Topological analysis of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor in yeast mitochondrial membranes supports a five-transmembrane structure

Among the recombinant TSPOs, the BcTSPO

Overexpression of recombinant Bacillus cereus TSPO (BcTSPO) in E. coli bacteria leads to its recovery with a bound hemin both in bacterial membrane (MB) and inclusion bodies (IB). Unlike mouse TSPO, BcTSPO purified in SDS detergent from IB is well structured and can bind various ligands such as high-affinity PK 11195, protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) and δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). For each of the three ligands, 1H-15N HSQC titration NMR experiments suggest that different amino acids of BcTSPO binding cavity are involved in the interaction. PPIX, an intermediate of heme biosynthesis, binds to the cavity of BcTSPO and its fluorescence can be significantly reduced in the presence of light and oxygen. The light irradiation leads to two products that have been isolated and characterized as photoporphyrins. They result from the addition of singlet oxygen to the two vinyl groups hence leading to the formation of hydroxyaldehydes. The involvement of water molecules, recently observed along with the binding of heme in Rhodobacter sphaeroides (RsTSPO) is highly probable. Altogether, these results raise the question of the role of TSPO in heme biosynthesis regulation as a possible scavenger of reactive intermediates.

Exploring Translocator Protein (TSPO) Medicinal Chemistry: An Approach for Targeting Radionuclides and Boron Atoms to Mitochondria

Translocator protein 18 kDa [TSPO or peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR)] was identified in the search of binding sites for benzodiazepine anxiolytic drugs in peripheral regions. In these areas, binding sites for TSPO ligands were recognized in steroid-producing tissues. TSPO plays an important role in many cellular functions, and its coding sequence is highly conserved across species. TSPO is located predominantly on the membrane of mitochondria and is overexpressed in several solid cancers. TSPO basal expression in the CNS is low, but it becomes high in neurodegenerative conditions. Thus, TSPO constitutes not only as an outstanding drug target but also as a valuable marker for the diagnosis of a number of diseases. The aim of the present article is to show the lesson we have learned from our activity in TSPO medicinal chemistry and in approaching the targeted delivery to mitochondria by means of TSPO ligands.

TSPO protein binding partners in bacteria, animals, and plants

The ancient membrane protein TSPO is phylogenetically widespread from archaea and bacteria to insects, vertebrates, plants, and fungi. TSPO’s primary amino acid sequence is only modestly conserved between diverse species, although its five transmembrane helical structure appears mainly conserved. Its cellular location and orientation in membranes have been reported to vary between species and tissues, with implications for potential diverse binding partners and function. Most TSPO functions relate to stress-induced changes in metabolism, but in many cases it is unclear how TSPO itself functions—whether as a receptor, a sensor, a transporter, or a translocator. Much evidence suggests that TSPO acts indirectly by association with various protein binding partners or with endogenous or exogenous ligands. In this review, we focus on proteins that have most commonly been invoked as TSPO binding partners. We suggest that TSPO was originally a bacterial receptor/stress sensor associated with porphyrin binding as its most ancestral function and that it later developed additional stress-related roles in eukaryotes as its ability to bind new partners evolved.

Biogenesis pathways of α-helical mitochondrial outer membrane proteins

Mitochondria harbor in their outer membrane (OM) proteins of different topologies. These proteins are encoded by the nuclear DNA, translated on cytosolic ribosomes and inserted into their target organelle by sophisticated protein import machineries. Recently, considerable insights have been accumulated on the insertion pathways of proteins into the mitochondrial OM. In contrast, little is known regarding the early cytosolic stages of their biogenesis. It is generally presumed that chaperones associate with these proteins following their synthesis in the cytosol, thereby keeping them in an import-competent conformation and preventing their aggregation and/or mis-folding and degradation. In this review, we outline the current knowledge about the biogenesis of different mitochondrial OM proteins with various topologies, and highlight the recent findings regarding their import pathways starting from early cytosolic events until their recognition on the mitochondrial surface that lead to their final insertion into the mitochondrial OM.

A Farnesylated Coxiella burnetii Effector Forms a Multimeric Complex at the Mitochondrial Outer Membrane during Infection

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, establishes a unique lysosome-derived intracellular niche termed the Coxiella-containing vacuole (CCV). The Dot/Icm-type IVB secretion system is essential for the biogenesis of the CCV and the intracellular replication of Coxiella Effector proteins, translocated into the host cell through this apparatus, act to modulate host trafficking and signaling processes to facilitate CCV development. Here we investigated the role of CBU0077, a conserved Coxiella effector that had previously been observed to localize to lysosomal membranes. CBU0077 was dispensable for the intracellular replication of Coxiella in HeLa and THP-1 cells and did not appear to participate in CCV biogenesis. Intriguingly, native and epitope-tagged CBU0077 produced by Coxiella displayed specific punctate localization at host cell mitochondria. As such, we designated CBU0077 MceA (mitochondrial Coxiellaeffector protein A). Analysis of ectopically expressed MceA truncations revealed that the capacity to traffic to mitochondria is encoded within the first 84 amino acids of this protein. MceA is farnesylated by the host cell; however, this does not impact mitochondrial localization. Examination of mitochondria isolated from infected cells revealed that MceA is specifically integrated into the mitochondrial outer membrane and forms a complex of approximately 120 kDa. Engineering Coxiella to express either MceA tagged with 3×FLAG or MceA tagged with 2×hemagglutinin allowed us to perform immunoprecipitation experiments that showed that MceA forms a homo-oligomeric species at the mitochondrial outer membrane during infection. This research reveals that mitochondria are a bona fide target of Coxiella effectors and MceA is a complex-forming effector at the mitochondrial outer membrane during Coxiella infection.

