Plant peroxisomes: recent studies on function and biosynthesis

Import of the peroxisomal targeting signal type 2 protein 3-ketoacyl-coenzyme a thiolase into glyoxysomes

Most peroxisomal matrix proteins possess a carboxy-terminal tripeptide targeting signal, termed peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 (PTS1), and follow a relatively well-characterized pathway of import into the organelle. The peroxisomal targeting signal type 2 (PTS2) pathway of peroxisomal matrix protein import is less well understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of PTS2 protein binding and import using an optimized in vitro assay to reconstitute the transport events. The import of the PTS2 protein thiolase differed from PTS1 protein import in several ways. Thiolase import was slower than typical PTS1 protein import. Competition experiments with both PTS1 and PTS2 proteins revealed that PTS2 protein import was inhibited by addition of excess PTS2 protein, but it was enhanced by the addition of PTS1 proteins. Mature thiolase alone, lacking the PTS2 signal, was not imported into peroxisomes, confirming that the PTS2 signal is necessary for thiolase import. In competition experiments, mature thiolase did not affect the import of a PTS1 protein, but it did decrease the amount of radiolabeled full-length thiolase that was imported. This is consistent with a mechanism by which the mature protein competes with the full-length thiolase during assembly of an import complex at the surface of the membrane. Finally, the addition of zinc to PTS2 protein imports increased the level of thiolase bound and imported into the organelles.

Changes in some enzymes of microbodies and plastid development in excised radish cotyledons: effect of narciclasine

Narciclasine (NCS), isolated from mucilage of Narcissus bulb, showed inhibitory effects on growth and plastid development of excised radish cotyledons. NCS (0.1 mumol/L) started to show inhibitory effects on isocitrate lyase and hydroxypyruvate reductase activities after 24 h incubation in light. When NCS concentration was increased to 10 mumol/L, the activities of both enzymes are completely inhibited. From ultrastructural studies, NCS markedly prevented the degradation of protein bodies and lipid bodies, as well as chloroplast formation of excised radish cotyledons. There was only little degradation of protein and lipid bodies, and almost no chloroplast formation in the excised radish cotyledon treated with 1 mumol/L NCS. Therefore, our results provide clear evidence that NCS inhibited the transition of glyoxysomes and peroxisomes, and chloroplast development.

Intracellular lipid particles of eukaryotic cells

In this review article we describe characterization of intracellular lipid particles of three different eukaryotic species, namely mammalian cells, plants and yeast. Lipid particles of all types of cells share a general structure. A hydrophobic core of neutral lipids is surrounded by a membrane monolayer of phospholipids which contains a minor amount of proteins. Whereas lipid particles from mammalian cells and plants harbor specific classes of polypeptides, mainly perilipins and oleosins, respectively, yeast lipid particles contain a more complex set of enzymes which are involved in lipid biosynthesis. Function of lipid particles as storage compartment and metabolic organelle, and their interaction with other subcellular fractions are discussed. Furthermore, models for the biogenesis of lipid particles are presented and compared among the different species.

The effects of chaperones and the influence of protein assembly on peroxisomal protein import

Peroxisomal proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm and post-translationally translocated into the organelle. The role of chaperones and protein folding in peroxisomal protein transport is still unclear. Translocation of proteins into mitochondria requires that precursor proteins assume an extended conformation; cytosolic chaperones are thought to help maintain this conformation. In contrast, peroxisomal protein import does not require unfolding of the targeted protein. However, the molecular chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp40 may be important for translocation. We present several lines of evidence that show that plant peroxisomal protein import is enhanced by chaperones. First, peroxisomes isolated from heat-shocked pumpkin seedling tissues exhibited increased protein import relative to control peroxisomes. Second, antibodies raised against wheat germ cytosolic Hsp70 and Escherichia coli Hsp90 inhibited import of the peroxisomal protein isocitrate lyase. To our knowledge, this is the first time that Hsp90 has been directly implicated in a protein transport event. Third, peroxisomal proteins were immunoprecipitated by wheat germ Hsp70 antibodies. We also present results that suggest that the efficiency of peroxisomal protein import is influenced by the structure of the targeted protein; monomeric isocitrate lyase was imported more efficiently than oligomeric isocitrate lyase. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the assembly state of peroxisomal proteins and the chaperones that may mediate those states are both important for efficient peroxisomal protein import.

