The conserved third transmembrane segment of YidC contacts nascent Escherichia coli inner membrane proteins

Deciphering the Interdomain Coupling in a Gram-Negative Bacterial Membrane Insertase

YidC is a membrane protein that plays an important role in inserting newly generated proteins into lipid membranes. The Sec-dependent complex is responsible for inserting proteins into the lipid bilayer in bacteria. YidC facilitates the insertion and folding of membrane proteins, both in conjunction with the Sec complex and independently. Additionally, YidC acts as a chaperone during the folding of proteins. Multiple investigations have conclusively shown that Gram-positive bacterial YidC has Sec-independent insertion mechanisms. Through the use of microsecond-level all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we have carried out an in-depth investigation of the YidC protein originating from Gram-negative bacteria. This research sheds light on the significance of multiple domains of the YidC structure at a detailed molecular level by utilizing equilibrium MD simulations. Specifically, multiple models of YidC embedded in the lipid bilayer were constructed to characterize the critical role of the C2 loop and the periplasmic domain (PD) present in Gram-negative YidC, which is absent in its Gram-positive counterpart. Based on our results, the C2 loop plays a role in the overall stabilization of the protein, most notably in the transmembrane (TM) region, and it also has an allosteric influence on the PD region. We have found critical inter- and intradomain interactions that contribute to the stability of the protein and its function. Finally, our study provides a hypothetical Sec-independent insertion mechanism for Gram-negative bacterial YidC.

YidC as a potential antibiotic target

The membrane insertase YidC, is an essential bacterial component and functions in the folding and insertion of many membrane proteins during their biogenesis. It is a multispanning protein in the inner (cytoplasmic) membrane of Escherichia coli that binds its substrates in the "greasy slide" through hydrophobic interaction. The hydrophilic part of the substrate transiently localizes in the groove of YidC before it is translocated into the periplasm. The groove, which is flanked by the greasy slide, is within the center of the membrane, and provides a promising target for inhibitors that would block the insertase function of YidC. In addition, since the greasy slide is available for the binding of various substrates, it could also provide a binding site for inhibitory molecules. In this review we discuss in detail the structure and the mechanism of how YidC interacts not only with its substrates, but also with its partner proteins, the SecYEG translocase and the SRP signal recognition particle. Insight into the substrate binding to the YidC catalytic groove is presented. We wind up the review with the idea that the hydrophilic groove would be a potential site for drug binding and the feasibility of YidC-targeted drug development.

An investigation of the YidC-mediated membrane insertion of Pf3 coat protein using molecular dynamics simulations

YidC is a membrane protein that facilitates the insertion of newly synthesized proteins into lipid membranes. Through YidC, proteins are inserted into the lipid bilayer via the SecYEG-dependent complex. Additionally, YidC functions as a chaperone in protein folding processes. Several studies have provided evidence of its independent insertion mechanism. However, the mechanistic details of the YidC SecY-independent protein insertion mechanism remain elusive at the molecular level. This study elucidates the insertion mechanism of YidC at an atomic level through a combination of equilibrium and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Different docking models of YidC-Pf3 in the lipid bilayer were built in this study to better understand the insertion mechanism. To conduct a complete investigation of the conformational difference between the two docking models developed, we used classical molecular dynamics simulations supplemented with a non-equilibrium technique. Our findings indicate that the YidC transmembrane (TM) groove is essential for this high-affinity interaction and that the hydrophilic nature of the YidC groove plays an important role in protein transport across the cytoplasmic membrane bilayer to the periplasmic side. At different stages of the insertion process, conformational changes in YidC's TM domain and membrane core have a mechanistic effect on the Pf3 coat protein. Furthermore, during the insertion phase, the hydration and dehydration of the YidC's hydrophilic groove are critical. These results demonstrate that Pf3 coat protein interactions with the membrane and YidC vary in different conformational states during the insertion process. Finally, this extensive study directly confirms that YidC functions as an independent insertase.