Cholesterol-mediated allosteric regulation of the mitochondrial translocator protein structure

Cholesterol is an important regulator of membrane protein function. However, the exact mechanisms involved in this process are still not fully understood. Here we study how the tertiary and quaternary structure of the mitochondrial translocator protein TSPO, which binds cholesterol with nanomolar affinity, is affected by this sterol. Residue-specific analysis of TSPO by solid-state NMR spectroscopy reveals a dynamic monomer–dimer equilibrium of TSPO in the membrane. Binding of cholesterol to TSPO's cholesterol-recognition motif leads to structural changes across the protein that shifts the dynamic equilibrium towards the translocator monomer. Consistent with an allosteric mechanism, a mutation within the oligomerization interface perturbs transmembrane regions located up to 35 Å away from the interface, reaching TSPO's cholesterol-binding motif. The lower structural stability of the intervening transmembrane regions provides a mechanistic basis for signal transmission. Our study thus reveals an allosteric signal pathway that connects membrane protein tertiary and quaternary structure with cholesterol binding.

The outer mitochondrial membrane translocator protein (TSPO) mediates several mitochondrial functions and binds cholesterol with a high affinity. Here the authors use solid-state NMR to show that cholesterol binding to TSPO results in allosteric changes that modulate TSPO oligomerization.

TSPO: kaleidoscopic 18-kDa amid biochemical pharmacology, control and targeting of mitochondria

The 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) localizes in the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) of cells and is readily up-regulated under various pathological conditions such as cancer, inflammation, mechanical lesions and neurological diseases. Able to bind with high affinity synthetic and endogenous ligands, its core biochemical function resides in the translocation of cholesterol into the mitochondria influencing the subsequent steps of (neuro-)steroid synthesis and systemic endocrine regulation. Over the years, however, TSPO has also been linked to core cellular processes such as apoptosis and autophagy. It interacts and forms complexes with other mitochondrial proteins such as the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) via which signalling and regulatory transduction of these core cellular events may be influenced. Despite nearly 40 years of study, the precise functional role of TSPO beyond cholesterol trafficking remains elusive even though the recent breakthroughs on its high-resolution crystal structure and contribution to quality-control signalling of mitochondria. All this along with a captivating pharmacological profile provides novel opportunities to investigate and understand the significance of this highly conserved protein as well as contribute the development of specific therapeutics as presented and discussed in the present review.

Adrenal Mitochondria and Steroidogenesis: From Individual Proteins to Functional Protein Assemblies

The adrenal cortex is critical for physiological function as the central site of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid synthesis. It possesses a great degree of specialized compartmentalization at multiple hierarchical levels, ranging from the tissue down to the molecular levels. In this paper, we discuss this functionalization, beginning with the tissue zonation of the adrenal cortex and how this impacts steroidogenic output. We then discuss the cellular biology of steroidogenesis, placing special emphasis on the mitochondria. Mitochondria are classically known as the "powerhouses of the cell" for their central role in respiratory adenosine triphosphate synthesis, and attention is given to mitochondrial electron transport, in both the context of mitochondrial respiration and mitochondrial steroid metabolism. Building on work demonstrating functional assembly of large protein complexes in respiration, we further review research demonstrating a role for multimeric protein complexes in mitochondrial cholesterol transport, steroidogenesis, and mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact. We aim to highlight with this review the shift in steroidogenic cell biology from a focus on the actions of individual proteins in isolation to the actions of protein assemblies working together to execute cellular functions.

Mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO): From physiology to cardioprotection

The mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) is a high affinity cholesterol binding protein which is primarily located in the outer mitochondrial membrane where it has been shown to interact with proteins implicated in mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) formation. TSPO is found in different species and is expressed at high levels in tissues that synthesize steroids but is also present in other peripheral tissues especially in the heart. TSPO has been involved in the import of cholesterol into mitochondria, a key step in steroidogenesis. This constitutes the main established function of the protein which was recently challenged by genetic studies. TSPO has also been associated directly or indirectly with a wide range of cellular functions such as apoptosis, cell proliferation, differentiation, regulation of mitochondrial function or porphyrin transport. In the heart the role of TSPO remains undefined but a growing body of evidence suggests that TSPO plays a critical role in regulating physiological cardiac function and that TSPO ligands may represent interesting drugs to protect the heart under pathological conditions. This article briefly reviews current knowledge regarding TSPO and discusses its role in the cardiovascular system under physiological and pathologic conditions. More particularly, it provides evidence that TSPO can represent an alternative strategy to develop new pharmacological agents to protect the myocardium against ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Conformational Flexibility in the Transmembrane Protein TSPO

The translocator protein (TSPO) is an integral membrane protein that interacts with a wide variety of endogenous ligands, such as cholesterol and porphyrins, and is also the target for several small molecules with substantial in vivo efficacy. When complexed with the TSPO-specific radioligand (R)-PK11195, TSPO folds into a rigid five-helix bundle. However, little is known about the structure and dynamics of TSPO in the absence of high-affinity ligands. By means of NMR spectroscopy, we show that TSPO exchanges between multiple conformations in the absence of (R)-PK11195. Extensive motions on time scales from pico- to microseconds occur all along the primary sequence of the protein, leading to a loss of stable tertiary interactions and local unfolding of the helical structure in the vicinity of the ligand-binding site. The flexible nature of TSPO highlights the importance of conformational plasticity in integral membrane proteins.

Structure of the mammalian TSPO/PBR protein

The 3D structure of the 18-kDa transmembrane (TM) protein TSPO (translocator protein)/PBR (peripheral benzodiazepine receptor), which contains a binding site for benzodiazepines, is important to better understand its function and regulation by endogenous and synthetic ligands. We have recently determined the structure of mammalian TSPO/PBR in complex with the diagnostic ligand PK11195 [1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinolinecarboxamide; Jaremko et al. (2014) Science 343: , 1363-1366], providing for the first time atomic-level insight into the conformation of this protein, which is up-regulated in various pathological conditions including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Here, we review the studies which have probed the structural properties of mammalian TSPO/PBR as well as the homologues bacterial tryptophan-rich sensory proteins (TspOs) over the years and provide detailed insight into the 3D structure of mouse TSPO (mTSPO)/PBR in complex with PK11195.

