Role of the intermembrane-space domain of the preprotein receptor Tom22 in protein import into mitochondria

The N-terminal domain of rat liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 mediates import into the outer mitochondrial membrane and is essential for activity and malonyl-CoA sensitivity

The rat liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (L-CPT1), an integral outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) protein, is the key regulatory enzyme of fatty acid oxidation and is inhibited by malonyl-CoA. In vitro import of L-CPT1 into the OMM requires the presence of mitochondrial receptors and is stimulated by ATP but is membrane potential-independent. Its N-terminal domain (residues 1-150), which contains two transmembrane segments, possesses all of the information for mitochondrial targeting and OMM insertion. Deletion of this domain abrogates protein targeting, whereas its fusion to non-OMM-related proteins results in their mitochondrial targeting and OMM insertion in a manner similar to L-CPT1. Functional analysis of chimeric CPTs expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae shows that this domain also mediates in vivo protein insertion into the OMM. When the malonyl-CoA-insensitive CPT2 was anchored at the OMM either by a specific OMM signal anchor sequence (pOM29) or by the N-terminal domain of L-CPT1, its activity remains insensitive to malonyl-CoA inhibition. This indicates that malonyl-CoA sensitivity is an intrinsic property of L-CPT1 and that its N-terminal domain cannot confer malonyl-CoA sensitivity to CPT2. Replacement of the N-terminal domain by pOM29 results in a less folded and less active protein, which is also malonyl-CoA-insensitive. Thus, in addition to its role in mitochondrial targeting and OMM insertion, the N-terminal domain of L-CPT1 is essential to maintain an optimal conformation for both catalytic function and malonyl-CoA sensitivity.

Preprotein translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane: molecular dissection and assembly of the general import pore complex

The preprotein translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane (Tom) is a multisubunit machinery containing receptors and a general import pore (GIP). We have analyzed the molecular architecture of the Tom machinery. The receptor Tom22 stably associates with Tom40, the main component of the GIP, in a complex with a molecular weight of approximately 400,000 ( approximately 400K), while the other receptors, Tom20 and Tom70, are more loosely associated with this GIP complex and can be found in distinct subcomplexes. A yeast mutant lacking both Tom20 and Tom70 can still form the GIP complex when sufficient amounts of Tom22 are synthesized. Besides the essential proteins Tom22 and Tom40, the GIP complex contains three small subunits, Tom5, Tom6, and Tom7. In mutant mitochondria lacking Tom6, the interaction between Tom22 and Tom40 is destabilized, leading to the dissociation of Tom22 and the generation of a subcomplex of approximately 100K containing Tom40, Tom7, and Tom5. Tom6 is required to promote but not to maintain a stable association between Tom22 and Tom40. The following conclusions are suggested. (i) The GIP complex, containing Tom40, Tom22, and three small Tom proteins, forms the central unit of the outer membrane import machinery. (ii) Tom20 and Tom70 are not essential for the generation of the GIP complex. (iii) Tom6 functions as an assembly factor for Tom22, promoting its stable association with Tom40.

Interaction of mitochondrial targeting signals with acidic receptor domains along the protein import pathway: evidence for the 'acid chain' hypothesis

Mitochondrial precursor proteins with basic targeting signals may be transported across the outer membrane by sequential binding to acidic receptor sites of increasing affinity. To test this 'acid chain' hypothesis, we assayed the interaction of mitochondrial precursors with three acidic receptor domains: the cytosolic domain of Tom20 and the intermembrane space domain of Tom22 and Tim23. The apparent affinity and salt resistance of precursor binding increased in the order Tom20<Tom22 (internal)<Tim23. Precursor binding to the three acidic receptor domains and to the pure cytosolic domain of Tom70 was inhibited by excess targeting peptide, but not by an equally basic control peptide. In this membrane-free and defined system, a precursor pre-bound to the Tom70 or Tom20 domain was transferred efficiently to the Tim23 domain. Transfer was stimulated by the internal Tom22 domain and was much less efficient in the reverse direction. Precursors destined for the outer membrane bound only to Tom20, but not to the internal Tom22 or the Tim23 domain, and a precursor destined for the inner membrane bound only to the Tom20 and the internal Tom22 domain, but not to the Tim23 domain. These results suggest that specific and sequential binding of a targeting signal to strategically situated acidic receptors delivers a precursor across the outer membrane and contributes to intramitochondrial sorting of imported proteins.