Bacterial Signal Peptides- Navigating the Journey of Proteins

In 1971, Blobel proposed the first statement of the Signal Hypothesis which suggested that proteins have amino-terminal sequences that dictate their export and localization in the cell. A cytosolic binding factor was predicted, and later the protein conducting channel was discovered that was proposed in 1975 to align with the large ribosomal tunnel. The 1975 Signal Hypothesis also predicted that proteins targeted to different intracellular membranes would possess distinct signals and integral membrane proteins contained uncleaved signal sequences which initiate translocation of the polypeptide chain. This review summarizes the central role that the signal peptides play as address codes for proteins, their decisive role as targeting factors for delivery to the membrane and their function to activate the translocation machinery for export and membrane protein insertion. After shedding light on the navigation of proteins, the importance of removal of signal peptide and their degradation are addressed. Furthermore, the emerging work on signal peptidases as novel targets for antibiotic development is described.

Monitoring the binding and insertion of a single transmembrane protein by an insertase

Cells employ highly conserved families of insertases and translocases to insert and fold proteins into membranes. How insertases insert and fold membrane proteins is not fully known. To investigate how the bacterial insertase YidC facilitates this process, we here combine single-molecule force spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy approaches, and molecular dynamics simulations. We observe that within 2 ms, the cytoplasmic α-helical hairpin of YidC binds the polypeptide of the membrane protein Pf3 at high conformational variability and kinetic stability. Within 52 ms, YidC strengthens its binding to the substrate and uses the cytoplasmic α-helical hairpin domain and hydrophilic groove to transfer Pf3 to the membrane-inserted, folded state. In this inserted state, Pf3 exposes low conformational variability such as typical for transmembrane α-helical proteins. The presence of YidC homologues in all domains of life gives our mechanistic insight into insertase-mediated membrane protein binding and insertion general relevance for membrane protein biogenesis.

Structural and molecular mechanisms for membrane protein biogenesis by the Oxa1 superfamily

Members of the Oxa1 superfamily perform membrane protein insertion in bacteria, the eukaryotic endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and endosymbiotic organelles. Here, we review recent structures of the three ER-resident insertases and discuss the extent to which structure and function are conserved with their bacterial counterpart YidC.

A Celecoxib Derivative Eradicates Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Biofilms by Targeting YidC2 Translocase

The treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections is impeded by the prevalence of MRSA and the formation of persisters and biofilms. Previously, we identified two celecoxib derivatives, Cpd36 and Cpd46, to eradicate MRSA and other staphylococci. Through whole-genome resequencing, we obtained several lines of evidence that these compounds might act by targeting the membrane protein translocase YidC2. Our data showed that ectopic expression of YidC2 in S. aureus decreased the bacterial susceptibility to Cpd36 and Cpd46, and that the YidC2-mediated tolerance to environmental stresses was suppressed by both compounds. Moreover, the membrane translocation of ATP synthase subunit c, a substrate of YidC2, was blocked by Cpd46, leading to a reduction in bacterial ATP production. Furthermore, we found that the thermal stability of bacterial YidC2 was enhanced, and introducing point mutations into the substrate-interacting cavity of YidC2 had a dramatic effect on Cpd36 binding via surface plasmon resonance assays. Finally, we demonstrated that these YidC2 inhibitors could effectively eradicate MRSA persisters and biofilms. Our findings highlight the potential of impeding YidC2-mediated translocation of membrane proteins as a new strategy for the treatment of bacterial infections.

Polarity/charge as a determinant of translocase requirements for membrane protein insertion

The YidC insertase of Escherichia coli inserts membrane proteins with small periplasmic loops (~20 residues). However, it has difficulty transporting loops that contain positively charged residues compared to negatively charged residues and, as a result, increasing the positive charge has an increased requirement for the Sec machinery as compared to negatively charged loops (Zhu et al., 2013; Soman et al., 2014). This suggested that the polarity and charge of the periplasmic regions of membrane proteins determine the YidC and Sec translocase requirements for insertion. Here we tested this polarity/charge hypothesis by showing that insertion of our model substrate protein procoat-Lep can become YidC/Sec dependent when the periplasmic loop was converted to highly polar even in the absence of any charged residues. Moreover, adding a number of hydrophobic amino acids to a highly polar loop can decrease the Sec-dependence of the otherwise strictly Sec-dependent membrane proteins. We also demonstrate that the length of the procoat-Lep loop is indeed a determinant for Sec-dependence by inserting alanine residues that do not markedly change the overall hydrophilicity of the periplasmic loop. Taken together, the results support the polarity/charge hypothesis as a determinant for the translocase requirement for procoat insertion.