Lost in translocation: the functions of the 18-kD translocator protein

Research spanning nearly four decades has assigned to the translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) a critical role, among others, in the mitochondrial import of cholesterol, the subsequent steps of (neuro)steroid production, and systemic endocrine regulation, with implications for the pathophysiology of immune, inflammatory, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric as well as neoplastic diseases. Recent knockout studies in mice unexpectedly report normal or latent phenotypes, raising doubts about the protein's role in steroidogenesis and other previously postulated functions and challenging the validity of earlier data on the selectivity of TSPO-binding drugs. Here we provide a synthesis of the current debate from a structural and molecular biology perspective, discuss the limits of inference in loss-of-function (gene knockout) studies, and suggest new functions of TSPO.

Translocator protein-mediated pharmacology of cholesterol transport and steroidogenesis

Steroidogenesis begins with cholesterol transfer into mitochondria through the transduceosome, a complex composed of cytosolic proteins that include steroidogenesis acute regulatory protein (STAR), 14-3-3 adaptor proteins, and the outer mitochondrial membrane proteins Translocator Protein (TSPO) and Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel (VDAC). TSPO is a drug- and cholesterol-binding protein found at particularly high levels in steroid synthesizing cells. Its aberrant expression has been linked to cancer, neurodegeneration, neuropsychiatric disorders and primary hypogonadism. Brain steroids serve as local regulators of neural development and excitability. Reduced levels of these steroids have been linked to depression, anxiety and neurodegeneration. Reduced serum testosterone is common among subfertile young men and aging men, and is associated with depression, metabolic syndrome and reduced sexual function. Although testosterone-replacement therapy is available, there are undesired side-effects. TSPO drug ligands have been proposed as therapeutic agents to regulate steroid levels in the brain and testis.

Structural Integrity of the A147T Polymorph of Mammalian TSPO

Ligands of the transmembrane protein TSPO are used for imaging of brain inflammation, but a common polymorphism in TSPO complicates their application to humans. Here we determined the three-dimensional structure and side-chain dynamics of the A147T polymorph of mammalian TSPO in complex with the first-generation ligand PK11195. We show that A147T TSPO is able to retain the same structural and dynamic profile as the wild-type protein and thus binds PK11195 with comparable affinity. Our study is important for the design of more potent diagnostic and therapeutic ligands of TSPO.

Protein structure. Crystal structures of translocator protein (TSPO) and mutant mimic of a human polymorphism

The 18-kilodalton translocator protein (TSPO), proposed to be a key player in cholesterol transport into mitochondria, is highly expressed in steroidogenic tissues, metastatic cancer, and inflammatory and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. TSPO ligands, including benzodiazepine drugs, are implicated in regulating apoptosis and are extensively used in diagnostic imaging. We report crystal structures (at 1.8, 2.4, and 2.5 angstrom resolution) of TSPO from Rhodobacter sphaeroides and a mutant that mimics the human Ala(147)→Thr(147) polymorphism associated with psychiatric disorders and reduced pregnenolone production. Crystals obtained in the lipidic cubic phase reveal the binding site of an endogenous porphyrin ligand and conformational effects of the mutation. The three crystal structures show the same tightly interacting dimer and provide insights into the controversial physiological role of TSPO and how the mutation affects cholesterol binding.

The translocator protein as a potential molecular target for improved treatment efficacy in photodynamic therapy

Since its serendipitous discovery over 30 years ago, the translocator protein (18 kDa) has been demonstrated to play an important role in a multitude of critical biological processes. Although implemented as a novel therapeutic and diagnostic tool for a variety of disease states, its most promising role is as a molecular target for anticancer treatments such as photodynamic therapy (PDT). This review gives an overview of the attempts made by researchers to design porphyrin-based photosensitizers for use as anticancer therapeutics in PDT as well as improved imaging agents for diagnostic purposes. With a better understanding of the structure and function of the translocator protein, the synthesis of porphyrins for use in PDT with optimum binding affinities will become ever more possible.

The 18 kDa translocator protein, microglia and neuroinflammation

The 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), previously known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor, is expressed in the injured brain. It has become known as an imaging marker of "neuroinflammation" indicating active disease, and is best interpreted as a nondiagnostic biomarker and disease staging tool that refers to histopathology rather than disease etiology. The therapeutic potential of TSPO as a drug target is mostly based on the understanding that it is an outer mitochondrial membrane protein required for the translocation of cholesterol, which thus regulates the rate of steroid synthesis. This pivotal role together with the evolutionary conservation of TSPO has underpinned the belief that any loss or mutation of TSPO should be associated with significant physiological deficits or be outright incompatible with life. However, against prediction, full Tspo knockout mice are viable and across their lifespan do not show the phenotype expected if cholesterol transport and steroid synthesis were significantly impaired. Thus, the "translocation" function of TSPO remains to be better substantiated. Here, we discuss the literature before and after the introduction of the new nomenclature for TSPO and review some of the newer findings. In light of the controversy surrounding the function of TSPO, we emphasize the continued importance of identifying compounds with confirmed selectivity and suggest that TSPO expression is analyzed within specific disease contexts rather than merely equated with the reified concept of "neuroinflammation."

Construction and validation of an atomic model for bacterial TSPO from electron microscopy density, evolutionary constraints, and biochemical and biophysical data

The 18 kDa protein TSPO is a highly conserved transmembrane protein found in bacteria, yeast, animals and plants. TSPO is involved in a wide range of physiological functions, among which the transport of several molecules. The atomic structure of monomeric ligand-bound mouse TSPO in detergent has been published recently. A previously published low-resolution structure of Rhodobacter sphaeroides TSPO, obtained from tubular crystals with lipids and observed in cryo-electron microscopy, revealed an oligomeric structure without any ligand. We analyze this electron microscopy density in view of available biochemical and biophysical data, building a matching atomic model for the monomer and then the entire crystal. We compare its intra- and inter-molecular contacts with those predicted by amino acid covariation in TSPO proteins from evolutionary sequence analysis. The arrangement of the five transmembrane helices in a monomer of our model is different from that observed for the mouse TSPO. We analyze possible ligand binding sites for protoporphyrin, for the high-affinity ligand PK 11195, and for cholesterol in TSPO monomers and/or oligomers, and we discuss possible functional implications.

