1
|
Christian R, Labbancz J, Usadel B, Dhingra A. Understanding protein import in diverse non-green plastids. Front Genet 2023; 14:969931. [PMID: 37007964 PMCID: PMC10063809 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.969931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The spectacular diversity of plastids in non-green organs such as flowers, fruits, roots, tubers, and senescing leaves represents a Universe of metabolic processes in higher plants that remain to be completely characterized. The endosymbiosis of the plastid and the subsequent export of the ancestral cyanobacterial genome to the nuclear genome, and adaptation of the plants to all types of environments has resulted in the emergence of diverse and a highly orchestrated metabolism across the plant kingdom that is entirely reliant on a complex protein import and translocation system. The TOC and TIC translocons, critical for importing nuclear-encoded proteins into the plastid stroma, remain poorly resolved, especially in the case of TIC. From the stroma, three core pathways (cpTat, cpSec, and cpSRP) may localize imported proteins to the thylakoid. Non-canonical routes only utilizing TOC also exist for the insertion of many inner and outer membrane proteins, or in the case of some modified proteins, a vesicular import route. Understanding this complex protein import system is further compounded by the highly heterogeneous nature of transit peptides, and the varying transit peptide specificity of plastids depending on species and the developmental and trophic stage of the plant organs. Computational tools provide an increasingly sophisticated means of predicting protein import into highly diverse non-green plastids across higher plants, which need to be validated using proteomics and metabolic approaches. The myriad plastid functions enable higher plants to interact and respond to all kinds of environments. Unraveling the diversity of non-green plastid functions across the higher plants has the potential to provide knowledge that will help in developing climate resilient crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Christian
- Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - June Labbancz
- Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | | | - Amit Dhingra
- Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Amit Dhingra,
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Day PM, Theg SM. Evolution of protein transport to the chloroplast envelope membranes. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2018; 138:315-326. [PMID: 30291507 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-018-0540-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Chloroplasts are descendants of an ancient endosymbiotic cyanobacterium that lived inside a eukaryotic cell. They inherited the prokaryotic double membrane envelope from cyanobacteria. This envelope contains prokaryotic protein sorting machineries including a Sec translocase and relatives of the central component of the bacterial outer membrane β-barrel assembly module. As the endosymbiont was integrated with the rest of the cell, the synthesis of most of its proteins shifted from the stroma to the host cytosol. This included nearly all the envelope proteins identified so far. Consequently, the overall biogenesis of the chloroplast envelope must be distinct from cyanobacteria. Envelope proteins initially approach their functional locations from the exterior rather than the interior. In many cases, they have been shown to use components of the general import pathway that also serves the stroma and thylakoids. If the ancient prokaryotic protein sorting machineries are still used for chloroplast envelope proteins, their activities must have been modified or combined with the general import pathway. In this review, we analyze the current knowledge pertaining to chloroplast envelope biogenesis and compare this to bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip M Day
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California at Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Steven M Theg
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California at Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
|
4
|
Lung SC, Smith MD, Weston JK, Gwynne W, Secord N, Chuong SDX. The C-terminus of Bienertia sinuspersici Toc159 contains essential elements for its targeting and anchorage to the chloroplast outer membrane. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2014; 5:722. [PMID: 25566294 PMCID: PMC4274882 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2014] [Accepted: 11/30/2014] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Most nucleus-encoded chloroplast proteins rely on an N-terminal transit peptide (TP) as a post-translational sorting signal for directing them to the organelle. Although Toc159 is known to be a receptor for specific preprotein TPs at the chloroplast surface, the mechanism for its own targeting and integration into the chloroplast outer membrane is not completely understood. In a previous study, we identified a novel TP-like sorting signal at the C-terminus (CT) of a Toc159 homolog from the single-cell C4 species, Bienertia sinuspersici. In the current study, we have extended our understanding of the sorting signal using transient expression of fluorescently-tagged fusion proteins of variable-length, and with truncated and swapped versions of the CT. As was shown in the earlier study, the 56 residues of the CT contain crucial sorting information for reversible interaction of the receptor with the chloroplast envelope. Extension of this region to 100 residues in the current study stabilized the interaction via membrane integration, as demonstrated by more prominent plastid-associated signals and resistance of the fusion protein to alkaline extraction. Despite a high degree of sequence similarity, the plastid localization signals of the equivalent CT regions of Arabidopsis thaliana Toc159 homologs were not as strong as that of the B. sinuspersici counterparts. Together with computational and circular dichroism analyses of the CT domain structures, our data provide insights into the critical elements of the CT for the efficient targeting and anchorage of Toc159 receptors to the dimorphic chloroplasts in the single-cell C4 species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shiu-Cheung Lung
