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Levitskii SA, Baleva MV, Chicherin IV, Krasheninnikov IA, Kamenski PA. Protein Biosynthesis in Mitochondria: Past Simple, Present Perfect, Future Indefinite. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2021; 85:257-263. [PMID: 32564730 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297920030013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondria are obligate organelles of most eukaryotic cells that perform many different functions important for cellular homeostasis. The main role of mitochondria is supplying cells with energy in a form of ATP, which is synthesized in a chain of oxidative phosphorylation reactions on the organelle inner membrane. It is commonly believed now that mitochondria have the endosymbiotic origin. In the course of evolution, they have lost most of their genetic material as a result of genome reduction and gene transfer to the nucleus. The majority of mitochondrial proteins are synthesized in the cytosol and then imported to the mitochondria. However, almost all known mitochondria still contain genomes that are maintained and expressed. The processes of protein biosynthesis in the mitochondria - mitochondrial translation - substantially differs from the analogous processes in bacteria and the cytosol of eukaryotic cells. Mitochondrial translation is characterized by a high degree of specialization and specific regulatory mechanisms. In this review, we analyze available information on the common principles of mitochondrial translation with emphasis on the molecular mechanisms of translation initiation in the mitochondria of yeast and mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Levitskii
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - M V Baleva
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - I V Chicherin
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - I A Krasheninnikov
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - P A Kamenski
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, 119234, Russia.
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2
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Rudler DL, Hughes LA, Viola HM, Hool LC, Rackham O, Filipovska A. Fidelity and coordination of mitochondrial protein synthesis in health and disease. J Physiol 2020; 599:3449-3462. [PMID: 32710561 DOI: 10.1113/jp280359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary acquisition of mitochondria has given rise to the diversity of eukaryotic life. Mitochondria have retained their ancestral α-proteobacterial traits through the maintenance of double membranes and their own circular genome. Their genome varies in size from very large in plants to the smallest in animals and their parasites. The mitochondrial genome encodes essential genes for protein synthesis and has to coordinate its expression with the nuclear genome from which it sources most of the proteins required for mitochondrial biogenesis and function. The mitochondrial protein synthesis machinery is unique because it is encoded by both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes thereby requiring tight regulation to produce the respiratory complexes that drive oxidative phosphorylation for energy production. The fidelity and coordination of mitochondrial protein synthesis are essential for ATP production. Here we compare and contrast the mitochondrial translation mechanisms in mammals and fungi to bacteria and reveal that their diverse regulation can have unusual impacts on the health and disease of these organisms. We highlight that in mammals the rate of protein synthesis is more important than the fidelity of translation, enabling coordinated biogenesis of the mitochondrial respiratory chain with respiratory chain proteins synthesised by cytoplasmic ribosomes. Changes in mitochondrial protein fidelity can trigger the activation of the diverse cellular signalling networks in fungi and mammals to combat dysfunction in energy conservation. The physiological consequences of altered fidelity of protein synthesis can range from liver regeneration to the onset and development of cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle L Rudler
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.,Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Laetitia A Hughes
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.,Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Helena M Viola
- School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Livia C Hool
- School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.,Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Oliver Rackham
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia.,Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, Northern Entrance, Perth Children's Hospital, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Aleksandra Filipovska
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.,Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, Northern Entrance, Perth Children's Hospital, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
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3