Structure of the mitochondrial translocator protein in complex with a diagnostic ligand

The 18-kilodalton translocator protein TSPO is found in mitochondrial membranes and mediates the import of cholesterol and porphyrins into mitochondria. In line with the role of TSPO in mitochondrial function, TSPO ligands are used for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications in animals and humans. We present the three-dimensional high-resolution structure of mammalian TSPO reconstituted in detergent micelles in complex with its high-affinity ligand PK11195. The TSPO-PK11195 structure is described by a tight bundle of five transmembrane α helices that form a hydrophobic pocket accepting PK11195. Ligand-induced stabilization of the structure of TSPO suggests a molecular mechanism for the stimulation of cholesterol transport into mitochondria.

Investigating the interactions of the 18kDa translocator protein and its ligand PK11195 in planar lipid bilayers

The functional effects of a drug ligand may be due not only to an interaction with its membrane protein target, but also with the surrounding lipid membrane. We have investigated the interaction of a drug ligand, PK11195, with its primary protein target, the integral membrane 18kDa translocator protein (TSPO), and model membranes using Langmuir monolayers, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and neutron reflectometry (NR). We found that PK11195 is incorporated into lipid monolayers and lipid bilayers, causing a decrease in lipid area/molecule and an increase in lipid bilayer rigidity. NR revealed that PK11195 is incorporated into the lipid chain region at a volume fraction of ~10%. We reconstituted isolated mouse TSPO into a lipid bilayer and studied its interaction with PK11195 using QCM-D, which revealed a larger than expected frequency response and indicated a possible conformational change of the protein. NR measurements revealed a TSPO surface coverage of 23% when immobilised to a modified surface via its polyhistidine tag, and a thickness of 51Å for the TSPO layer. These techniques allowed us to probe both the interaction of TSPO with PK11195, and PK11195 with model membranes. It is possible that previously reported TSPO-independent effects of PK11195 are due to incorporation into the lipid bilayer and alteration of its physical properties. There are also implications for the variable binding profiles observed for TSPO ligands, as drug-membrane interactions may contribute to the apparent affinity of TSPO ligands.

Steroid hormone synthesis in mitochondria

Mitochondria are essential sites for steroid hormone biosynthesis. Mitochondria in the steroidogenic cells of the adrenal, gonad, placenta and brain contain the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, P450scc, and its two electron-transfer partners, ferredoxin reductase and ferredoxin. This enzyme system converts cholesterol to pregnenolone and determines net steroidogenic capacity, so that it serves as the chronic regulator of steroidogenesis. Several other steroidogenic enzymes, including 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 11β-hydroxylase and aldosterone synthase also reside in mitochondria. Similarly, the mitochondria of renal tubular cells contain two key enzymes participating in the activation and degradation of vitamin D. The access of cholesterol to the mitochondria is regulated by the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, StAR, serving as the acute regulator of steroidogenesis. StAR action requires a complex multi-component molecular machine on the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). Components of this machine include the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), the voltage-dependent anion chanel (VDAC-1), TSPO-associated protein 7 (PAP7, ACBD3), and protein kinase A regulatory subunit 1α (PKAR1A). The precise fashion in which these proteins interact and move cholesterol from the OMM to P450scc, and the means by which cholesterol is loaded into the OMM, remain unclear. Human deficiency diseases have been described for StAR and for all the mitochondrial steroidogenic enzymes, but not for the electron transfer proteins or for the components of the cholesterol import machine.

Role of mitochondria in steroidogenesis

Adrenal gonadal, placental and brain mitochondria contain several steroidogenic enzymes, notably the cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme, P450scc, which is the enzymatic rate-limiting step in steroidogenesis which determines cellular steroidogenic capacity. Even before this step, the access of cholesterol to this enzyme system is both rate-limiting and the site of acute regulation via the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) which interacts with a complex multi-component 'transduceosome' on the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). The components of the transduceosome include the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC-1), TSPO-associated protein 7 (PAP7, ACBD3 for acyl-CoA-binding-domain 3), and protein kinase A regulatory subunit 1α (PKAR1A). The precise fashion in which these proteins interact and move cholesterol from the OMM to P450scc, and the means by which cholesterol is loaded into the OMM, remain unclear. Human deficiency diseases have been described for StAR and for P450scc. Mitochondria also contain several 'downstream' steroidogenic enzymes.

Translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) as a therapeutic target for anxiety and neurologic disorders

The translocator protein (18 kD) (TSPO) plays a crucial role for the synthesis of neurosteroids by promoting the transport of cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is the rate-limiting step in neurosteroidogenesis. Neurosteroids are allosteric modulators of GABA(A) receptor function, which plays an important role in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. The TSPO ligand XBD173 enhances GABAergic neurotransmission by promoting neurosteroidogenesis without direct effects at the GABA(A) receptor. In humans, XBD173 shows potent antipanic efficacy without sedation and withdrawal after 7 days of treatment. XBD173 therefore appears to be a promising compound for rapid anxiolytic efficacy with a favorable side-effect profile. Furthermore, TSPO ligands show neuroprotective and antiinflammatory effects in experimental models of peripheral neuropathies and traumatic brain injury. These compounds might therefore also be valuable for the treatment of neurologic diseases with inflammation-related pathophysiology.

Mouse TSPO in a lipid environment interacting with a functionalized monolayer

Translocator protein TSPO is a membrane protein highly conserved in evolution which does not belong to any structural known family. TSPO is involved in physiological functions among which transport of molecules such as cholesterol to form steroids and bile salts in mammalian cells. Membrane protein structure determination remains a difficult task and needs concomitant approaches (for instance X-ray- or Electron-crystallography and NMR). Electron microscopy and two-dimensional crystallization under functionalized monolayers have been successfully developed for recombinant tagged proteins. The difficulty comes from the detergent carried by membrane proteins that disrupt the lipid monolayer. We identified the best conditions for injecting the histidine tagged recombinant TSPO in detergent in the subphase and to keep the protein stable. Reconstituted recombinant protein into a lipid bilayer favors its adsorption to functionalized monolayers and limits the disruption of the monolayer by reducing the amount of detergent. Finally, we obtained the first transmission electron microscopy images of recombinant mouse TSPO negatively stained bound to the lipid monolayer after injection into the subphase of pre-reconstituted TSPO in lipids. Image analysis reveals that circular objects could correspond to an association of at least four monomers of mouse TSPO. The different amino acid compositions and the location of the polyhistidine tag between bacterial and mouse TSPO could account for the formation of dimer versus tetramer, respectively. The difference in the loop between the first and second putative transmembrane domain may contribute to distinct monomer interaction, this is supported by differences in ligand binding parameters and biological functions of both proteins.