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong KongHong Kong SAR, China
| | - Matthew D. Smith
- Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier UniversityWaterloo, ON, Canada
| | - J. Kyle Weston
- Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier UniversityWaterloo, ON, Canada
| | - William Gwynne
- Department of Biology, University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Nathan Secord
- Department of Biology, University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Richardson LGL, Paila YD, Siman SR, Chen Y, Smith MD, Schnell DJ. Targeting and assembly of components of the TOC protein import complex at the chloroplast outer envelope membrane. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2014; 5:269. [PMID: 24966864 PMCID: PMC4052903 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 05/24/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The translocon at the outer envelope membrane of chloroplasts (TOC) initiates the import of thousands of nuclear encoded preproteins required for chloroplast biogenesis and function. The multimeric TOC complex contains two GTP-regulated receptors, Toc34 and Toc159, which recognize the transit peptides of preproteins and initiate protein import through a β-barrel membrane channel, Toc75. Different isoforms of Toc34 and Toc159 assemble with Toc75 to form structurally and functionally diverse translocons, and the composition and levels of TOC translocons is required for the import of specific subsets of coordinately expressed proteins during plant growth and development. Consequently, the proper assembly of the TOC complexes is key to ensuring organelle homeostasis. This review will focus on our current knowledge of the targeting and assembly of TOC components to form functional translocons at the outer membrane. Our analyses reveal that the targeting of TOC components involves elements common to the targeting of other outer membrane proteins, but also include unique features that appear to have evolved to specifically facilitate assembly of the import apparatus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lynn G. L. Richardson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, AmherstMA, USA
| | - Yamuna D. Paila
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, AmherstMA, USA
| | - Steven R. Siman
- Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, WaterlooON, Canada
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, WaterlooON, Canada
| | - Matthew D. Smith
- Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, WaterlooON, Canada
| | - Danny J. Schnell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, AmherstMA, USA
- *Correspondence: Danny J. Schnell, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Life Sciences Laboratories, Room N431, 240 Thatcher Way, Amherst, MA 01003-9364, USA e-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shi LX, Theg SM. The chloroplast protein import system: from algae to trees. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2012; 1833:314-31. [PMID: 23063942 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2012.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Revised: 09/07/2012] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Chloroplasts are essential organelles in the cells of plants and algae. The functions of these specialized plastids are largely dependent on the ~3000 proteins residing in the organelle. Although chloroplasts are capable of a limited amount of semiautonomous protein synthesis - their genomes encode ~100 proteins - they must import more than 95% of their proteins after synthesis in the cytosol. Imported proteins generally possess an N-terminal extension termed a transit peptide. The importing translocons are made up of two complexes in the outer and inner envelope membranes, the so-called Toc and Tic machineries, respectively. The Toc complex contains two precursor receptors, Toc159 and Toc34, a protein channel, Toc75, and a peripheral component, Toc64/OEP64. The Tic complex consists of as many as eight components, namely Tic22, Tic110, Tic40, Tic20, Tic21 Tic62, Tic55 and Tic32. This general Toc/Tic import pathway, worked out largely in pea chloroplasts, appears to operate in chloroplasts in all green plants, albeit with significant modifications. Sub-complexes of the Toc and Tic machineries are proposed to exist to satisfy different substrate-, tissue-, cell- and developmental requirements. In this review, we summarize our understanding of the functions of Toc and Tic components, comparing these components of the import machinery in green algae through trees. We emphasize recent findings that point to growing complexities of chloroplast protein import process, and use the evolutionary relationships between proteins of different species in an attempt to define the essential core translocon components and those more likely to be responsible for regulation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein Import and Quality Control in Mitochondria and Plastids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lan-Xin Shi
