scholarly journals The architecture of EMC reveals a path for membrane protein insertion

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P O'Donnell ◽  
Ben P Phillips ◽  
Yuichi Yagita ◽  
Szymon Juszkiewicz ◽  
Armin Wagner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Integral Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Insertion ◽  
Protein Insertion ◽  
Chaperone Function ◽  
Eukaryotic Genes ◽  
Biochemical Assays ◽  
Protein Biogenesis ◽  
Membrane Protein Insertion

Approximately 25% of eukaryotic genes code for integral membrane proteins that are assembled at the endoplasmic reticulum. An abundant and widely conserved multi-protein complex termed EMC has been implicated in membrane protein biogenesis, but its mechanism of action is poorly understood. Here, we define the composition and architecture of human EMC using biochemical assays, crystallography of individual subunits, site-specific photocrosslinking, and cryo-EM reconstruction. Our results suggest that EMC’s cytosolic domain contains a large, moderately hydrophobic vestibule that can bind a substrate’s transmembrane domain (TMD). The cytosolic vestibule leads into a lumenally-sealed, lipid-exposed intramembrane groove large enough to accommodate a single substrate TMD. A gap between the cytosolic vestibule and intramembrane groove provides a potential path for substrate egress from EMC. These findings suggest how EMC facilitates energy-independent membrane insertion of TMDs, explain why only short lumenal domains are translocated by EMC, and constrain models of EMC’s proposed chaperone function.

scholarly journals The architecture of EMC reveals a path for membrane protein insertion

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. O’Donnell ◽  
Ben P. Phillips ◽  
Yuichi Yagita ◽  
Szymon Juszkiewicz ◽  
Armin Wagner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Integral Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Insertion ◽  
Protein Insertion ◽  
Chaperone Function ◽  
Eukaryotic Genes ◽  
Biochemical Assays ◽  
Protein Biogenesis ◽  
Membrane Protein Insertion

AbstractApproximately 25% of eukaryotic genes code for integral membrane proteins that are assembled at the endoplasmic reticulum. An abundant and widely conserved multi-protein complex termed EMC has been implicated in membrane protein biogenesis, but its mechanism of action is poorly understood. Here, we define the composition and architecture of human EMC using biochemical assays, crystallography of individual subunits, site-specific photocrosslinking, and cryo-EM reconstruction. Our results show that EMC’s cytosolic domain contains a large, moderately hydrophobic vestibule that binds a substrate’s transmembrane domain (TMD). The cytosolic vestibule leads into a lumenally-sealed, lipid-exposed intramembrane groove large enough to accommodate a single substrate TMD. A gap between the cytosolic vestibule and intramembrane groove provides a path for substrate egress from EMC. These findings suggest how EMC facilitates energy-independent membrane insertion of TMDs, explain why only short lumenal domains are translocated by EMC, and constrain models of EMC’s proposed chaperone function.

scholarly journals Subunit cooperation in the Get1/2 receptor promotes tail-anchored membrane protein insertion

2021 ◽  
Vol 220 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Un Seng Chio ◽  
Yumeng Liu ◽  
SangYoon Chung ◽  
Woo Jun Shim ◽  
Sowmya Chandrasekar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Protein Insertion ◽  
Protein Biogenesis ◽  
Cytosolic Domains ◽  
Membrane Protein Insertion ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Molecular Recognition Features

The guided entry of tail-anchored protein (GET) pathway, in which the Get3 ATPase delivers an essential class of tail-anchored membrane proteins (TAs) to the Get1/2 receptor at the endoplasmic reticulum, provides a conserved mechanism for TA biogenesis in eukaryotic cells. The membrane-associated events of this pathway remain poorly understood. Here we show that complex assembly between the cytosolic domains (CDs) of Get1 and Get2 strongly enhances the affinity of the individual subunits for Get3•TA, thus enabling efficient capture of the targeting complex. In addition to the known role of Get1CD in remodeling Get3 conformation, two molecular recognition features (MoRFs) in Get2CD induce Get3 opening, and both subunits are required for optimal TA release from Get3. Mutation of the MoRFs attenuates TA insertion into the ER in vivo. Our results demonstrate extensive cooperation between the Get1/2 receptor subunits in the capture and remodeling of the targeting complex, and emphasize the role of MoRFs in receptor function during membrane protein biogenesis.