Molecular imaging of microglia/macrophages in the brain

Neuroinflammation perpetuates neuronal damage in many neurological disorders. Activation of resident microglia and infiltration of monocytes/macrophages contributes to neuronal injury and synaptic damage. Noninvasive imaging of these cells in vivo provides a means to monitor progression of disease as well as assess efficacies of potential therapeutics. This review provides an overview of positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of microglia/macrophages in the brain. We describe the rationale behind PET imaging of microglia/macrophages with ligands that bind to translocator protein-18 kDa (TSPO). We discuss the prototype TSPO radioligand [(11)C]PK11195, its limitations, and the development of newer TSPO ligands as PET imaging agents. PET imaging agents for targets other than TSPO are emerging, and we outline the potential of these agents for imaging brain microglia/macrophage activity in vivo. Finally, we briefly summarize advances in MR imaging of microglia/macrophages using iron oxide nanoparticles and ultra-small super paramagnetic particles that are phagocytosed. Despite many technical advances, more sensitive agents are required to be useful indicators of neuroinflammation in brain.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae porin pore forms complexes with mitochondrial outer membrane proteins Om14p and Om45p

Numerous transport processes occur between the two mitochondrial (mt) membranes due to the diverse functions and metabolic processes of the mt organelle. The metabolite and ion transport through the mt outer membrane (OM) is widely assumed to be mediated by the porin pore, whereas in the mt inner membrane (IM) specific carriers are responsible for transport processes. Here, we provide evidence by means of Blue Native (BN)-PAGE analysis, co-immunoprecipitation, and tandem affinity purification that the two mt OM proteins Om14p and Om45p associate with the porin pore. Porin molecules seem to assemble independently to build the core unit. A subpopulation of these core units interacts with Om14p and Om45p. With preparative tandem affinity purification followed by MS analysis, we could identify interaction partners of this OM complex, which are mainly localized within the mt IM and function as carriers for diverse molecules. We propose a model for the role of the two OM proteins in addressing the porin pore to bind to specific channels in the mt IM to facilitate transport of metabolites.

Translocator protein (18 kDa) as a target for novel anxiolytics with a favourable side-effect profile

Anxiety disorders are frequent and highly disabling diseases with considerable socio-economic impact. In the treatment of anxiety disorders, benzodiazepines (BZDs) as direct modulators of the GABA(A) receptor are used as emergency medication because of their rapid onset of action. However, BZDs act also as sedatives and rather quickly induce tolerance and abuse liability associated with withdrawal symptoms. Antidepressants with anxiolytic properties are also applied as first line long-term treatment of anxiety disorders. However, the onset of action of antidepressants takes several weeks. Obviously, novel pharmacological approaches are needed that combine a rapid anxiolytic efficacy with the lack of tolerance induction, abuse liability and withdrawal symptoms. Neurosteroids are potent allosteric modulators of GABA(A) receptor function. The translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) plays an important role for the synthesis of neurosteroids by promoting the transport of cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is the rate-limiting step in neurosteroidogenesis. Etifoxine not only exerts anxiolytic effects as a TSPO ligand by enhancing neurosteroidogenesis, but also acts as a weak direct GABA(A) receptor enhancer. The TSPO ligand XBD173 enhances GABAergic neurotransmission via the promotion of neurosteroidogenesis without direct effects at the GABA(A) receptor. XBD173 counteracts pharmacologically-induced panic in rodents in the absence of sedation and tolerance development. Also in humans, XBD173 displays antipanic activity and does not cause sedation and withdrawal symptoms after 7 days of treatment. XBD173 therefore appears to be a promising candidate for fast-acting anxiolytic drugs with less severe side-effects than BZDs. In this review, we focus on the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders and TSPO ligands as a novel pharmacological approach in the treatment of these disorders.

Axonal regeneration and neuroinflammation: roles for the translocator protein 18 kDa

After a traumatic injury of the nervous system or in the course of a neurodegenerative disease, the speed of axonal regeneration and the control of the inflammatory response are fundamental parameters of functional recovery. Spontaneous regeneration takes place in the peripheral nervous system, although the process is slow and often incomplete. There is currently no efficient treatment for enhancing axonal regeneration, including elongation speed and functional reinnervation. Ligands of the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) are currently under investigation as therapeutic means for promoting neuroprotection, accelerating axonal regeneration and modulating inflammation. The mechanisms of action of TSPO ligands involve the regulation of mitochondrial activity and the stimulation of steroid biosynthesis. In the peripheral nervous system, TSPO expression is strongly up-regulated after injury, primarily in Schwann cells and macrophages, but also in neurones. Its levels return to low control values when nerve regeneration is completed, strongly supporting an important role in regenerative processes. We have demonstrated a role for the benzoxazine etifoxine in promoting axonal regeneration in the lesioned rat sciatic nerve, either after freeze-injury or complete transection. Etifoxine is already clinically approved for the treatment of anxiety disorders (Stresam(®) , Biocodex, Gentilly, France). Daily treatment with etifoxine resulted in a two-fold acceleration in axonal regeneration, as well as in a marked improvement of both the speed and quality of functional recovery. The neuroregenerative effects of etifoxine are likely to be mediated by TSPO, and they may involve an increased synthesis of pregnenolone and its metabolites, such as progesterone. After freeze-injury of the sciatic nerve, administration of etifoxine also strongly reduced the number of activated macrophages and decreased the production of the inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. Thus, this drug offers promise for the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries and axonal neuropathies. It may also be used as a lead compound in the development of new TSPO-based neuroprotective approaches.