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Luo Y, Su R, Wang Y, Xie W, Liu Z, Huang Y. Schizosaccharomyces pombe Mti2 and Mti3 act in conjunction during mitochondrial translation initiation. FEBS J 2019; 286:4542-4553. [PMID: 31350787 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA encodes key subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation complexes essential for ATP production. Translation initiation in mitochondria requires two general factors, mtIF2 and mtIF3, whose counterparts in bacteria are essential for protein synthesis. In this study, we report the characterization of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe mtIF2 (Mti2) and mtIF3 (Mti3). Deletion of mti2 impairs cell growth on the respiratory medium. The growth defect of the mti2 deletion mutant can be suppressed by expressing IFM1, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae homolog of Mti2, demonstrating functional conservation between the two proteins. Deletion of mti2 also impairs mitochondrial protein synthesis. Unlike mti2, deletion of mti3 does not affect cell growth on respiratory media and mitochondrial translation. However, deletion of mti3 exacerbates the growth defect of the Δmti2 mutant, suggesting that the two proteins have distinct, but partially overlapping functions during the process of mitochondrial translation initiation in S. pombe. Both Mti2 and Mti3 are associated with the small subunit of the mitochondrial ribosome (mitoribosome). Disruption of mti2, but not mti3, causes dissociation of the mitoribosome and also abolishes Mti3 binding to the small subunit of the mitoribosome. Our results suggest that Mti2 and Mti3 bind in a sequential manner to the small subunit of the mitoribosome and that Mti3 facilitates the function of Mti2 in mitochondrial translation initiation. Our findings also support the view that the importance of the mitochondrial translation initiation factors varies among the organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, China
| | - Ruyue Su
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, China
| | - Yirong Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, China
| | - Wanqiu Xie
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, China
| | - Zecheng Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, China
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4
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Möller-Hergt BV, Carlström A, Stephan K, Imhof A, Ott M. The ribosome receptors Mrx15 and Mba1 jointly organize cotranslational insertion and protein biogenesis in mitochondria. Mol Biol Cell 2018; 29:2386-2396. [PMID: 30091672 PMCID: PMC6233058 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e18-04-0227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
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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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andreas Carlström
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katharina Stephan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Axel Imhof
- Protein Analysis Unit, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, DE-82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Martin Ott
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
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5
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Habib S, Vaishya S, Gupta K. Translation in Organelles of Apicomplexan Parasites. Trends Parasitol 2016; 32:939-952. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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6
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Haider A, Allen SM, Jackson KE, Ralph SA, Habib S. Targeting and function of proteins mediating translation initiation in organelles of Plasmodium falciparum. Mol Microbiol 2015; 96:796-814. [PMID: 25689481 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has two translationally active organelles - the apicoplast and mitochondrion, which import nuclear-encoded translation factors to mediate protein synthesis. Initiation of translation is a complex step wherein initiation factors (IFs) act in a regulated manner to form an initiation complex. We identified putative organellar IFs and investigated the targeting, structure and function of IF1, IF2 and IF3 homologues encoded by the parasite nuclear genome. A single PfIF1 is targeted to the apicoplast. Apart from its critical ribosomal interactions, PfIF1 also exhibited nucleic-acid binding and melting activities and mediated transcription anti-termination. This suggests a prominent ancillary function for PfIF1 in destabilisation of DNA and RNA hairpin loops encountered during transcription and translation of the A+T rich apicoplast genome. Of the three putative IF2 homologues, only one (PfIF2a) was an organellar protein with mitochondrial localisation. We additionally identified an IF3 (PfIF3a) that localised exclusively to the mitochondrion and another protein, PfIF3b, that was apicoplast targeted. PfIF3a exhibited ribosome anti-association activity, and monosome splitting by PfIF3a was enhanced by ribosome recycling factor (PfRRF2) and PfEF-G(Mit). These results fill a gap in our understanding of organellar translation in Plasmodium, which is the site of action of several anti-malarial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afreen Haider
- Division of Molecular and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Stacey M Allen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., 3010, Australia