An ER translocon for multi-pass membrane protein biogenesis

Membrane proteins with multiple transmembrane domains play critical roles in cell physiology, but little is known about the machinery coordinating their biogenesis at the endoplasmic reticulum. Here we describe a ~ 360 kDa ribosome-associated complex comprising the core Sec61 channel and five accessory factors: TMCO1, CCDC47 and the Nicalin-TMEM147-NOMO complex. Cryo-electron microscopy reveals a large assembly at the ribosome exit tunnel organized around a central membrane cavity. Similar to protein-conducting channels that facilitate movement of transmembrane segments, cytosolic and luminal funnels in TMCO1 and TMEM147, respectively, suggest routes into the central membrane cavity. High-throughput mRNA sequencing shows selective translocon engagement with hundreds of different multi-pass membrane proteins. Consistent with a role in multi-pass membrane protein biogenesis, cells lacking different accessory components show reduced levels of one such client, the glutamate transporter EAAT1. These results identify a new human translocon and provide a molecular framework for understanding its role in multi-pass membrane protein biogenesis.

The architecture of EMC reveals a path for membrane protein insertion

Approximately 25% of eukaryotic genes code for integral membrane proteins that are assembled at the endoplasmic reticulum. An abundant and widely conserved multi-protein complex termed EMC has been implicated in membrane protein biogenesis, but its mechanism of action is poorly understood. Here, we define the composition and architecture of human EMC using biochemical assays, crystallography of individual subunits, site-specific photocrosslinking, and cryo-EM reconstruction. Our results suggest that EMC's cytosolic domain contains a large, moderately hydrophobic vestibule that can bind a substrate's transmembrane domain (TMD). The cytosolic vestibule leads into a lumenally-sealed, lipid-exposed intramembrane groove large enough to accommodate a single substrate TMD. A gap between the cytosolic vestibule and intramembrane groove provides a potential path for substrate egress from EMC. These findings suggest how EMC facilitates energy-independent membrane insertion of TMDs, explain why only short lumenal domains are translocated by EMC, and constrain models of EMC's proposed chaperone function.

Structural Basis of the Sec Translocon and YidC Revealed Through X-ray Crystallography

Protein translocation and membrane integration are fundamental, conserved processes. After or during ribosomal protein synthesis, precursor proteins containing an N-terminal signal sequence are directed to a conserved membrane protein complex called the Sec translocon (also known as the Sec translocase) in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane in eukaryotic cells, or the cytoplasmic membrane in bacteria. The Sec translocon comprises the Sec61 complex in eukaryotic cells, or the SecY complex in bacteria, and mediates translocation of substrate proteins across/into the membrane. Several membrane proteins are associated with the Sec translocon. In Escherichia coli, the membrane protein YidC functions not only as a chaperone for membrane protein biogenesis along with the Sec translocon, but also as an independent membrane protein insertase. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying these dynamic processes at the membrane, high-resolution structural models of these proteins are needed. This review focuses on X-ray crystallographic analyses of the Sec translocon and YidC and discusses the structural basis for protein translocation and integration.

Crosslinking and Reconstitution Approaches to Study Protein Transport

To identify the translocation components in cells, and to understand how they function in protein transport and membrane insertion, a variety of techniques have been used such as genetics, biochemistry, structural biology and single molecule methods. In particular, site-directed crosslinking between the client proteins and components of the translocation machineries have contributed significantly in the past and will do so in the future. One advantage of this technology is that it can be applied in vivo as well as in vitro and a comparison of the two approaches can be made. Also, the in vivo techniques allow time-dependent protocols which are essential for studying cellular pathways. Protein purification and reconstitution into proteoliposomes are the gold standard for studying membrane-based transport and translocation systems. With these biochemically defined approaches the function of each component in protein transport can be addressed individually with a plethora of biophysical techniques. Recently, the use of nanodiscs for reconstitution has added another extension of this reductionistic approach. Fluorescence based studies, cryo-microscopy and NMR spectroscopy have significantly added to our understanding how proteins move into and across membranes and will do this also in future.