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bölter B, Soll J. Protein Import into Chloroplasts: Dealing with the (Membrane) Integration Problem. Chembiochem 2011; 12:1655-61. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201100118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
8
|
Andrès C, Agne B, Kessler F. The TOC complex: preprotein gateway to the chloroplast. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2010; 1803:715-23. [PMID: 20226817 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2010.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2009] [Revised: 02/26/2010] [Accepted: 03/03/2010] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthetic eukaryotes strongly depend on chloroplast metabolic pathways. Most if not all involve nuclear encoded proteins. These are synthesized as cytosolic preproteins with N-terminal, cleavable targeting sequences (transit peptide). Preproteins are imported by a major pathway composed of two proteins complexes: TOC and TIC (Translocon of the Outer and Inner membranes of the Chloroplasts, respectively). These selectively recognize the preproteins and facilitate their transport across the chloroplast envelope. The TOC core complex consists of three types of components, each belonging to a small family: Toc34, Toc75 and Toc159. Toc34 and Toc159 isoforms represent a subfamily of the GTPase superfamily. The members of the Toc34 and Toc159 subfamily act as GTP-dependent receptors at the chloroplast surface and distinct members of each occur in defined, substrate-specific TOC complexes. Toc75, a member of the Omp85 family, is conserved from prokaryotes and functions as the unique protein-conducting channel at the outer membrane. In this review we will describe the current state of knowledge regarding the composition and function of the TOC complex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles Andrès
- Institut de Biologie, Université de Neuchâtel, CH-2009 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
Most proteins in chloroplasts are encoded by the nuclear genome and synthesized as precursors with N-terminal targeting signals called transit peptides. Novel machinery has evolved to specifically import these proteins from the cytosol into chloroplasts. This machinery consists of more than a dozen components located in and around the chloroplast envelope, including a pair of GTPase receptors, a beta-barrel-type channel across the outer membrane, and an AAA(+)-type motor in the stroma. How individual components assemble into functional subcomplexes and the sequential steps of the translocation process are being mapped out. An increasing number of noncanonical import pathways, including a pathway with initial transport through the endomembrane system, is being revealed. Multiple levels of control on protein transport into chloroplasts have evolved, including the development of two receptor subfamilies, one for photosynthetic proteins and one for housekeeping proteins. The functions or expression levels of some translocon components are further adjusted according to plastid type, developmental stage, and metabolic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hsou-min Li
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Abstract
Most of the estimated 1000 or so chloroplast proteins are synthesized as cytosolic preproteins with N-terminal cleavable targeting sequences (transit peptide). Translocon complexes at the outer (Toc) and inner chloroplast envelope membrane (Tic) concertedly facilitate post-translational import of preproteins into the chloroplast. Three components, the Toc34 and Toc159 GTPases together with the Toc75 channel, form the core of the Toc complex. The two GTPases act as GTP-dependent receptors at the chloroplast surface and promote insertion of the preprotein across the Toc75 channel. Additional factors guide preproteins to the Toc complex or support their stable ATP-dependent binding to the chloroplast. This minireview describes the components of the Toc complex and their function during the initial steps of preprotein translocation across the chloroplast envelope.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Agne
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, Université de Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Aronsson H, Jarvis P. The Chloroplast Protein Import Apparatus, Its Components, and Their Roles. PLANT CELL MONOGRAPHS 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-68696-5_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
|
12
|
Abstract
Most chloroplast proteins are encoded in the nucleus and synthesized on free, cytosolic ribosomes in precursor form. Each precursor has an amino-terminal extension called a transit peptide, which directs the protein through a post-translational targeting pathway and is removed upon arrival inside the organelle. This 'protein import' process is mediated by the coordinate action of two multiprotein complexes, one in each of the envelope membranes: the TOC and TIC (Translocon at the Outer/ Inner envelope membrane of Chloroplasts) machines. Many components of these complexes have been identified biochemically in pea; these include transit peptide receptors, channel proteins, and molecular chaperones. Intriguingly, the Arabidopsis genome encodes multiple, homologous genes for receptor components of the TOC complex. Careful analysis indicated that the different receptor isoforms operate in different import pathways with distinct precursor recognition specificities. These 'substrate-specific' import pathways might play a role in the differentiation of different plastid types, and/or act to prevent deleterious competition effects between abundant and nonabundant precursors. Until recently, all proteins destined for internal chloroplast compartments were thought to possess a cleavable transit peptide, and to engage the TOC/TIC machinery. New studies using proteomics and other approaches have revealed that this is far from true. Remarkably, a significant number of chloroplast proteins are transported via a pathway that involves the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Other recent reports have elucidated an intriguing array of protein targeting routes leading to the envelope membranes themselves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Jarvis