| | - Katherine E Jackson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., 3010, Australia
| | - Stuart A Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., 3010, Australia
| | - Saman Habib
- Division of Molecular and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
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7
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Kuzmenko A, Atkinson GC, Levitskii S, Zenkin N, Tenson T, Hauryliuk V, Kamenski P. Mitochondrial translation initiation machinery: conservation and diversification. Biochimie 2013; 100:132-40. [PMID: 23954798 PMCID: PMC3978653 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The highly streamlined mitochondrial genome encodes almost exclusively a handful of transmembrane components of the respiratory chain complex. In order to ensure the correct assembly of the respiratory chain, the products of these genes must be produced in the correct stoichiometry and inserted into the membrane, posing a unique challenge to the mitochondrial translational system. In this review we describe the proteins orchestrating mitochondrial translation initiation: bacterial-like general initiation factors mIF2 and mIF3, as well as mitochondria-specific components – mRNA-specific translational activators and mRNA-nonspecific accessory initiation factors. We consider how the fast rate of evolution in these organelles has not only created a system that is divergent from that of its bacterial ancestors, but has led to a huge diversity in lineage specific mechanistic features of mitochondrial translation initiation among eukaryotes. Mitochondrially-encoded proteins are mostly respiratory chain components. The mitochondrial translation system is thus organized in a very specific way. Initiation involves mRNA-specific activators and bacteria-like initiation factors. We show that Saccharomyces cerevisiae Aim23p is a functional ortholog of bacterial IF3. We review the lineage specific features of mitochondrial translation initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Kuzmenko
- University of Tartu, Institute of Technology, Nooruse 1, Tartu, Estonia; Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1/12 Leninskie Gory, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Gemma C Atkinson
- University of Tartu, Institute of Technology, Nooruse 1, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sergey Levitskii
- Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1/12 Leninskie Gory, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolay Zenkin
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, United Kingdom
| | - Tanel Tenson
- University of Tartu, Institute of Technology, Nooruse 1, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Vasili Hauryliuk
- University of Tartu, Institute of Technology, Nooruse 1, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Piotr Kamenski
- Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1/12 Leninskie Gory, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
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8
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Lee C, Tibbetts AS, Kramer G, Appling DR. Yeast AEP3p is an accessory factor in initiation of mitochondrial translation. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:34116-25. [PMID: 19843529 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.055350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Initiation of protein synthesis in mitochondria and chloroplasts normally uses a formylated initiator methionyl-tRNA (fMet-tRNA(f)(Met)). However, mitochondrial protein synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae can initiate with nonformylated Met-tRNA(f)(Met), as demonstrated in yeast mutants in which the nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase (FMT1) has been deleted. The role of formylation of the initiator tRNA is not known, but in vitro formylation increases binding of Met-tRNA(f)(Met) to translation initiation factor 2 (IF2). We hypothesize the existence of an accessory factor that assists mitochondrial IF2 (mIF2) in utilizing unformylated Met-tRNA(f)(Met). This accessory factor might be unnecessary when formylated Met-tRNA(f)(Met) is present but becomes essential when only the unformylated species are available. Using a synthetic petite genetic screen in yeast, we identified a mutation in the AEP3 gene that caused a synthetic respiratory-defective phenotype together with Delta fmt1. The same aep3 mutation also caused a synthetic respiratory defect in cells lacking formylated Met-tRNA(f)(Met) due to loss of the MIS1 gene that encodes the mitochondrial C(1)-tetrahydrofolate synthase. The AEP3 gene encodes a peripheral mitochondrial inner membrane protein that stabilizes mitochondrially encoded ATP6/8 mRNA. Here we show that the AEP3 protein (Aep3p) physically interacts with yeast mIF2 both in vitro and in vivo and promotes the binding of unformylated initiator tRNA to yeast mIF2. We propose that Aep3p functions as an accessory initiation factor in mitochondrial protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changkeun Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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9