Structural Dynamics of the YidC:Ribosome Complex during Membrane Protein Biogenesis

Members of the YidC/Oxa1/Alb3 family universally facilitate membrane protein biogenesis, via mechanisms that have thus far remained unclear. Here, we investigated two crucial functional aspects: the interaction of YidC with ribosome:nascent chain complexes (RNCs) and the structural dynamics of RNC-bound YidC in nanodiscs. We observed that a fully exposed nascent transmembrane domain (TMD) is required for high-affinity YidC:RNC interactions, while weaker binding may already occur at earlier stages of translation. YidC efficiently catalyzed the membrane insertion of nascent TMDs in both fluid and gel phase membranes. Cryo-electron microscopy and fluorescence analysis revealed a conformational change in YidC upon nascent chain insertion: the essential TMDs 2 and 3 of YidC were tilted, while the amphipathic helix EH1 relocated into the hydrophobic core of the membrane. We suggest that EH1 serves as a mechanical lever, facilitating a coordinated movement of YidC TMDs to trigger the release of nascent chains into the membrane.

YidC Insertase of Escherichia coli: Water Accessibility and Membrane Shaping

The YidC/Oxa1/Alb3 family of membrane proteins function to insert proteins into membranes in bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. Recent X-ray structures of YidC from Bacillus halodurans and Escherichia coli revealed a hydrophilic groove that is accessible from the lipid bilayer and the cytoplasm. Here, we explore the water accessibility within the conserved core region of the E. coli YidC using in vivo cysteine alkylation scanning and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of YidC in POPE/POPG membranes. As expected from the structure, YidC possesses an aqueous membrane cavity localized to the membrane inner leaflet. Both the scanning data and the MD simulations show that the lipid-exposed transmembrane helices 3, 4, and 5 are short, leading to membrane thinning around YidC. Close examination of the MD data reveals previously unrecognized structural features that are likely important for protein stability and function.

Targeting and Insertion of Membrane Proteins

The insertion and assembly of proteins into the inner membrane of bacteria are crucial for many cellular processes, including cellular respiration, signal transduction, and ion and pH homeostasis. This process requires efficient membrane targeting and insertion of proteins into the lipid bilayer in their correct orientation and proper conformation. Playing center stage in these events are the targeting components, signal recognition particle (SRP) and the SRP receptor FtsY, as well as the insertion components, the Sec translocon and the YidC insertase. Here, we will discuss new insights provided from the recent high-resolution structures of these proteins. In addition, we will review the mechanism by which a variety of proteins with different topologies are inserted into the inner membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Finally, we report on the energetics of this process and provide information on how membrane insertion occurs in Gram-positive bacteria and Archaea. It should be noted that most of what we know about membrane protein assembly in bacteria is based on studies conducted in Escherichia coli.

A YidC-like Protein in the Archaeal Plasma Membrane

Cells possess specialized machinery to direct the insertion of membrane proteins into the lipid bilayer. In bacteria, the essential protein YidC inserts certain proteins into the plasma membrane, and eukaryotic orthologs are present in the mitochondrial inner membrane and the chloroplast thylakoid membrane. The existence of homologous insertases in archaea has been proposed based on phylogenetic analysis. However, limited sequence identity, distinct architecture, and the absence of experimental data have made this assignment ambiguous. Here we describe the 3.5-Å crystal structure of an archaeal DUF106 protein from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (Mj0480), revealing a lipid-exposed hydrophilic surface presented by a conserved YidC-like fold. Functional analysis reveals selective binding of Mj0480 to ribosomes displaying a stalled YidC substrate, and a direct interaction between the buried hydrophilic surface of Mj0480 and the nascent chain. These data provide direct experimental evidence that the archaeal DUF106 proteins are YidC/Oxa1/Alb3-like insertases of the archaeal plasma membrane.