- Department of Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
|
14
|
The Chloroplast Protein Import Apparatus, Its Components, and Their Roles. PLANT CELL MONOGRAPHS 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/7089_2008_40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
|
15
|
Aronsson H, Boij P, Patel R, Wardle A, Töpel M, Jarvis P. Toc64/OEP64 is not essential for the efficient import of proteins into chloroplasts in Arabidopsis thaliana. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2007; 52:53-68. [PMID: 17655652 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2007.03207.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Toc64/OEP64 was identified biochemically in pea as a putative component of the chloroplast protein import apparatus. In Arabidopsis, three paralogous genes (atTOC64-III, atTOC64-V and atTOC64-I) encode Toc64-related proteins, and these have been reported to localize in chloroplasts, mitochondria and the cytosol, respectively. To assess the role of the atToc64-III protein in chloroplast protein import in an in vivo context, we identified and characterized Arabidopsis knockout mutants. The absence of detectable defects in toc64-III single mutants raised the possibility of redundancy, and prompted us to also identify toc64-V and toc64-I mutants, cross them to toc64-III, and generate double- and triple-mutant combinations. The toc64 mutants were analysed carefully with respect to a variety of criteria, including chlorophyll accumulation, photosynthetic performance, organellar ultrastructure and chloroplast protein accumulation. In each case, the mutant plants were indistinguishable from wild type. Furthermore, the efficiency of chloroplast protein import was not affected by the toc64 mutations, even when a putative substrate of the atToc64-III protein (wheatgerm-translated precursor of the 33 kDa subunit of the oxygen-evolving complex, OE33) was examined. Moreover, under various stress conditions (high light, osmotic stress and cold), the toc64 triple-mutant plants were not significantly different from wild type. These results demonstrate that Toc64/OEP64 is not essential for the efficient import of proteins into chloroplasts in Arabidopsis, and draw into question the functional significance of this component.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Aronsson
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Göteborg University, Box 461, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hofmann NR, Theg SM. Chloroplast outer membrane protein targeting and insertion. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2005; 10:450-7. [PMID: 16085449 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2005.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2005] [Revised: 06/29/2005] [Accepted: 07/26/2005] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Proteins in the chloroplast outer envelope membrane are nuclear encoded and post-translationally targeted to the chloroplast. The targeting and membrane insertion of these proteins is not well understood. Although early work suggested otherwise, the best-studied outer membrane proteins (OMPs) use both proteins within the chloroplast and NTPs for insertion. There have been conflicting reports in the field regarding protein targeting and insertion, which have probably arisen because of differences in experimental methodology and different interpretations of reduction (versus abolition) of integration. This review summarizes what is known to date about the mechanism of chloroplast OMP targeting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy R Hofmann
- Section of Plant Biology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Rosenbaum Hofmann N, Theg SM. Toc64 is not required for import of proteins into chloroplasts in the moss Physcomitrella patens. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2005; 43:675-87. [PMID: 16115065 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2005.02483.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Toc64 has been suggested to be part of the chloroplast import machinery in Pisum sativum. A role for Toc64 in protein transport has not been established, however. To address this, we generated knockout mutants in the moss Physcomitrella patens using the moss's ability to perform homologous recombination with nuclear DNA. Physcomitrella patens contains two genes that encode Toc64-like proteins. Both of those proteins appear to be localized in the chloroplast. The double-mutant plants were lacking Toc64 protein in the chloroplasts but showed no growth phenotype. In addition, these plants accumulated other plastid proteins at wild-type levels and showed no difference from wild type in in vitro protein import assays. These plants did have a slightly altered chloroplast shape in some tissues, however. The evidence therefore indicates that Toc64 proteins are not required for import of proteins in Physcomitrella, but may point to involvement in the determination of plastid shape.
Collapse
|