The yeast F1-ATPase beta subunit precursor contains functionally redundant mitochondrial protein import information

Multiple functionally redundant signals mediate targeting to the apicoplast in the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii

Most species of the protozoan phylum Apicomplexa harbor an endosymbiotic organelle--the apicoplast--acquired when an ancestral parasite engulfed a eukaryotic plastid-containing alga. Several hundred proteins are encoded in the parasite nucleus and are posttranslationally targeted to the apicoplast by a distinctive bipartite signal. The N-terminal 20 to 30 amino acids of nucleus-encoded apicoplast targeted proteins function as a classical signal sequence, mediating entry into the secretory pathway. Cleavage of the signal sequence exposes a transit peptide of variable length (50 to 200 amino acids) that is required for directing proteins to the apicoplast. Although these peptides are enriched in basic amino acids, their structural and functional characteristics are not well understood, which hampers the identification of apicoplast proteins that may constitute novel chemotherapeutic targets. To identify functional domains for a model apicoplast transit peptide, we generated more than 80 deletions and mutations throughout the transit peptide of Toxoplasma gondii ferredoxin NADP+ reductase (TgFNR) and examined the ability of these altered transit peptides to mediate proper targeting and processing of a fluorescent protein reporter. These studies revealed the presence of numerous functional domains. Processing can take place at multiple sites in the protein sequence and may occur outside of the apicoplast lumen. The TgFNR transit peptide contains at least two independent and functionally redundant targeting signals, each of which contains a subdomain that is required for release from or proper sorting within the endoplasmic reticulum. Certain deletion constructs traffic to multiple locations, including the apicoplast periphery, the rhoptries, and the parasitophorous vacuole, suggesting a common thread for targeting to these specialized compartments.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ATP2 mRNA sorting to the vicinity of mitochondria is essential for respiratory function

We recently demonstrated that polysome-associated mRNAs that co-isolate with mitochondria encode a subset of mitochondrial proteins, and that the 3' UTRs of these transcripts are essential for their localization to the vicinity of the organelle. To address the question of the involvement of the mRNA targeting process in mitochondrial biogenesis, we studied the role of ATP2 3' UTR. An altered ATP2 allele in which the 3' UTR was replaced by the ADH1 3' UTR exhibits properties supporting the importance of mRNA localization to the vicinity of mitochondria: (i) the mutated strain presents a respiratory dysfunction; (ii) mitochondrial import of the protein translated from the altered gene is strongly reduced, even though the precursor is addressed to the organelle surface; (iii) systematic deletions of ATP2 3' UTR revealed a 100 nucleotide element presenting RNA targeting properties. Additionally, when the ATM1 3' UTR was replaced by the ADH1 3' UTR, we obtained cells in which ATM1 mRNA is also delocalized, and presenting a respiratory dysfunction. This demonstrates that mRNA localization to the vicinity of mitochondria plays a critical role in organelle biogenesis.

Overproduction of PDR3 suppresses mitochondrial import defects associated with a TOM70 null mutation by increasing the expression of TOM72 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Most mitochondrial proteins are synthesized with cleavable amino-terminal targeting signals that interact with the mitochondrial import machinery to facilitate their import from the cytosol. We previously reported that the presequence of the F(1)-ATPase beta subunit precursor (pre-F(1)beta) acts as an intramolecular chaperone that maintains the precursor in an import-competent conformation prior to import (P. Hajek, J. Y. Koh, L. Jones, and D. M. Bedwell, Mol. Cell. Biol. 17:7169-7177, 1997). We also found that a mutant form of pre-F(1)beta with a minimal targeting signal (Delta 1,2 pre-F(1)beta) is inefficiently imported into mitochondria because it rapidly folds into an import-incompetent conformation. We have now analyzed the consequences of reducing the pre-F(1)beta targeting signal to a minimal unit in more detail. We found that Delta 1,2 pre-F(1)beta is more dependent upon the Tom70p receptor for import than WT pre-F(1)beta is, resulting in a growth defect on a nonfermentable carbon source at 15 degrees C. Experiments using an in vitro mitochondrial protein import system suggest that Tom70p functions to maintain a precursor containing the Delta 1,2 pre-F(1)beta import signal in an import-competent conformation. We also identified PDR3, a transcriptional regulator of the pleiotropic drug resistance network, as a multicopy suppressor of the mitochondrial import defects associated with Delta 1,2 pre-F(1)beta in a tom70 Delta strain. The overproduction of PDR3 mediated this effect by increasing the import of Delta 1,2 pre-F(1)beta into mitochondria. This increased the mitochondrial ATP synthase activity to the extent that growth of the mutant strain was restored under the selective conditions. Analysis of the transcription patterns of components of the mitochondrial outer membrane import machinery demonstrated that PDR3 overproduction increased the expression of TOM72, a little studied TOM70 homologue. These results suggest that Tom72p possesses overlapping functions with Tom70p and that the pleiotropic drug resistance network plays a previously unappreciated role in mitochondrial biogenesis.

