scholarly journals A unified evolutionary origin for SecY and YidC

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron J. O. Lewis ◽  
Ramanujan S. Hegde
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Evolutionary Origin ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
Conducting Channel ◽  
Helix Bundle ◽  
Protein Biogenesis ◽  
Lateral Gate

AbstractCells use transporters to move protein across membranes, but the most ancient transporters’ origins are unknown. Here, we analyse the protein-conducting channel SecY and deduce a plausible path to its evolution. We find that each of its pseudosymmetric halves consists of a three-helix bundle interrupted by a two-helix hairpin. Unexpectedly, we identify this same motif in the YidC family of membrane protein biogenesis factors, which is similarly ancient as SecY. In YidC, the two-helix hairpin faces the cytosol and facilitates substrate delivery, whereas in SecY it forms the substratebinding transmembrane helices of the lateral gate. We propose that SecY originated as a YidC homolog which formed a channel by juxtaposing two hydrophilic grooves in an antiparallel homodimer. Archaeal and eukaryotic YidC family members have repurposed this interface to heterodimerise with conserved partners. Unification of the two ancient membrane protein biogenesis factors reconstructs a key step in the evolution of cells.

scholarly journals Energetics of side-chain snorkeling in transmembrane helices probed by nonproteinogenic amino acids

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (38) ◽  
pp. 10559-10564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Öjemalm ◽  
Takashi Higuchi ◽  
Patricia Lara ◽  
Erik Lindahl ◽  
Hiroaki Suga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
Transmembrane Segments ◽  
Charged Amino Acids ◽  
Protein Biogenesis ◽  
Quantitative Basis ◽  
Apparent Free Energy ◽  
Integration Efficiency

Cotranslational translocon-mediated insertion of membrane proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum is a key process in membrane protein biogenesis. Although the mechanism is understood in outline, quantitative data on the energetics of the process is scarce. Here, we have measured the effect on membrane integration efficiency of nonproteinogenic analogs of the positively charged amino acids arginine and lysine incorporated into model transmembrane segments. We provide estimates of the influence on the apparent free energy of membrane integration (ΔGapp) of “snorkeling” of charged amino acids toward the lipid–water interface, and of charge neutralization. We further determine the effect of fluorine atoms and backbone hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) on ΔGapp. These results help establish a quantitative basis for our understanding of membrane protein assembly in eukaryotic cells.

scholarly journals YidC family members are involved in the membrane insertion, lateral integration, folding, and assembly of membrane proteins

2004 ◽  
Vol 166 (6) ◽  
pp. 769-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross E. Dalbey ◽  
Andreas Kuhn
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Membrane Insertion ◽  
Conducting Channel ◽  
Energy Devices ◽  
Domains Of Life ◽  
Membrane Protein Complexes ◽  
Sensor Proteins

Members of the YidC family exist in all three domains of life, where they control the assembly of a large variety of membrane protein complexes that function as transporters, energy devices, or sensor proteins. Recent studies in bacteria have shown that YidC functions on its own as a membrane protein insertase independent of the Sec protein–conducting channel. YidC can also assist in the lateral integration and folding of membrane proteins that insert into the membrane via the Sec pathway.

scholarly journals Membrane protein insertion and assembly by the bacterial holo-translocon SecYEG–SecDF–YajC–YidC

2016 ◽  
Vol 473 (19) ◽  
pp. 3341-3354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Komar ◽  
Sara Alvira ◽  
Ryan J. Schulze ◽  
Remy Martin ◽  
Jelger A. Lycklama a Nijeholt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Signal Recognition Particle ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Membrane Insertion ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
Protein Insertion ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Membrane Protein Insertion ◽  
Bona Fide ◽  
Lateral Gate

Protein secretion and membrane insertion occur through the ubiquitous Sec machinery. In this system, insertion involves the targeting of translating ribosomes via the signal recognition particle and its cognate receptor to the SecY (bacteria and archaea)/Sec61 (eukaryotes) translocon. A common mechanism then guides nascent transmembrane helices (TMHs) through the Sec complex, mediated by associated membrane insertion factors. In bacteria, the membrane protein ‘insertase’ YidC ushers TMHs through a lateral gate of SecY to the bilayer. YidC is also thought to incorporate proteins into the membrane independently of SecYEG. Here, we show the bacterial holo-translocon (HTL) — a supercomplex of SecYEG–SecDF–YajC–YidC — is a bona fide resident of the Escherichia coli inner membrane. Moreover, when compared with SecYEG and YidC alone, the HTL is more effective at the insertion and assembly of a wide range of membrane protein substrates, including those hitherto thought to require only YidC.

