a complete protein translocation system that can operate by itself if the outer membrane barrier is removed.

scholarly journals The non-canonical mitochondrial inner membrane presequence translocase of trypanosomatids contains two essential rhomboid-like proteins

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anke Harsman ◽  
Silke Oeljeklaus ◽  
Christoph Wenger ◽  
Jonathan L. Huot ◽  
Bettina Warscheid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pore Formation ◽  
Protein Import ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein Import ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Carrier ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Carrier Protein ◽  
Compositional Variations

Abstract Mitochondrial protein import is essential for all eukaryotes. Here we show that the early diverging eukaryote Trypanosoma brucei has a non-canonical inner membrane (IM) protein translocation machinery. Besides TbTim17, the single member of the Tim17/22/23 family in trypanosomes, the presequence translocase contains nine subunits that co-purify in reciprocal immunoprecipitations and with a presequence-containing substrate that is trapped in the translocation channel. Two of the newly discovered subunits are rhomboid-like proteins, which are essential for growth and mitochondrial protein import. Rhomboid-like proteins were proposed to form the protein translocation pore of the ER-associated degradation system, suggesting that they may contribute to pore formation in the presequence translocase of T. brucei. Pulldown of import-arrested mitochondrial carrier protein shows that the carrier translocase shares eight subunits with the presequence translocase. This indicates that T. brucei may have a single IM translocase that with compositional variations mediates import of presequence-containing and carrier proteins.

scholarly journals Protein import into mitochondria: the requirement for external ATP is precursor-specific whereas intramitochondrial ATP is universally needed for translocation into the matrix.

1994 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Wachter ◽  
G Schatz ◽  
B S Glick
Keyword(s):  
Protein Import ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
In Vitro System ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Precursor Proteins ◽  
The Matrix

ATP is needed for the import of precursor proteins into mitochondria. However, the role of ATP and its site of action have been unclear. We have now investigated the ATP requirements for protein import into the mitochondrial matrix. These experiments employed an in vitro system that allowed ATP levels to be manipulated both inside and outside the mitochondrial inner membrane. Our results indicate that there are two distinct ATP requirements for mitochondrial protein import. ATP in the matrix is always needed for complete import of precursor proteins into this compartment, even when the precursors are presented to mitochondria in an unfolded conformation. In contrast, the requirement for external ATP is precursor-specific; depletion of external ATP strongly inhibits import of some precursors but has little or no effect with other precursors. A requirement for external ATP can often be overcome by denaturing the precursor with urea. We suggest that external ATP promotes the release of precursors from cytosolic chaperones, whereas matrix ATP drives protein translocation across the inner membrane.

scholarly journals Characterization of Mmp37p, aSaccharomyces cerevisiaeMitochondrial Matrix Protein with a Role in Mitochondrial Protein Import

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 4051-4062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle R. Gallas ◽  
Mary K. Dienhart ◽  
Rosemary A. Stuart ◽  
Roy M. Long
Keyword(s):  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Protein Import ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Targeting Signal

Many mitochondrial proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and after translation in the cytoplasm are imported via translocases in the outer and inner membranes, the TOM and TIM complexes, respectively. Here, we report the characterization of the mitochondrial protein, Mmp37p (YGR046w) and demonstrate its involvement in the process of protein import into mitochondria. Haploid cells deleted of MMP37 are viable but display a temperature-sensitive growth phenotype and are inviable in the absence of mitochondrial DNA. Mmp37p is located in the mitochondrial matrix where it is peripherally associated with the inner membrane. We show that Mmp37p has a role in the translocation of proteins across the mitochondrial inner membrane via the TIM23-PAM complex and further demonstrate that substrates containing a tightly folded domain in close proximity to their mitochondrial targeting sequences display a particular dependency on Mmp37p for mitochondrial import. Prior unfolding of the preprotein, or extension of the region between the targeting signal and the tightly folded domain, relieves their dependency for Mmp37p. Furthermore, evidence is presented to show that Mmp37 may affect the assembly state of the TIM23 complex. On the basis of these findings, we hypothesize that the presence of Mmp37p enhances the early stages of the TIM23 matrix import pathway to ensure engagement of incoming preproteins with the mtHsp70p/PAM complex, a step that is necessary to drive the unfolding and complete translocation of the preprotein into the matrix.

scholarly journals In Vitro Import of a Nuclearly Encoded tRNA into Mitochondria of Solanum tuberosum

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 4000-4012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludovic Delage ◽  
André Dietrich ◽  
Anne Cosset ◽  
Laurence Maréchal-Drouard
Keyword(s):  
Solanum Tuberosum ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Plant Mitochondria ◽  
Protein Translation ◽  
Trna Genes ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Trna Import

ABSTRACT Some of the mitochondrial tRNAs of higher plants are nuclearly encoded and imported into mitochondria. The import of tRNAs encoded in the nucleus has been shown to be essential for proper protein translation within mitochondria of a variety of organisms. Here, we report the development of an in vitro assay for import of nuclearly encoded tRNAs into plant mitochondria. This in vitro system utilizes isolated mitochondria from Solanum tuberosum and synthetic tRNAs transcribed from cloned nuclear tRNA genes. Although incubation of radioactively labeled in vitro-transcribed tRNAAla, tRNAPhe, and tRNAMet-e with isolated potato mitochondria resulted in importation, as measured by nuclease protection, the amount of tRNA transcripts protected at saturation was at least five times higher for tRNAAla than for the two other tRNAs. This difference in in vitro saturation levels of import is consistent with the in vivo localization of these tRNAs, since cytosolic tRNAAla is naturally imported into potato mitochondria whereas tRNAPhe and tRNAMet-e are not. Characterization of in vitro tRNA import requirements indicates that mitochondrial tRNA import proceeds in the absence of any added cytosolic protein fraction, involves at least one protein component on the surface of mitochondria, and requires ATP-dependent step(s) and a membrane potential.

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