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Gaur R, Grasso D, Datta PP, Krishna PDV, Das G, Spencer A, Agrawal RK, Spremulli L, Varshney U. A single mammalian mitochondrial translation initiation factor functionally replaces two bacterial factors. Mol Cell 2008; 29:180-90. [PMID: 18243113 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2007.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2007] [Revised: 08/30/2007] [Accepted: 11/05/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism of translation in eubacteria and organelles is thought to be similar. In eubacteria, the three initiation factors IF1, IF2, and IF3 are vital. Although the homologs of IF2 and IF3 are found in mammalian mitochondria, an IF1 homolog has never been detected. Here, we show that bovine mitochondrial IF2 (IF2(mt)) complements E. coli containing a deletion of the IF2 gene (E. coli DeltainfB). We find that IF1 is no longer essential in an IF2(mt)-supported E. coli DeltainfB strain. Furthermore, biochemical and molecular modeling data show that a conserved insertion of 37 amino acids in the IF2(mt) substitutes for the function of IF1. Deletion of this insertion from IF2(mt) supports E. coli for the essential function of IF2. However, in this background, IF1 remains essential. These observations provide strong evidence that a single factor (IF2(mt)) in mammalian mitochondria performs the functions of two eubacterial factors, IF1 and IF2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Gaur
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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10
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Williams EH, Butler CA, Bonnefoy N, Fox TD. Translation initiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria: functional interactions among mitochondrial ribosomal protein Rsm28p, initiation factor 2, methionyl-tRNA-formyltransferase and novel protein Rmd9p. Genetics 2006; 175:1117-26. [PMID: 17194786 PMCID: PMC1840066 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.106.064576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rsm28p is a dispensable component of the mitochondrial ribosomal small subunit in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is not related to known proteins found in bacteria. It was identified as a dominant suppressor of certain mitochondrial mutations that reduced translation of the COX2 mRNA. To explore further the function of Rsm28p, we isolated mutations in other genes that caused a synthetic respiratory defective phenotype together with rsm28Delta. These mutations identified three nuclear genes: IFM1, which encodes the mitochondrial translation initiation factor 2 (IF2); FMT1, which encodes the methionyl-tRNA-formyltransferase; and RMD9, a gene of unknown function. The observed genetic interactions strongly suggest that the ribosomal protein Rsm28p and Ifm1p (IF2) have similar and partially overlapping functions in yeast mitochondrial translation initiation. Rmd9p, bearing a TAP-tag, was localized to mitochondria and exhibited roughly equal distribution in soluble and membrane-bound fractions. A small fraction of the Rmd9-TAP sedimented together with presumed monosomes, but not with either individual ribosomal subunit. Thus, Rmd9 is not a ribosomal protein, but may be a novel factor associated with initiating monosomes. The poorly respiring rsm28Delta, rmd9-V363I double mutant did not have a strong translation-defective phenotype, suggesting that Rmd9p may function upstream of translation initiation, perhaps at the level of localization of mitochondrially coded mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth H Williams
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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11
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Garofalo C, Kramer G, Appling DR. Characterization of the C2 subdomain of yeast mitochondrial initiation factor 2. Arch Biochem Biophys 2005; 439:113-20. [PMID: 15935987 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2005.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2005] [Revised: 04/26/2005] [Accepted: 05/02/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The COOH-terminal part of the yeast mitochondrial initiation factor 2 (ymIF2), containing the C2 subdomain, was expressed and purified as a histidine-tagged polypeptide of 137 amino acids. Like the recombinant full-length protein, the C2 subdomain binds both formyl-Met-tRNA(f)(Met) and unformylated Met-tRNA(f)(Met) with only a small preference for the former species. Formation of a binary complex between the C2 subdomain or the full-length ymIF2 and initiator tRNA was also assessed by fluorescence measurements. The binding of coumarin-Met-tRNA(f) to either protein caused a blue shift of the coumarin emission spectrum and an increase in anisotropy. Full-length ymIF2 is functionally competent in forming an initiation complex and supporting formation of the first peptide bond on Escherichia coli ribosomes. The results demonstrate that ymIF2 has the same domain structure and biochemical properties of a typical IF2 species as found in bacteria or mammalian mitochondria--but with enhanced ability to bind unformylated initiator Met-tRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Garofalo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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12