scholarly journals The expanding role of the ER translocon in membrane protein folding

2007 ◽  
Vol 179 (7) ◽  
pp. 1333-1335 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Skach
Keyword(s):  
Protein Folding ◽  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Functional Organization ◽  
Conducting Channel ◽  
Membrane Protein Folding ◽  
Protein Biogenesis ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Er Membrane

Eukaryotic polytopic membrane proteins are cotranslationally inserted into the ER membrane by a multisubunit protein-conducting channel called the Sec61 translocon. Although most major translocon components have been identified and reconstituted, their stoichiometry and functional organization remain unknown. This has led to speculative and sometimes conflicting models describing how multiple transmembrane (TM) segments might be oriented and integrated during nascent polytopic protein biogenesis. Kida et al. (see p. 1441 of this issue) shed new insight into this area by demonstrating that functional translocons exhibit a remarkable flexibility by simultaneously accommodating at least two hydrophilic translocating peptides that are separated by multiple hydrophobic TMs. These surprising findings support an expanded role for the translocon in membrane protein biogenesis and require reassessment of current views based on a single small functional pore.

scholarly journals Stepwise gating of the Sec61 protein-conducting channel by Sec63 and Sec62

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Itskanov ◽  
Eunyong Park
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
Conducting Channel ◽  
Essential Step ◽  
Gating Mechanisms ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Gate Opening ◽  
Lateral Gate ◽  
Sec61 Channel ◽  
Hierarchical Manner

SummaryThe universally conserved Sec61/SecY channel mediates transport of many newly synthesized polypeptides across membranes, an essential step in protein secretion and membrane protein integration1-5. The channel has two gating mechanisms—a lipid-facing lateral gate, through which hydrophobic signal sequences or transmembrane helices (TMs) are released into the membrane, and a vertical gate, called the plug, which regulates the water-filled pore required for translocation of hydrophilic polypeptide segments6. Currently, how these gates are controlled and how they regulate the translocation process remain poorly understood. Here, by analyzing cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of several variants of the eukaryotic post-translational translocation complex Sec61-Sec62-Sec63, we reveal discrete gating steps of Sec61 and the mechanism by which Sec62 and Sec63 induce these gating events. We show that Sec62 forms a V-shaped structure in front of the lateral gate to fully open both gates of Sec61. Without Sec62, the lateral gate opening narrows, and the vertical pore becomes closed by the plug, rendering the channel inactive. We further show that the lateral gate is opened first by interactions between Sec61 and Sec63 in both cytosolic and luminal domains, a simultaneous disruption of which fully closes the channel. Our study defines the function of Sec62 and illuminates how Sec63 and Sec62 work together in a hierarchical manner to activate the Sec61 channel for post-translational translocation.

scholarly journals An allosteric Sec61 inhibitor traps nascent transmembrane helices at the lateral gate

eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew L MacKinnon ◽  
Ville O Paavilainen ◽  
Ajay Sharma ◽  
Ramanujan S Hegde ◽  
Jack Taunton
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
Biophysical Properties ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Protein Biogenesis ◽  
Site Of Action ◽  
Lateral Gate ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Sec61 Channel ◽  
Selection Of

Membrane protein biogenesis requires the coordinated movement of hydrophobic transmembrane domains (TMD) from the cytosolic vestibule of the Sec61 channel into the lipid bilayer. Molecular insight into TMD integration has been hampered by the difficulty of characterizing intermediates during this intrinsically dynamic process. In this study, we show that cotransin, a substrate-selective Sec61 inhibitor, traps nascent TMDs in the cytosolic vestibule, permitting detailed interrogation of an early pre-integration intermediate. Site-specific crosslinking revealed the pre-integrated TMD docked to Sec61 near the cytosolic tip of the lateral gate. Escape from cotransin-arrest depends not only on cotransin concentration, but also on the biophysical properties of the TMD. Genetic selection of cotransin-resistant cancer cells uncovered multiple mutations clustered near the lumenal plug of Sec61α, thus revealing cotransin’s likely site of action. Our results suggest that TMD/lateral gate interactions facilitate TMD transfer into the membrane, a process that is allosterically modulated by cotransin binding to the plug.

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