In vitro systems in the study of peroxisomal protein import

Visualization of microbodies in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

In Chlorophycean algal cells, these organelles are generally called microbodies because they lack the enzymes found in the peroxisomes of higher plants. Microbodies in some algae contain fewer enzymes than the peroxisomes of higher plants, and some unicellular green algae in Chlorophyceae such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii do not possess catalase, an enzyme commonly found in peroxisomes. Thus, whether microbodies in Chlorophycean algae are similar to the peroxisomes of higher plants, and whether they use a similar transport mechanism for the peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS), remain unclear. To determine whether the PTS is present in the microbodies of Chlorophycean algae, and to visualize the microbodies in Chlamydomonas cells, we examined the sub-cellular localization of green fluorescent proteins (GFP) fused to several PTS-like sequences. We detected GFP compartments that were spherical with a diameter of 0.3-1.0 μm in transgenic Chlamydomonas. Comparative analysis of the character of GFP-compartments observed by fluorescence microscopy and that of microbodies by electron microscopy indicated that the compartments were one and the same. The result also showed that the microbodies in Chlorophycean cells have a similar transport mechanism to that of peroxisomes of higher plants.

Peroxisomal targeting signals in green algae

Peroxisomal enzymatic proteins contain targeting signals (PTS) to enable their import into peroxisomes. These targeting signals have been identified as PTS1 and PTS2 in mammalian, yeast, and higher plant cells; however, no PTS2-like amino acid sequences have been observed in enzymes from the genome database of Cyanidiochyzon merolae (Bangiophyceae), a primitive red algae. In studies on the evolution of PTS, it is important to know when their sequences came to be the peroxisomal targeting signals for all living organisms. To this end, we identified a number of genes in the genome database of the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which contains amino acid sequences similar to those found in plant PTS. In order to determine whether these sequences function as PTS in green algae, we expressed modified green fluorescent proteins (GFP) fused to these putative PTS peptides under the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. To confirm whether granular structures containing GFP-PTS fusion proteins accumulated in the peroxisomes of Closterium ehrenbergii, we observed these cells after the peroxisomes were stained with 3, 3'-diaminobenzidine. Our results confirm that the GFP-PTS fusion proteins indeed accumulated in the peroxisomes of these green algae. These findings suggest that the peroxisomal transport system for PTS1 and PTS2 is conserved in green algal cells and that our fusion proteins can be used to visualize peroxisomes in live cells.

Peroxisome biogenesis

Peroxisome biogenesis conceptually consists of the (a) formation of the peroxisomal membrane, (b) import of proteins into the peroxisomal matrix and (c) proliferation of the organelles. Combined genetic and biochemical approaches led to the identification of 25 PEX genes-encoding proteins required for the biogenesis of peroxisomes, so-called peroxins. Peroxisomal matrix and membrane proteins are synthesized on free ribosomes in the cytosol and posttranslationally imported into the organelle in an unknown fashion. The protein import into the peroxisomal matrix and the targeting and insertion of peroxisomal membrane proteins is performed by distinct machineries. At least three peroxins have been shown to be involved in the topogenesis of peroxisomal membrane proteins. Elaborate peroxin complexes form the machinery which in a concerted action of the components transports folded, even oligomeric matrix proteins across the peroxisomal membrane. The past decade has significantly improved our knowledge of the involvement of certain peroxins in the distinct steps of the import process, like cargo recognition, docking of cargo-receptor complexes to the peroxisomal membrane, translocation, and receptor recycling. This review summarizes our knowledge of the functional role the known peroxins play in the biogenesis and maintenance of peroxisomes. Ideas on the involvement of preperoxisomal structures in the biogenesis of the peroxisomal membrane are highlighted and special attention is paid to the concept of cargo protein aggregation as a presupposition for peroxisomal matrix protein import.

Import of proteins into peroxisomes

Peroxisomes are organelles that confine an important set of enzymes within their single membrane boundaries. In man, a wide variety of genetic disorders is caused by loss of peroxisome function. In the most severe cases, the clinical phenotype indicates that abnormalities begin to appear during embryological development. In less severe cases, the quality of life of adults is affected. Research on yeast model systems has contributed to a better understanding of peroxisome formation and maintenance. This framework of knowledge has made it possible to understand the molecular basis of most of the peroxisome biogenesis disorders. Interestingly, most peroxisome biogenesis disorders are caused by a failure to target peroxisomal proteins to the organellar matrix or membrane, which classifies them as protein targeting diseases. Here we review recent fundamental research on peroxisomal protein targeting and discuss a few burning questions in the field concerning the origin of peroxisomes.