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 Single-Molecule Studies on the Protein Translocon

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Bart Seinen ◽  
Arnold J.M. Driessen
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Molecular Motor ◽  
Membrane Pore ◽  
Protein Insertion ◽  
System A ◽  
Biochemical Assays ◽  
Membrane Protein Insertion ◽  
Single Molecule Studies

Single-molecule studies provide unprecedented details about processes that are difficult to grasp by bulk biochemical assays that yield ensemble-averaged results. One of these processes is the translocation and insertion of proteins across and into the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. This process is facilitated by the universally conserved secretion (Sec) system, a multi-subunit membrane protein complex that consists of dissociable cytoplasmic targeting components, a molecular motor, a protein-conducting membrane pore, and accessory membrane proteins. Here, we review recent insights into the mechanisms of protein translocation and membrane protein insertion from single-molecule studies.

scholarly journals Isolation of Cold-Sensitive yidC Mutants Provides Insights into the Substrate Profile of the YidC Insertase and the Importance of Transmembrane 3 in YidC Function

2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (24) ◽  
pp. 8961-8972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jijun Yuan ◽  
Gregory J. Phillips ◽  
Ross E. Dalbey
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Integral Membrane Protein ◽  
Cold Sensitivity ◽  
Membrane Insertion ◽  
Protein Insertion ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Membrane Protein Insertion ◽  
Cold Sensitive

ABSTRACT YidC, a 60-kDa integral membrane protein, plays an important role in membrane protein insertion in bacteria. YidC can function together with the SecYEG machinery or operate independently as a membrane protein insertase. In this paper, we describe two new yidC mutants that lead to a cold-sensitive phenotype in bacterial cell growth. Both alleles impart a cold-sensitive phenotype and result from point mutations localized to the third transmembrane (TM3) segment of YidC, indicating that this region is crucial for YidC function. We found that the yidC(C423R) mutant confers a weak phenotype on membrane protein insertion while a yidC(P431L) mutant leads to a stronger phenotype. In both cases, the affected substrates include the Pf3 coat protein and ATP synthase F1Fo subunit c (FoC), while CyoA (the quinol binding subunit of the cytochrome bo3 quinol oxidase complex) and wild-type procoat are slightly affected or not affected in either cold-sensitive mutant. To determine if the different substrates require various levels of YidC activity for membrane insertion, we performed studies where YidC was depleted using an arabinose-dependent expression system. We found that −3M-PC-Lep (a construct with three negatively charged residues inserted into the middle of the procoat-Lep [PC-Lep] protein) and Pf3 P2 (a construct with the Lep P2 domain added at the C terminus of Pf3 coat) required the highest amount of YidC and that CyoA-N-P2 (a construct with the amino-terminal part of CyoA fused to the Lep P2 soluble domain) and PC-Lep required the least, while FoC required moderate YidC levels. Although the cold-sensitive mutations can preferentially affect one substrate over another, our results indicate that different substrates require different levels of YidC activity for membrane insertion. Finally, we obtained several intragenic suppressors that overcame the cold sensitivity of the C423R mutation. One pair of mutations suggests an interaction between TM2 and TM3 of YidC. The studies reveal the critical regions of the YidC protein and provide insight into the substrate profile of the YidC insertase.

scholarly journals Membrane Topology and Insertion of Membrane Proteins: Search for Topogenic Signals

2000 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marleen van Geest ◽  
Juke S. Lolkema
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Structural Information ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Integral Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Topology ◽  
Protein Insertion ◽  
Membrane Protein Topology ◽  
Membrane Protein Insertion ◽  
Nascent Chain

SUMMARY Integral membrane proteins are found in all cellular membranes and carry out many of the functions that are essential to life. The membrane-embedded domains of integral membrane proteins are structurally quite simple, allowing the use of various prediction methods and biochemical methods to obtain structural information about membrane proteins. A critical step in the biosynthetic pathway leading to the folded protein in the membrane is its insertion into the lipid bilayer. Understanding of the fundamentals of the insertion and folding processes will significantly improve the methods used to predict the three-dimensional membrane protein structure from the amino acid sequence. In the first part of this review, biochemical approaches to elucidate membrane protein topology are reviewed and evaluated, and in the second part, the use of similar techniques to study membrane protein insertion is discussed. The latter studies search for signals in the polypeptide chain that direct the insertion process. Knowledge of the topogenic signals in the nascent chain of a membrane protein is essential for the evaluation of membrane topology studies.

scholarly journals The ribosome receptors Mrx15 and Mba1 jointly organize cotranslational insertion and protein biogenesis in mitochondria

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (20) ◽  
pp. 2386-2396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Braulio Vargas Möller-Hergt ◽  
Andreas Carlström ◽  
Katharina Stephan ◽  
Axel Imhof ◽  
Martin Ott
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Ribosomal Subunit ◽  
Mitochondrial Translation ◽  
Protein Insertion ◽  
Mitochondrial Ribosomes ◽  
Protein Biogenesis ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Highly Hydrophobic ◽  
Soluble C

Mitochondrial gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is responsible for the production of highly hydrophobic subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation system. Membrane insertion occurs cotranslationally on membrane-bound mitochondrial ribosomes. Here, by employing a systematic mass spectrometry–based approach, we discovered the previously uncharacterized membrane protein Mrx15 that interacts via a soluble C-terminal domain with the large ribosomal subunit. Mrx15 contacts mitochondrial translation products during their synthesis and plays, together with the ribosome receptor Mba1, an overlapping role in cotranslational protein insertion. Taken together, our data reveal how these ribosome receptors organize membrane protein biogenesis in mitochondria.

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