YidC/Alb3/Oxa1 Family of Insertases

The YidC/Alb3/Oxa1 family functions in the insertion and folding of proteins in the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, the chloroplast thylakoid membrane, and the mitochondrial inner membrane. All members share a conserved region composed of five transmembrane regions. These proteins mediate membrane insertion of an assorted group of proteins, ranging from respiratory subunits in the mitochondria and light-harvesting chlorophyll-binding proteins in chloroplasts to ATP synthase subunits in bacteria. This review discusses the YidC/Alb3/Oxa1 protein family as well as their function in membrane insertion and two new structures of the bacterial YidC, which suggest a mechanism for membrane insertion by this family of insertases.

Crystal structure of Escherichia coli YidC, a membrane protein chaperone and insertase

Bacterial YidC, an evolutionally conserved membrane protein, functions as a membrane protein chaperone in cooperation with the Sec translocon and as an independent insertase for membrane proteins. In Gram-negative bacteria, the transmembrane and periplasmic regions of YidC interact with the Sec proteins, forming a multi-protein complex for Sec-dependent membrane protein integration. Here, we report the crystal structure of full-length Escherichia coli YidC. The structure reveals that a hydrophilic groove, formed by five transmembrane helices, is a conserved structural feature of YidC, as compared to the previous YidC structure from Bacillus halodurans, which lacks a periplasmic domain. Structural mapping of the substrate- or Sec protein-contact sites suggested the importance of the groove for the YidC functions as a chaperone and an insertase, and provided structural insight into the multi-protein complex.

A structural model of the active ribosome-bound membrane protein insertase YidC

The integration of most membrane proteins into the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria occurs co-translationally. The universally conserved YidC protein mediates this process either individually as a membrane protein insertase, or in concert with the SecY complex. Here, we present a structural model of YidC based on evolutionary co-variation analysis, lipid-versus-protein-exposure and molecular dynamics simulations. The model suggests a distinctive arrangement of the conserved five transmembrane domains and a helical hairpin between transmembrane segment 2 (TM2) and TM3 on the cytoplasmic membrane surface. The model was used for docking into a cryo-electron microscopy reconstruction of a translating YidC-ribosome complex carrying the YidC substrate FOc. This structure reveals how a single copy of YidC interacts with the ribosome at the ribosomal tunnel exit and identifies a site for membrane protein insertion at the YidC protein-lipid interface. Together, these data suggest a mechanism for the co-translational mode of YidC-mediated membrane protein insertion.

Defining the region of Bacillus subtilis SpoIIIJ that is essential for its sporulation-specific function

Proteins of the YidC/OxaI/Alb3 family play a crucial role in the insertion, folding, and/or assembly of membrane proteins in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Bacillus subtilis has two YidC-like proteins, denoted SpoIIIJ and YqjG. SpoIIIJ and YqjG are largely exchangeable in function, but SpoIIIJ has a unique role in sporulation, while YqjG stimulates competence development. To obtain more insight into the regions important for the sporulation specificity of SpoIIIJ, a series of SpoIIIJ/YqjG chimeras was constructed. These chimeras were tested for functionality during vegetative growth and for their ability to complement the sporulation defect of a spoIIIJ deletion strain. The data suggest an important role for the domain comprising transmembrane segment 2 (TMS2) and its flanking loops in sporulation specificity, with lesser contributions to specificity by TMS1 and TMS3.

The membrane insertase YidC

The membrane insertases YidC-Oxa1-Alb3 provide a simple cellular system that catalyzes the transmembrane topology of newly synthesized membrane proteins. The insertases are composed of a single protein with 5 to 6 transmembrane (TM) helices that contact hydrophobic segments of the substrate proteins. Since YidC also cooperates with the Sec translocase it is widely involved in the assembly of many different membrane proteins including proteins that obtain complex membrane topologies. Homologues found in mitochondria (Oxa1) and thylakoids (Alb3) point to a common evolutionary origin and also demonstrate the general importance of this cellular process. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein trafficking and secretion in bacteria. Guest Editors: Anastassios Economou and Ross Dalbey.