Role of the negative charges in the cytosolic domain of TOM22 in the import of precursor proteins into mitochondria

TOM22 is an essential mitochondrial outer membrane protein required for the import of precursor proteins into the organelles. The amino-terminal 84 amino acids of TOM22 extend into the cytosol and include 19 negatively and 6 positively charged residues. This region of the protein is thought to interact with positively charged presequences on mitochondrial preproteins, presumably via electrostatic interactions. We constructed a series of mutant derivatives of TOM22 in which 2 to 15 of the negatively charged residues in the cytosolic domain were changed to their corresponding amido forms. The mutant constructs were transformed into a sheltered Neurospora crassa heterokaryon bearing a tom22::hygromycin R disruption in one nucleus. All constructs restored viability to the disruption-carrying nucleus and gave rise to homokaryotic strains containing mutant tom22 alleles. Isolated mitochondria from three representative mutant strains, including the mutant carrying 15 neutralized residues (strain 861), imported precursor proteins at efficiencies comparable to those for wild-type organelles. Precursor binding studies with mitochondrial outer membrane vesicles from several of the mutant strains, including strain 861, revealed only slight differences from binding to wild-type vesicles. Deletion mutants lacking portions of the negatively charged region of TOM22 can also restore viability to the disruption-containing nucleus, but mutants lacking the entire region cannot. Taken together, these data suggest that an abundance of negative charges in the cytosolic domain of TOM22 is not essential for the binding or import of mitochondrial precursor proteins; however, other features in the domain are required.

An import signal in the cytosolic domain of the Neurospora mitochondrial outer membrane protein TOM22

TOM22 is an integral component of the preprotein translocase of the mitochondrial outer membrane (TOM complex). The protein is anchored to the lipid bilayer by a central trans-membrane segment, thereby exposing the amino-terminal domain to the cytosol and the carboxyl-terminal portion to the intermembrane space. Here, we describe the sequence requirements for the targeting and correct insertion of Neurospora TOM22 into the outer membrane. The orientation of the protein is not influenced by the charges flanking its trans-membrane segment, in contrast to observations regarding proteins of other membranes. In vitro import studies utilizing TOM22 preproteins harboring deletions or mutations in the cytosolic domain revealed that the combination of the trans-membrane segment and intermembrane space domain of TOM22 is not sufficient to direct import into the outer membrane. In contrast, a short segment of the cytosolic domain was found to be essential for the import and assembly of TOM22. This sequence, a novel internal import signal for the outer membrane, carries a net positive charge. A mutant TOM22 in which the charge of the import signal was altered to -1 was imported less efficiently than the wild-type protein. Our data indicate that TOM22 contains physically separate import and membrane anchor sequences.

Biogenesis of Tim23 and Tim17, integral components of the TIM machinery for matrix-targeted preproteins

We analysed the import pathway of Tim23 and of Tim17, components of the mitochondrial import machinery for matrix-targeted preproteins. Tim23 contains two independent import signals. One is located within the first 62 amino acid residues of the hydrophilic domain that, in the assembled protein, is exposed to the intermembrane space. This signal mediates translocation of Tim23 across the outer membrane independently of the membrane potential, DeltaPsi. A second import signal is located in the C-terminal membrane-integrated portion of Tim23. It mediates translocation across the outer membrane and insertion into the inner membrane in a strictly DeltaPsi-dependent fashion. Structurally, Tim17 is related to Tim23 but lacks a hydrophilic domain. It contains an import signal in the C-terminal half and its import requires DeltaPsi. The DeltaPsi-dependent import signals of Tim23 and Tim17 are located at corresponding sites in these two homologous proteins. They exhibit features reminiscent of the positively charged N-terminal presequences of matrix-targeted precursors. Import of Tim23 and its insertion into the inner membrane requires Tim22 but not functional Tim23. Thus, biogenesis of the Tim23.17 complex depends on the Tim22 complex, which is the translocase identified as mediating the import of carrier proteins.

Sequence motifs shared between chaperone components participating in the assembly of progesterone receptor complexes

Steroid receptors typically exist in a heteromeric complex with Hsp90 and other components of the molecular chaperone machinery. Assembly of functional receptor complexes follows an ordered pathway involving at least eight chaperone components, some only participating in early assembly stages that are prerequisite for formation of mature complexes. The mechanisms directing the order of assembly steps and the nature of transitional interactions between assembly steps are largely unknown, but likely are encoded in the primary sequence and functional domains of the participating chaperones. Several common sequence motifs are shared between participants that may be key in ordering the steroid receptor assembly pathway.