A protein complex containing Tho2, Hpr1, Mft1 and a novel protein, Thp2, connects transcription elongation with mitotic recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Transcription-induced recombination has been reported in all organisms from bacteria to mammals. We have shown previously that the yeast genes HPR1 and THO2 may be keys to the understanding of transcription-associated recombination, as they both affect transcription elongation and hyper-recombination in a concerted manner. Using a yeast strain that has the wild-type THO2 gene replaced by one encoding a His(6)-HA-tagged version, we have isolated an oligomeric complex containing four proteins: Tho2, Hpr1, Mft1 and a novel protein that we have named Thp2. We have reciprocally identified a complex containing Hpr1, Tho2 and Mft1 using anti-Mft1 antibodies in immunoprecipitation experiments. The protein complex is mainly nuclear; therefore, Tho2 and Hpr1 are physically associated. Like hpr1Delta and tho2Delta cells, mft1Delta and thp2Delta cells show mitotic hyper- recombination and impaired transcription elongation, in particular, through the bacterial lacZ sequence. Hyper-recombination conferred by mft1Delta and thp2Delta is only observed in DNA regions under transcription conditions. We propose that this protein complex acts as a functional unit connecting transcription elongation with the incidence of mitotic recombination.

The amino terminus of the F1-ATPase beta-subunit precursor functions as an intramolecular chaperone to facilitate mitochondrial protein import

Mitochondrial import signals have been shown to function in many steps of mitochondrial protein import. Previous studies have shown that the F1-ATPase beta-subunit precursor (pre-F1beta) of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains an extended, functionally redundant mitochondrial import signal at its amino terminus. However, the full significance of this functionally redundant targeting sequence has not been determined. We now report that the extended pre-F1beta signal acts to maintain the precursor in an import-competent conformation prior to import, in addition to its previously characterized roles in mitochondrial targeting and translocation. We found that this extended signal is required for the efficient posttranslational mitochondrial import of pre-F1beta both in vivo and in vitro. To determine whether the pre-F1beta signal directly influences precursor conformation, fusion proteins that contain wild-type and mutant forms of the pre-F1beta import signal attached to the model passenger protein dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) were constructed. Deletions that reduced the import signal to a minimal functional unit decreased both the half-time of precursor folding and the efficiency of mitochondrial import. To confirm that the reduced mitochondrial import associated with this truncated signal was due to a defect in its ability to maintain DHFR in a loosely folded conformation, we introduced structurally destabilizing missense mutations into the DHFR passenger to block precursor folding independently of the import signal. We found that the truncated signal imported this destabilized form of DHFR as efficiently as the intact targeting signal, indicating that the primary defect associated with the minimal signal is an inability to maintain the precursor in a loosely folded conformation. Our results suggest that the loss of this intramolecular chaperone function leads to defects in the early stages of the import process.