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Charrière F, Tan THP, Schneider A. Mitochondrial initiation factor 2 of Trypanosoma brucei binds imported formylated elongator-type tRNA(Met). J Biol Chem 2005; 280:15659-65. [PMID: 15731104 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m411581200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrion of Trypanosoma brucei lacks tRNA genes. Its translation system therefore depends on the import of nucleus-encoded tRNAs. Thus, except for the cytosol-specific initiator tRNA(Met), all trypanosomal tRNAs function in both the cytosol and the mitochondrion. The only tRNA(Met) present in T. brucei mitochondria is therefore the one which, in the cytosol, is involved in translation elongation. Mitochondrial translation initiation depends on an initiator tRNA(Met) carrying a formylated methionine. This tRNA is then recognized by initiation factor 2, which brings it to the ribosome. To guarantee mitochondrial translation initiation, T. brucei has an unusual methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase that formylates elongator tRNA(Met). In the present study, we have identified initiation factor 2 of T. brucei and shown that its carboxyl-terminal domain specifically binds formylated trypanosomal elongator tRNA(Met). Furthermore, the protein also recognizes the structurally very different Escherichia coli initiator tRNA(Met), suggesting that the main determinant recognized is the formylated methionine. In vivo studies using stable RNA interference cell lines showed that knock-down of initiation factor 2, depending on which construct was used, causes slow growth or even growth arrest. Moreover, concomitantly with ablation of the protein, a loss of oxidative phosphorylation was observed. Finally, although ablation of the methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase on its own did not impair growth, a complete growth arrest was observed when it was combined with the initiation factor 2 RNA interference cell line showing the slow growth phenotype. Thus, these experiments illustrate the importance of mitochondrial translation initiation for growth of procyclic T. brucei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Charrière
- Department of Biology/Zoology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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13
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Spencer AC, Spremulli LL. Interaction of mitochondrial initiation factor 2 with mitochondrial fMet-tRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2004; 32:5464-70. [PMID: 15477394 PMCID: PMC524296 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkh886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian mitochondrial genome contains a single tRNA(Met) gene that gives rise to the initiator and elongator tRNA(Met). It is generally believed that mitochondrial protein synthesis begins with formylmethionyl-tRNA, which indicates that the formylation of mitochondrial Met-tRNA specifies its participation in initiation through its interaction with initiation factor 2 (IF-2). However, recent studies in yeast mitochondria, suggest that formylation is not required for protein synthesis. In addition, bovine IF-2(mt) could replace yeast IF-2(mt) in strains that lack fMet-tRNA which suggests that this paradigm may extend to mammalian mitochondria. Here, the importance of the formylation of mitochondrial Met-tRNA for the interaction with IF-2(mt) was investigated by measuring the ability of bovine IF-2(mt) to bind mitochondrial fMet-tRNA. In direct binding experiments, bovine IF-2(mt) has a 25-fold greater affinity for mitochondrial fMet-tRNA than Met-tRNA, using either the native mitochondrial tRNA(Met) or an in vitro transcript of bovine mitochondrial tRNA(Met). In addition, IF-2(mt) will not effectively stimulate mitochondrial Met-tRNA binding to mitochondrial ribosomes, exhibiting a 50-fold preference for fMet-tRNA over Met-tRNA in this assay. Finally, the region of IF-2(mt) responsible for the interaction with fMet-tRNA was mapped to the C2 sub-domain of domain VI of this factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela C Spencer
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA
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14
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Steiner-Mosonyi M, Creuzenet C, Keates RAB, Strub BR, Mangroo D. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa initiation factor IF-2 is responsible for formylation-independent protein initiation in P. aeruginosa. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:52262-9. [PMID: 15385567 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m408086200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Formylation of the initiator methionyl-tRNA (Met-tRNAfMet) was generally thought to be essential for initiation of protein synthesis in all eubacteria based on studies conducted primarily in Escherichia coli. However, this view of eubacterial protein initiation has changed because some bacteria have been demonstrated to have the capacity to initiate protein synthesis with the unformylated Met-tRNAfMet. Here we show that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa initiation factor IF-2 is required for formylation-independent protein initiation in P. aeruginosa, the first bacterium shown to have the ability to initiate protein synthesis with both the initiator formyl-methionyl-tRNA (fMet-tRNAfMet) and Met-tRNAfMet. The