Mitochondrial preprotein translocase

Mitochondria import most of their proteins from the cytosol. Dynamic protein complexes in the mitochondrial outer and inner membranes are responsible for the specific recognition and membrane translocation of preproteins. The preprotein translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane contains several import receptors and a general import pore. The preprotein translocase of the inner membrane consists of a channel interacting with preproteins in transit and an import motor that includes the matrix heat shock protein Hsp70. Acidic patches of import components are thought to guide the import of positively charged signal sequences (acid chain hypothesis). Energy input is derived from the inner membrane potential and ATP. Proteins in the mitochondrial matrix are required for proteolytic processing and folding of imported proteins. The dynamic nature of the membrane translocase permits sorting of preproteins at distinct stages of the import pathway.

The intermembrane space domain of mitochondrial Tom22 functions as a trans binding site for preproteins with N-terminal targeting sequences

Mitochondrial protein import is thought to involve the sequential interaction of preproteins with binding sites on cis and trans sides of the membranes. For translocation across the outer membrane, preproteins first interact with the cytosolic domains of import receptors (cis) and then are translocated through a general import pore, in a process proposed to involve binding to a trans site on the intermembrane space (IMS) side. Controversial results have been reported for the role of the IMS domain of the essential outer membrane protein Tom22 in formation of the trans site. We show with different mutant mitochondria that a lack of the IMS domain only moderately reduces the direct import of preproteins with N-terminal targeting sequences. The dependence of import on the IMS domain of Tom22 is significantly enhanced by removing the cytosolic domains of import receptors or by performing import in two steps, i.e., accumulation of a preprotein at the outer membrane in the absence of a membrane potential (delta psi) and subsequent import after reestablishment of a delta psi. After the removal of cytosolic receptor domains, two-step import of a cleavable preprotein strictly requires the IMS domain. In contrast, preproteins with internal targeting information do not depend on the IMS domain of Tom22. We conclude that the negatively charged IMS domain of Tom22 functions as a trans binding site for preproteins with N-terminal targeting sequences, in agreement with the acid chain hypothesis of mitochondrial protein import.

Mitochondrial protein import. Tom40 plays a major role in targeting and translocation of preproteins by forming a specific binding site for the presequence

During preprotein transport across the mitochondrial outer membrane, the N-terminal presequence initially binds to a surface-exposed site, termed cis site, of the protein translocation complex of this membrane (the TOM complex). The presequence then moves into the translocation pore and becomes exposed at the intermembrane space side. Membrane passage is driven by specific interaction of the presequence with the trans site. We have used chemical cross-linking to identify components in the vicinity of the translocating presequence. Preproteins bound to the surface-exposed cis site can be cross-linked via their N-terminal presequence to Tom20 and Tom22, demonstrating their direct association with this part of the preprotein. In addition, the presequence establishes an early contact to Tom40, a membrane-embedded protein of the TOM complex. Upon further entry of the preprotein into the translocation pore, the presequence loses its contact with Tom20/Tom22, but remains in firm association with Tom40. Our study suggests that Tom40 plays an important function in guiding the presequence of a preprotein across the mitochondrial outer membrane. We propose that Tom40 forms a major part of the trans presequence binding site.

Protein import into mitochondria

Mitochondria import many hundreds of different proteins that are encoded by nuclear genes. These proteins are targeted to the mitochondria, translocated through the mitochondrial membranes, and sorted to the different mitochondrial subcompartments. Separate translocases in the mitochondrial outer membrane (TOM complex) and in the inner membrane (TIM complex) facilitate recognition of preproteins and transport across the two membranes. Factors in the cytosol assist in targeting of preproteins. Protein components in the matrix partake in energetically driving translocation in a reaction that depends on the membrane potential and matrix-ATP. Molecular chaperones in the matrix exert multiple functions in translocation, sorting, folding, and assembly of newly imported proteins.

Biogenesis of mitochondrial proteins

Numerous components have been identified that participate at various stages in the biogenesis of mitochondria. For many of these components, their specific functions have recently been defined through detailed investigations of the molecular mechanisms underlying protein targeting, translocation across the mitochondrial outer and inner membranes, membrane insertion, suborganellar sorting, and protein folding.