Mitochondrial calcium and its regulation in neurodegeneration induced by oxidative stress

A proposed mechanism of neuronal death associated with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases is the response of neurons to oxidative stress and consequent cytosolic Ca(2+) overload. One hypothesis is that cytosolic Ca(2+) overload leads to mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload and prolonged opening of the permeability transition pore (PTP), resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction. Elimination of cyclophilin D (CyPD), a key regulator of the PTP, results in neuroprotection in a number of murine models of neurodegeneration in which oxidative stress and high cytosolic Ca(2+) have been implicated. However, the effects of oxidative stress on the interplay between cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca(2+) in adult neurons and the role of the CyPD-dependent PTP in these dynamic processes have not been examined. Here, using primary cultured cerebral cortical neurons from adult wild-type (WT) mice and mice missing cyclophilin D (CyPD-KO), we directly assess cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca(2+) , as well as ATP levels, during oxidative stress. Our data demonstrate that during acute oxidative stress mitochondria contribute to neuronal Ca(2+) overload by release of their Ca(2+) stores. This result contrasts with the prevailing view of mitochondria as a buffer of cytosolic Ca(2+) under stress conditions. In addition, we show that CyPD deficiency reverses the release of mitochondrial Ca(2+) , leading to lower of cytosolic Ca(2+) levels, attenuation of the decrease in cytosolic and mitochondrial ATP, and a significantly higher viability of adult CyPD-knockout neurons following exposure of neurons oxidative stress. The study offers a first insight into the mechanism underlying CyPD-dependent neuroprotection during oxidative stress.

Mitochondrial protein import and the genesis of steroidogenic mitochondria

The principal site of regulation of steroid hormone biosynthesis is the transfer of cholesterol from the outer to inner mitochondrial membrane. Hormonal stimulation of steroidogenic cells promotes this mitochondrial lipid import through a multi-protein complex, termed the transduceosome, spanning the two membranes. The transduceosome complex is assembled from multiple proteins, such as the steroidogenic acute regulatory (STAR) protein and translocator protein (TSPO), and requires their targeting to the mitochondria for transduceosome function. The vast majority of mitochondrial proteins, including those participating in cholesterol import, are encoded in the nucleus. Their subsequent mitochondrial incorporation is performed through a series of protein import machineries located in the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes. Here we review our current knowledge of the mitochondrial cholesterol import machinery of the transduceosome. This is complemented with descriptions of mitochondrial protein import machineries and mechanisms by which these machineries assemble the transduceosome in steroidogenic mitochondria.

Activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore modulates Ca2+ responses to physiological stimuli in adult neurons

The participation of mitochondria in cellular and neuronal Ca(2+) homeostatic networks is now well accepted. Yet, critical tests of specific mitochondrial pathways in neuronal Ca(2+) responses have been hampered because the identity of mitochondrial proteins that must be integrated within this dynamic system remain uncertain. One putative pathway for Ca(2+) efflux from mitochondria exists through the formation of the permeability transition pore (PTP) that is often associated with cellular and neuronal death. Here, we have evaluated neuronal Ca(2+) dynamics and the PTP in single adult neurons in wild-type mice and those missing cyclophilin D (CyPD), a key regulator of the PTP. Using high-resolution time-lapse imaging, we demonstrate that PTP opening only follows simultaneous activation with two physiological stimuli that generate critical threshold levels of cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca(2+) . Our results are the first to demonstrate CyPD-dependent PTP opening in normal neuronal Ca(2+) homeostatic mechanisms not leading to activation of cell death pathways. As neurons in mice lacking CyPD are protected in a number of neurodegenerative disease models, the results suggest that improved viability of CyPD-knockout animals in these pathological states may be due to the transient, rather than persistent, activation of the PTP in mutant mitochondria, thereby shielding neurons from cytoplasmic Ca(2+) overload.

Translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) as a therapeutic target for neurological and psychiatric disorders

The translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) is localized primarily in the outer mitochondrial membrane of steroid-synthesizing cells, including those in the central and peripheral nervous system. One of its main functions is the transport of the substrate cholesterol into mitochondria, a prerequisite for steroid synthesis. TSPO expression may constitute a biomarker of brain inflammation and reactive gliosis that could be monitored by using TSPO ligands as neuroimaging agents. Moreover, initial clinical trials have indicated that TSPO ligands might be valuable in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. This Review focuses on the biology and pathophysiology of TSPO and the potential of currently available TSPO ligands for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

A TSPO-related protein localizes to the early secretory pathway in Arabidopsis, but is targeted to mitochondria when expressed in yeast

AtTSPO is a TspO/MBR domain-protein potentially involved in multiple stress regulation in Arabidopsis. As in most angiosperms, AtTSPO is encoded by a single, intronless gene. Expression of AtTSPO is tightly regulated both at the transcriptional and post-translational levels. It has been shown previously that overexpression of AtTSPO in plant cell can be detrimental, and the protein was detected in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi stacks, contrasting with previous findings and suggesting a mitochondrial subcellular localization for this protein. To ascertain these findings, immunocytochemistry and ABA induction were used to demonstrate that, in plant cells, physiological levels of AtTSPO colocalized with AtArf1, a mainly Golgi-localized protein in plant cells. In addition, fluorescent protein-tagged AtTSPO was targeted to the secretory pathway and did not colocalize with MitoTracker-labelled mitochondria. These results suggest that the polytopic membrane protein AtTSPO is cotranslationally targeted to the ER in plant cells and accumulates in the Trans-Golgi Network. Heterologous expression of AtTSPO in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yeast devoid of TSPO-related protein, resulted in growth defects. However, subcellular fractionation and immunoprecipitation experiments showed that AtTSPO was targeted to mitochondria where it colocalized and interacted with the outer mitochondrial membrane porin VDAC1p, reminiscent of the subcellular localization and activity of mammalian translocator protein 18 kDa TSPO. The evolutionarily divergent AtTSPO appears therefore to be switching its sorting mode in a species-dependent manner, an uncommon peculiarity for a polytopic membrane protein in eukaryotic cells. These results are discussed in relation to the recognition and organelle targeting mechanisms of polytopic membrane proteins in eukaryotic cells.