Mitochondrial targeting of yeast apoiso-1-cytochrome c is mediated through functionally independent structural domains

An iso-1-cytochrome c-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase fusion protein (iso-1/CAT) was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and used to delineate two stages in the cytochrome c import pathway in vivo (S. H. Nye and R. C. Scarpulla, Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:5753-5762, 1990 [this issue]). Fusion proteins with the CAT reporter domain in its native conformation were arrested at the initial stage of mitochondrial membrane recognition and insertion. In contrast, those with a deletional disruption of the CAT moiety were relieved of this block and allowed to translocate to the intermembrane space, where they functioned in respiratory electron transfer. In the present study, iso-1/CAT was used to map structural determinants in apoiso-1-cytochrome c involved in the initial step of targeting to the mitochondrial membrane. Carboxy-terminal deletions revealed that one of these determinants consisted of the amino-terminal 68 residues. Deletion mutations either within or at the ends of this determinant destroyed mitochondrial targeting activity, suggesting that functionally important information spans the length of this fragment. Disruption of an alpha-helix near the amino terminus by a helix-breaking proline substitution for leucine 14 also eliminated the targeting activity of the 1 to 68 determinant, suggesting a contribution from this structure. A second, functionally independent targeting determinant was found in the carboxy half of the apoprotein between residues 68 and 85. This determinant coincided with a stretch of 11 residues that are invariant in nearly 100 eucaryotic cytochromes c. Therefore, in lieu of an amino-terminal presequence, apocytochrome c has redundant structural information located in both the amino and carboxy halves of the molecule that can function independently to specify mitochondrial targeting and membrane insertion in vivo.

Mitochondrial protein import

Most polypeptides of mitochondria are imported from the cytosol. Precursor proteins contain targeting and sorting information, often in the form of amino-terminal presequences. Precursors first bind to receptors in the outer membrane. Two putative import receptors have been identified: a 19-kilodalton protein (MOM19) in Neurospora mitochondria, and a 70-kilodalton protein (MAS70) in yeast. Some precursors integrate directly into the outer membrane, but the majority are translocated through one or both membranes. This process requires an electrochemical potential across the inner membrane. Import appears to occur through a hydrophilic pore, although the inner and outer membranes may contain functionally separate translocation machineries. In yeast, a 42-kilodalton protein (ISP42) probably forms part of the outer membrane channel. After import, precursors interact with "chaperonin" ATPases in the matrix. Presequences then are removed by the matrix protease. Finally, some proteins are retranslocated across the inner membrane to the intermembrane space.

Mitochondrial targeting of yeast apoiso-1-cytochrome c is mediated through functionally independent structural domains

An iso-1-cytochrome c-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase fusion protein (iso-1/CAT) was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and used to delineate two stages in the cytochrome c import pathway in vivo (S. H. Nye and R. C. Scarpulla, Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:5753-5762, 1990 [this issue]). Fusion proteins with the CAT reporter domain in its native conformation were arrested at the initial stage of mitochondrial membrane recognition and insertion. In contrast, those with a deletional disruption of the CAT moiety were relieved of this block and allowed to translocate to the intermembrane space, where they functioned in respiratory electron transfer. In the present study, iso-1/CAT was used to map structural determinants in apoiso-1-cytochrome c involved in the initial step of targeting to the mitochondrial membrane. Carboxy-terminal deletions revealed that one of these determinants consisted of the amino-terminal 68 residues. Deletion mutations either within or at the ends of this determinant destroyed mitochondrial targeting activity, suggesting that functionally important information spans the length of this fragment. Disruption of an alpha-helix near the amino terminus by a helix-breaking proline substitution for leucine 14 also eliminated the targeting activity of the 1 to 68 determinant, suggesting a contribution from this structure. A second, functionally independent targeting determinant was found in the carboxy half of the apoprotein between residues 68 and 85. This determinant coincided with a stretch of 11 residues that are invariant in nearly 100 eucaryotic cytochromes c. Therefore, in lieu of an amino-terminal presequence, apocytochrome c has redundant structural information located in both the amino and carboxy halves of the molecule that can function independently to specify mitochondrial targeting and membrane insertion in vivo.