E. coli IF-2, which participates exclusively in formylation-dependent protein initiation in E. coli, was unable to facilitate utilization of Met-tRNAfMet in initiation in P. aeruginosa. However, the E. coli IF-2 was made to function in formylation-independent protein initiation in P. aeruginosa by decreasing the positive charge potential of the cleft that binds the amino end of the amino acid attached to the tRNA. Furthermore increasing the positive charge potential of this cleft in the P. aeruginosa IF-2 prevented the protein from participating in formylation-independent protein initiation. Thus, this is the first demonstration of a eubacterial IF-2 with an inherent capacity to facilitate utilization of Met-tRNAfMet in protein initiation, discounting the dogma that eubacterial IF-2 can only allow the use of fMet-tRNAfMet in protein initiation. Furthermore these findings give important clues to the basis for discriminating the initiator Met-tRNA by IF-2 and for the evolution of alternative mechanisms for discrimination.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Bacterial Proteins/chemistry
- Bacterial Proteins/genetics
- Bacterial Proteins/metabolism
- Base Sequence
- DNA, Bacterial/genetics
- Escherichia coli/genetics
- Escherichia coli/metabolism
- Escherichia coli Proteins/chemistry
- Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics
- Escherichia coli Proteins/metabolism
- Genetic Complementation Test
- Models, Molecular
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
- Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational
- Prokaryotic Initiation Factor-2/chemistry
- Prokaryotic Initiation Factor-2/genetics
- Prokaryotic Initiation Factor-2/metabolism
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa/genetics
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa/metabolism
- RNA, Bacterial/genetics
- RNA, Bacterial/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer, Met/genetics
- RNA, Transfer, Met/metabolism
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Static Electricity
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Steiner-Mosonyi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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15
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Spremulli LL, Coursey A, Navratil T, Hunter SE. Initiation and elongation factors in mammalian mitochondrial protein biosynthesis. PROGRESS IN NUCLEIC ACID RESEARCH AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2004; 77:211-61. [PMID: 15196894 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6603(04)77006-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Linda L Spremulli
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA
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16
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Current awareness on yeast. Yeast 2003; 20:1151-8. [PMID: 14598808 DOI: 10.1002/yea.949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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17
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Tibbetts AS, Oesterlin L, Chan SY, Kramer G, Hardesty B, Appling DR. Mammalian mitochondrial initiation factor 2 supports yeast mitochondrial translation without formylated initiator tRNA. J Biol Chem 2003; 278:31774-80. [PMID: 12799364 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m304962200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Initiation of protein synthesis in mitochondria and chloroplasts is widely believed to require a formylated initiator methionyl-tRNA (fMet-tRNAfMet) in a process involving initiation factor 2 (IF2). However, yeast strains disrupted at the FMT1 locus, encoding mitochondrial methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase, lack detectable fMet-tRNAfMet but exhibit normal mitochondrial function as evidenced by normal growth on non-fermentable carbon sources. Here we show that mitochondrial translation products in Saccharomyces cerevisiae were synthesized in the absence of formylated initiator tRNA. ifm1 mutants, lacking the mitochondrial initiation factor 2 (mIF2), are unable to respire, indicative of defective mitochondrial protein synthesis, but their respiratory defect could be complemented by plasmid-borne copies of either the yeast IFM1 gene or a cDNA encoding bovine mIF2. Moreover, the bovine mIF2 sustained normal respiration in ifm1 fmt1 double mutants. Bovine mIF2 supported the same pattern of mitochondrial translation products as yeast mIF2, and the pattern did not change in cells lacking formylated Met-tRNAfMet. Mutant yeast lacking any mIF2 retained the ability to synthesize low levels of a subset of mitochondrially encoded proteins. The ifm1 null mutant was used to analyze the domain structure of yeast mIF2. Contrary to a previous report, the C terminus of yeast mIF2 is required for its function in vivo, whereas the N-terminal domain could be deleted. Our results indicate that formylation of initiator methionyl-tRNA is not required for mitochondrial protein synthesis. The ability of bovine mIF2 to support mitochondrial translation in the yeast fmt1 mutant suggests that this phenomenon may extend to mammalian mitochondria as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne S Tibbetts
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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