Three-dimensional structure of TspO by electron cryomicroscopy of helical crystals

The 18 kDa TSPO protein is a polytopic mitochondrial outer membrane protein involved in a wide range of physiological functions and pathologies, including neurodegeneration and cancer. The pharmacology of TSPO has been extensively studied, but little is known about its biochemistry, oligomeric state, and structure. We have expressed, purified, and characterized a homologous protein, TspO from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, and reconstituted it as helical crystals. Using electron cryomicroscopy and single-particle helical reconstruction, we have determined a three-dimensional structure of TspO at 10 Å resolution. The structure suggests that monomeric TspO comprises five transmembrane α helices that form a homodimer, which is consistent with the dimeric state observed in detergent solution. Furthermore, the arrangement of transmembrane domains of individual TspO subunits indicates a possibility of two substrate translocation pathways per dimer. The structure provides the first insight into the molecular architecture of TSPO/PBR protein family that will serve as a framework for future studies.

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligand Ro5-4864 inhibits isoprenaline-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats

Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors are ubiquitously expressed in various tissues, including the heart. Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors have been reported to be involved in the protection of cells against oxygen radical damage. The present study was designed to determine whether Ro5-4864 (a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligand) can inhibit isoprenaline-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Male Wistar rats (body weight 150-200g) were administered, isoprenaline (5mg/kg, body weight, subcutaneously) alone or along with Ro5-4864 (0.1 and 0.5mg/kg, body weight, intraperitoneally) once daily for 14days. Control rats received normal saline subcutaneously (1.0ml/kg). Isoprenaline-induced changes in heart weight to body weight ratio, left ventricular wall thickness (M-mode echocardiography and gross morphometry) and myocyte size were significantly prevented by both the doses of Ro5-4864. Ro5-4864 also attenuated isoprenaline-induced increase in interstitial fibrosis, lipid peroxidation and changes in endogenous antioxidants (glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase). Isoprenaline-induced cardiac hypertrophy was associated with increased expression of beta myosin heavy chain, which was also prevented by Ro5-4864. This is the first study to demonstrate a salutary effect of Ro5-4864 in experimental cardiac hypertrophy.

The Arabidopsis TSPO-related protein is a stress and abscisic acid-regulated, endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi-localized membrane protein

The Arabidopsis gene At2g47770 encodes a membrane-bound protein designated AtTSPO (Arabidopsis thaliana TSPO-related). AtTSPO is related to the bacterial outer membrane tryptophan-rich sensory protein (TspO) and the mammalian mitochondrial 18-kDa translocator protein (18 kDa TSPO), members of the group of TspO/MBR domain-containing membrane proteins. In this study we show that AtTSPO is mainly detected in dry seeds, but can be induced in vegetative tissues by osmotic or salt stress or abscisic acid (ABA) treatment, corroborating available transcriptome data. Using subcellular fractionation, immunocytochemistry and fluorescent protein tagging approaches we present evidence that AtTSPO is targeted to the secretory pathway in plants. Induced or constitutively expressed AtTSPO can be detected in the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi stacks of plant cells. AtTSPO tagged with fluorescent protein in transgenic plants (Arabidopsis and tobacco) was mainly detected in the Golgi stacks of leaf epidermal cells. Constitutive expression of AtTSPO resulted in increased sensitivity to NaCl, but not to osmotic stress, and in reduced greening of cultured Arabidopsis cells under light growing conditions. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing AtTSPO were more sensitive to ABA-induced growth inhibition, indicating that constitutive expression of AtTSPO may enhance ABA sensitivity. AtTSPO is rapidly downregulated during seed imbibition, and the ABA-dependent induction in plant is transient. Downregulation of AtTSPO seems to be boosted by treatment with aminolevulinic acid. Taken together, these results suggest that AtTSPO is a highly regulated protein, induced by abiotic stress to modulate, at least in part, transient intracellular ABA-dependent stress perception and/or signalling.

Translocator protein (18 kDa) is involved in primitive erythropoiesis in zebrafish

The translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO), also known as peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor, is directly or indirectly associated with many biological processes. Although extensively characterized, the specific function of TSPO during development remains unclear. It has been reported that TSPO is involved in a variety of mechanisms, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, regulation of mitochondrial functions, cholesterol transport and steroidogenesis, and porphyrin transport and heme synthesis. Although the literature has reported a murine knockout model, the experiment did not generate information because of early lethality. We then used the zebrafish model to address the function of tspo during development. Information about spatiotemporal expression showed that tspo has a maternal and a zygotic contribution which, during somatogenesis, seems to be erythroid restricted to the intermediate cell mass. Genetic and pharmacological approaches used to invalidate Tspo function resulted in embryos with specific erythropoietic cell depletion. Although unexpected, this lack of blood cells is independent of the Tspo cholesterol binding site and reveals a new in vivo key role for Tspo during erythropoiesis.

Bacterial ortholog of mammalian translocator protein (TSPO) with virulence regulating activity

The translocator protein (TSPO), previously designated as peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor, is a protein mainly located in the outer mitochondrial membrane of eukaryotic cells. TSPO is implicated in major physiological functions and functionally associated with other proteins such as the voltage-dependent anionic channel, also designated as mitochondrial porin. Surprisingly, a TSPO-related protein was identified in the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides but it was initially considered as a relict of evolution. In the present study we cloned a tspO gene in Pseudomonas fluorescens MF37, a non-photosynthetic eubacterium and we used bioinformatics tools to identify TSPO in the genome of 97 other bacteria. P. fluorescens TSPO was recognized by antibodies against mouse protein and by PK 11195, an artificial ligand of mitochondrial TSPO. As in eukaryotes, bacterial TSPO appears functionally organized as a dimer and the apparent Kd for PK 11195 is in the same range than for its eukaryotic counterpart. When P. fluorescens MF37 was treated with PK 11195 (10(-5) M) adhesion to living or artificial surfaces and biofilm formation activity were increased. Conversely, the apoptotic potential of bacteria on eukaryotic cells was significantly reduced. This effect of PK11195 was abolished in a mutant of P. fluorescens MF37 deficient for its major outer membrane porin, OprF. The present results demonstrate the existence of a bacterial TSPO that shares common structural and functional characteristics with its mammalian counterpart. This protein, apparently involved in adhesion and virulence, reveals the existence of a possible new inter kingdom signalling system and suggests that the human microbiome should be involuntarily exposed to the evolutionary pressure of benzodiazepines and related molecules. This discovery also represents a promising opportunity for the development of alternative antibacterial strategies.