Nucleotide triphosphates are required for the transport of glycolate oxidase into peroxisomes

All peroxisomal proteins are nuclear encoded, synthesized on free cytosolic ribosomes, and posttranslationally targeted to the organelle. We have used an in vitro assay to reconstitute protein import into pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) glyoxysomes, a class of peroxisome found in the cotyledons of oilseed plants, to study the mechanisms involved in protein transport across peroxisome membranes. Results indicate that ATP hydrolysis is required for protein import into peroxisomes; nonhydrolyzable analogs of ATP could not substitute for this requirement. Nucleotide competition studies suggest that there may be a nucleotide binding site on a component of the translocation machinery. Peroxisomal protein import also was supported by GTP hydrolysis. Nonhydrolyzable analogs of GTP did not substitute in this process. Experiments to determine the cation specificity of the nucleotide requirement show that the Mg2+ salt was preferred over other divalent and monovalent cations. The role of a putative protonmotive force across the peroxisomal membrane was also examined. Although low concentrations of ionophores had no effect on protein import, relatively high concentrations of all ionophores tested consistently reduced the level of protein import by approximately 50%. This result suggests that a protonmotive force is not absolutely required for peroxisomal protein import.

Protein folding coupled to disulphide bond formation

Protein folding that is coupled to disulphide bond formation has many experimental advantages. In particular, the kinetic roles and importance of all the disulphide intermediates can be determined, usually unambiguously. This contrasts with other types of protein folding, where the roles of any intermediates detected are usually not established. Nevertheless, there is considerable confusion in the literature about even the best-characterized disulphide folding pathways. This article attempts to set the record straight.

Evidence for domain structures of the trifunctional protein and the tetrafunctional protein acting in glyoxysomal fatty acid beta-oxidation

In plant glyoxysomes, an enzyme activity responsible for a particular step in the fatty acid beta-oxidation is located on more than one protein species. Various monofunctional enzymes and two forms of a multifunctional protein are involved in the degradation of cis-unsaturated fatty acids. delta 3, delta 2-Enoyl-CoA isomerase activity, previously found to be located on a monofunctional dimeric protein, is attributable to one form of the monomeric multifunctional protein (MFP). The presence or absence of isomerase activity allows us to differentiate between the tetrafunctional 76.5-kDa isoform (MFP II) and the trifunctional 74-kDa isoform (MFP I) in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) cotyledons. Both MFP I and MFP II exhibited blocked N-terminal structures. MFP I and MFP II are distinguishable from each other by their susceptibility to limited proteolysis. A series of examples is presented describing the preparation of enzymically active proteolytic fragments. We demonstrate that both forms of the monomeric MFP are composed of domains separable from each other without loss of activity. By fragmentation of MFP I and subsequent chromatography, a 60-kDa peptide was purified retaining hydratase and epimerase activity but lacking dehydrogenase activity. In addition, a highly positively charged fragment was observed carrying solely dehydrogenase activity. From MFP II, a 36-kDa fragment with hydratase activity was characterized. An enzymically inactive 46-kDa fragment was prepared from MFP II and sequenced at its unblocked N-terminus.

Sequence analysis of cucumber cotyledon ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activase cDNA

The cDNA encoding ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activase from cotyledons of dark-grown cucumber seedlings has been isolated and sequenced. The 2.0 kilobase pair cDNA encodes a polypeptide with 413 amino acid residues which shows 70% identity with the rubisco activase from green leaves of spinach. The full-length cDNA was used to prepare rubisco activase by in vitro transcription. Subsequent in vitro translation led to the formation of a 46 kDa protein which is the putative precursor of a 42 kDa plastid enzyme.