Dynamic disulfide scanning of the membrane-inserting Pf3 coat protein reveals multiple YidC substrate contacts

The membrane insertase YidC inserts newly synthesized proteins into the plasma membrane. While defects in YidC homologs in animals and plants cause diseases, YidC in bacteria is essential for life. Membrane insertion and assembly of ATP synthase and respiratory complexes is catalyzed by YidC. To investigate how YidC interacts with membrane-inserting proteins, we generated single cysteine mutants in YidC and in the model substrate Pf3 coat protein. The single cysteine mutants were expressed and analyzed for disulfide formation during 30 s of synthesis. The results show that the substrate contacts different YidC residues in four of the six transmembrane regions. The residues are located either in the region of the inner leaflet, in the center, as well as in the periplasmic leaflet, consistent with the hypothesis that YidC presents a hydrophobic platform for inserting membrane proteins. In a YidC mutant where most of the contacting residues were mutated to serines, YidC function was severely disturbed and no longer active in a complementation test, suggesting that the residues are important for function. In addition, a Pf3 mutant with a defect in membrane insertion was deficient to contact the periplasmic residues of YidC.

Role for Escherichia coli YidD in membrane protein insertion

YidC has an essential but poorly defined function in membrane protein insertion and folding in bacteria. The yidC gene is located in a gene cluster that is highly conserved in Gram-negative bacteria, the gene order being rpmH, rnpA, yidD, yidC, and trmE. Here, we show that Escherichia coli yidD, which overlaps with rnpA and is only 2 bp upstream of yidC, is expressed and localizes to the inner membrane, probably through an amphipathic helix. Inactivation of yidD had no discernible effect on cell growth and viability. However, compared to control cells, ΔyidD cells were affected in the insertion and processing of three YidC-dependent inner membrane proteins. Furthermore, in vitro cross-linking showed that YidD is in proximity of a nascent inner membrane protein during its localization in the Sec-YidC translocon, suggesting that YidD might be involved in the insertion process.

Evolution of YidC/Oxa1/Alb3 insertases: three independent gene duplications followed by functional specialization in bacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts

Members of the YidC/Oxa1/Alb3 protein family facilitate the insertion, folding and assembly of proteins of the inner membranes of bacteria and mitochondria and the thylakoid membrane of plastids. All homologs share a conserved hydrophobic core region comprising five transmembrane domains. On the basis of phylogenetic analyses, six subgroups of the family can be distinguished which presumably arose from three independent gene duplications followed by functional specialization. During evolution of bacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts, subgroup-specific regions were added to the core domain to facilitate the association with ribosomes or other components contributing to the substrate spectrum of YidC/Oxa1/Alb3 proteins.

Inserting membrane proteins: the YidC/Oxa1/Alb3 machinery in bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts

The evolutionarily conserved YidC/Oxa1p/Alb3 family of proteins plays important roles in the membrane biogenesis in bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. The members in this family function as novel membrane protein insertases, chaperones, and assembly factors for transmembrane proteins, including energy transduction complexes localized in the bacterial and mitochondrial inner membrane, and in the chloroplast thylakoid membrane. In this review, we will present recent progress with this class of proteins in membrane protein biogenesis and discuss the structure/function relationships. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Protein translocation across or insertion into membranes.

Biogenesis of bacterial inner-membrane proteins

All cells must traffic proteins into and across their membranes. In bacteria, several pathways have evolved to enable protein transfer across the inner membrane, the periplasm, and the outer membrane. The major route of protein translocation in and across the cytoplasmic membrane is the general secretion pathway (Sec-pathway). The biogenesis of membrane proteins not only requires protein translocation but also coordinated targeting to the membrane beforehand and folding and assembly into their protein complexes afterwards to function properly in the cell. All these processes are responsible for the biogenesis of membrane proteins that mediate essential functions of the cell such as selective transport, energy conversion, cell division, extracellular signal sensing, and motility. This review will highlight the most recent developments on the structure and function of bacterial membrane proteins, focusing on the journey that integral membrane proteins take to find their final destination in the inner membrane.