Changes in biomechanical parameters during heart perfusion and after midazolam pre-medication--experimental pilot study

BACKGROUND

Midazolam is a frequently used benzodiazepine in anaesthesiology and intensive care.

AIM

The aim of pilot study was to monitor its effect during heart perfusion in the laboratory rat.

METHODS

The same groups of animals (n = 10). The 1(st) group was treated with midazolam in a dose of 0.5mg/kg i.p. The 2(nd) group was a placebo. After i.p. administration of heparine injection of 500 IU dose, the hearts were excised and perfused (modified Langendorf's method). Working schedule: stabilization/ischaemia/reperfusion proceed at intervals of 20/30/60 min. Monitored parameters in isolated heart: left ventricle pressure (LVP), end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), contractility (+dP/dt(max)).

RESULTS

The treated hearts showed improved postischemic recovery, reaching LVP values of 92 +/- 6 % at the end of the reperfusion, placebo only 61 +/- 7 %. In placebo hearts LVEDP rose from 10.0 +/- 0.5 mmHg to 43 +/- 4 mmHg after, in treated animals only about 25 mmHg. The treated hearts improved +dP/dt(max) recovery during reperfusion to 91 +/- 8 %. These values were significantly greater than those obtained from the placebo hearts.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive changes in monitored parameters were found in this experimental pilot study. We conclude that the administration of midazolam in laboratory rats has a cardioprotective potential against ischemia-reperfusion induced injury.

Biogenesis of mitochondrial outer membrane proteins

Mitochondria are surrounded by two distinct membranes: the outer and the inner membrane. The mitochondrial outer membrane mediates numerous interactions between the mitochondrial metabolic and genetic systems and the rest of the eukaryotic cell. Proteins of this membrane are nuclear-encoded and synthesized as precursor proteins in the cytosol. They are targeted to the mitochondria and inserted into their target membrane via various pathways. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the sorting signals for this specific targeting and describes the mechanisms by which the mitochondrial import machineries recognize precursor proteins, mediate their membrane integration and facilitate assembly into functional complexes.

Secondary and tertiary structures of the transmembrane domains of the translocator protein TSPO determined by NMR. Stabilization of the TSPO tertiary fold upon ligand binding

Numerous biological functions are attributed to the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) recently renamed translocator protein (TSPO). The best characterized function is the translocation of cholesterol from the outer to inner mitochondrial membrane, which is a rate-determining step in steroid biosynthesis. TSPO drug ligands have been shown to stimulate pregnenolone formation by inducing TSPO-mediated translocation of cholesterol. Until recently, no direct structural data on this membrane protein was available. In a previous paper, we showed that a part of the mouse TSPO (mTSPO) C-terminal region adopts a helical conformation, the side-chain distribution of which provides a groove able to fit a cholesterol molecule. We report here on the overall structural properties of mTSPO. This study was first undertaken by dissecting the protein sequence and studying the conformation of five peptides encompassing the five putative transmembrane domains from (1)H-NMR data. The secondary structure of the recombinant protein in micelles was then studied using CD spectroscopy. In parallel, the stability of its tertiary fold was probed using (1)H-(15)N NMR. This study provides the first experimental evidence for a five-helix fold of mTSPO and shows that the helical conformation of each transmembrane domain is mainly formed through local short-range interactions. Our data show that, in micelles, mTSPO exhibits helix content close to what is expected but an unstable tertiary fold. They reveal that the binding of a drug ligand that stimulates cholesterol translocation is able to stabilize the mTSPO tertiary structure.

Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO): molecular sensor of brain injury and repair

For over 15 years, the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), recently named translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) has been studied as a biomarker of reactive gliosis and inflammation associated with a variety of neuropathological conditions. Early studies documented that in the brain parenchyma, TSPO is exclusively localized in glial cells. Under normal physiological conditions, TSPO levels are low in the brain neuropil but they markedly increase at sites of brain injury and inflammation making it uniquely suited for assessing active gliosis. This research has generated significant efforts from multiple research groups throughout the world to apply TSPO as a marker of "active" brain pathology using in vivo imaging modalities such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in experimental animals and humans. Further, in the last few years, there has been an increased interest in understanding the molecular and cellular function(s) of TSPO in glial cells. The latest evidence suggests that TSPO may not only serve as a biomarker of active brain disease but also the use of TSPO-specific ligands may have therapeutic implications in brain injury and repair. This review presents an overview of the history and function of TSPO focusing on studies related to its use as a sensor of active brain disease in experimental animals and in human studies.

A novel insertion pathway of mitochondrial outer membrane proteins with multiple transmembrane segments

The central channel Tom40 of the preprotein translocase of outer membrane (TOM) complex is thought to be responsible for the import of virtually all preproteins synthesized outside the mitochondria. In this study, we analyze the topogenesis of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), which integrates into the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) through five hydrophobic transmembrane segments (TMSs) and functions in cholesterol import into the inner membrane. Analyses of in vitro and in vivo import into TOM component–depleted mitochondria reveal that PBR import (1) depends on the import receptor Tom70 but requires neither the Tom20 and Tom22 import receptors nor the import channel Tom40, (2) shares the post-Tom70 pathway with the C-tail–anchored proteins, and (3) requires factors of the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Furthermore, membrane integration of mitofusins and mitochondrial ubiquitin ligase, the MOM proteins with two and four TMSs, respectively, proceeds through the same initial pathway. These findings reveal a previously unidentified pathway of the membrane integration of MOM proteins with multiple TMSs.