Translocation of proteins across the mitochondrial inner membrane, but not into the outer membrane, requires nucleoside triphosphates in the matrix

Current views on chloroplast protein import and hypotheses on the origin of the transport mechanism

Most chloroplastic proteins are synthesized as precursors in the cytosol prior to their transport into chloroplasts. These precursors are generally synthesized in a form that is larger than the mature form found inside chloroplasts. The extra amino acids, called transit peptides, are present at the amino terminus. The transit peptide is necessary and sufficient to recognize the chloroplast and induce movement of the attached protein across the envelope membranes. In this review, we discuss the primary and secondary structure of transit peptides, describe what is known about the import process, and present some hypotheses on the evolutionary origin of the import mechanism.

Sequence analysis and protein import studies of an outer chloroplast envelope polypeptide

A chloroplast outer envelope membrane protein was cloned and sequenced and from the sequence it was possible to deduce a polypeptide of 6.7 kDa. It has only one membrane-spanning region; the C terminus extends into the cytosol, whereas the N terminus is exposed to the space between the two envelope membranes. The protein was synthesized in an in vitro transcription-translation system to study its routing into isolated chloroplasts. The import studies revealed that the 6.7-kDa protein followed a different and heretofore undescribed translocation pathway in the respect that (i) it does not have a cleavable transit sequence, (ii) it does not require ATP hydrolysis for import, and (iii) protease-sensitive components that are responsible for recognition of precursor proteins destined for the inside of the chloroplasts are not involved in routing the 6.7-kDa polypeptide to the outer chloroplast envelope.

Insertion and translocation of proteins into and through membranes

In prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, proteins are efficiently sorted to reach their final destinations in a whole range of subcellular compartments. Targeting is mediated by hydrophobic signal sequences or hydrophilic targeting sequences depending upon the compartment, these sequences being often processed. Proteins cannot be translocated through a membrane in a tightly folded stage, they must have a loose conformation, the so-called 'translocation competent state', which is usually kept through interactions with chaperones. In addition to these cytosolic receptor-like components, receptors are also present on the target membranes. Depending upon the organelles and organisms, two different energy sources have been identified, energy rich phosphate bonds (ATP and GTP) and a potential across the target membrane. Besides the signal peptides, various classes of signals have been identified to account for topologies of membrane proteins. Protein secretion in bacterial organisms has been extensively studied. Various classes of proteins use different strategies, some of these may also be used in eukaryotic cells.

Protein sorting to mitochondria: evolutionary conservations of folding and assembly

According to the endosymbiont hypothesis, mitochondria have lost the autonomy of their prokaryotic ancestors. They have to import most of their proteins from the cytosol because the mitochondrial genome codes for only a small percentage of the polypeptides that reside in the organelle. Recent findings show that the sorting of proteins into the mitochondrial subcompartments and their folding and assembly follow principles already developed in prokaryotes. The components involved may have structural and functional equivalents in bacteria.