Protein transport across and into cell membranes in bacteria and archaea

In the three domains of life, the Sec, YidC/Oxa1, and Tat translocases play important roles in protein translocation across membranes and membrane protein insertion. While extensive studies have been performed on the endoplasmic reticular and Escherichia coli systems, far fewer studies have been done on archaea, other Gram-negative bacteria, and Gram-positive bacteria. Interestingly, work carried out to date has shown that there are differences in the protein transport systems in terms of the number of translocase components and, in some cases, the translocation mechanisms and energy sources that drive translocation. In this review, we will describe the different systems employed to translocate and insert proteins across or into the cytoplasmic membrane of archaea and bacteria.

A mutational analysis reveals new functional interactions between domains of the Oxa1 protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Oxa1/YidC/Alb3 family plays a key role in the biogenesis of the respiratory and photosynthetic complexes in bacteria and organelles. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Oxa1 mediates the co-translational insertion of mitochondrially encoded subunits of the three respiratory complexes III, IV and V within the inner membrane and also controls a late step in complex V assembly. No crystal structure of YidC or Oxa1 is available and little is known about the respective role of each transmembrane segment (TM) and hydrophilic loop of this polytopic protein on the biogenesis of the three complexes. Here, we have generated a collection of random point mutations located in the hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains of the protein and characterized their effects on the assembly of the three respiratory complexes. Our results show mutant-dependent differential effects, particularly on complex V. In order to identify tertiary interactions within Oxa1, we have also isolated revertants carrying second-site compensatory mutations able to restore respiration. This analysis reveals the existence of functional interactions between TM2 and TM5, TM4 and TM5 as well as between TM4 and loop 2, highlighting the key position of TM4 and TM5 in the Oxa1 protein.

Conserved negative charges in the transmembrane segments of subunit K of the NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase determine its dependence on YidC for membrane insertion

All members of the Oxa1/Alb3/YidC family have been implicated in the biogenesis of respiratory and energy transducing proteins. In Escherichia coli, YidC functions together with and independently of the Sec system. Although the range of proteins shown to be dependent on YidC continues to increase, the exact role of YidC in insertion remains enigmatic. Here we show that YidC is essential for the insertion of subunit K of the NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase and that the dependence is due to the presence of two conserved glutamate residues in the transmembrane segments of subunit K. The results suggest a model in which YidC serves as a membrane chaperone for the insertion of the less hydrophobic, negatively charged transmembrane segments of NuoK.

From the Sec complex to the membrane insertase YidC

The key enzymes that catalyze the insertion of proteins into membranes are the Sec translocase and the YidC membrane insertase. Recent insights into the structure and functional intermediates of these enzymes have provided a first molecular glimpse of how they help the newly synthesized proteins to enter the membrane bilayer. In this process, the new proteins undergo a number of specific interactions in the cytoplasm and at the membrane surface before they insert into the bilayer and translocate their external domains across the membrane. The components involved in this pathway recognize each other at the molecular level, forming a route the membrane protein can move along.

YidC and Oxa1 form dimeric insertion pores on the translating ribosome

The YidC/Oxa1/Alb3 family of membrane proteins facilitates the insertion and assembly of membrane proteins in bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. Here we present the structures of both Escherichia coli YidC and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Oxa1 bound to E. coli ribosome nascent chain complexes determined by cryo-electron microscopy. Dimers of YidC and Oxa1 are localized above the exit of the ribosomal tunnel. Crosslinking experiments show that the ribosome specifically stabilizes the dimeric state. Functionally important and conserved transmembrane helices of YidC and Oxa1 were localized at the dimer interface by cysteine crosslinking. Both Oxa1 and YidC dimers contact the ribosome at ribosomal protein L23 and conserved rRNA helices 59 and 24, similarly to what was observed for the nonhomologous SecYEG translocon. We suggest that dimers of the YidC and Oxa1 proteins form insertion pores and share a common overall architecture with the SecY monomer.