Overexpression of a leaderless form of yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va circumvents the requirement for a leader peptide in mitochondrial import

Subunit Va of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytochrome c oxidase is a nucleus-encoded mitochondrial protein that is derived from a precursor with a 20-residue leader peptide. We previously reported that this leader peptide is required for import of subunit Va into mitochondria in vivo (S. M. Glaser, C. E. Trueblood, L. K. Dircks, R. O. Poyton, and M. G. Cumsky, J. Cell. Biochem. 36:275-278, 1988). Here we show that overproduction of a leaderless form of subunit Va circumvents the leader peptide requirement for import into mitochondria in vivo.

Overexpression of a leaderless form of yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va circumvents the requirement for a leader peptide in mitochondrial import

Subunit Va of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytochrome c oxidase is a nucleus-encoded mitochondrial protein that is derived from a precursor with a 20-residue leader peptide. We previously reported that this leader peptide is required for import of subunit Va into mitochondria in vivo (S. M. Glaser, C. E. Trueblood, L. K. Dircks, R. O. Poyton, and M. G. Cumsky, J. Cell. Biochem. 36:275-278, 1988). Here we show that overproduction of a leaderless form of subunit Va circumvents the leader peptide requirement for import into mitochondria in vivo.

Mutant alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH III) presequences that affect both in vitro mitochondrial import and in vitro processing by the matrix protease

Point mutations in the presequence of the mitochondrial alcohol dehydrogerase isoenzyme (ADH III) have been shown to affect either the import of the precursor protein into yeast mitochondria in vivo or its processing within the organelle. In the present work, the behavior of these mutants during in vitro import into isolated mitochondria was investigated. All point mutants tested were imported with a slower initial rate than that of the wild-type precursor. This defect was corrected when the precursors were treated with urea prior to import. Once imported, the extent of processing to the mature form of mutant precursors varied greatly and correlated well with the defects observed in vivo. This result was not affected by prior urea treatment. When matrix extracts enriched for the processing protease were used, this defect was shown to be due to failure of the protease to efficiently recognize or cleave the presequence, rather than to a lack of access to the precursor. The rate of import of two ADH III precursors bearing internal deletions in the leader sequence was similar to those of the point mutants, whereas a deletion leading to the removal of the 15 amino-terminal amino acids was poorly imported. The mature amino terminus of wild-type ADH III was determined to be Gln-25. Mutant m01 (Ser-26 to Phe), which reduced the efficiency of cleavage in vitro by 80%, was cleaved at the correct site.

Removal of a hydrophobic domain within the mature portion of a mitochondrial inner membrane protein causes its mislocalization to the matrix

We have examined the import and intramitochondrial localization of the precursor to yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va, a protein of the mitochondrial inner membrane. The results of studies on the import of subunit Va derivatives carrying altered presequences suggest that the uptake of this protein is highly efficient. We found that a presequence of only 5 amino acids (Met-Leu-Ser-Leu-Arg) could direct the import and localization of subunit Va with wild-type efficiency, as judged by several different assays. We also found that subunit Va could be effectively targeted to the mitochondrial inner membrane with a heterologous presequence that failed to direct import of its cognate protein. The results presented here confirmed those of an earlier study and showed clearly that the information required to "sort" subunit Va to the inner membrane resides in the mature protein sequence, not within the presequence per se. We present additional evidence that the aforementioned sorting information is contained, at least in part, in a hydrophobic stretch of 22 amino acids residing within the C-terminal third of the protein. Removal of this domain caused subunit Va to be mislocalized to the mitochondrial matrix.

Removal of a hydrophobic domain within the mature portion of a mitochondrial inner membrane protein causes its mislocalization to the matrix

We have examined the import and intramitochondrial localization of the precursor to yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va, a protein of the mitochondrial inner membrane. The results of studies on the import of subunit Va derivatives carrying altered presequences suggest that the uptake of this protein is highly efficient. We found that a presequence of only 5 amino acids (Met-Leu-Ser-Leu-Arg) could direct the import and localization of subunit Va with wild-type efficiency, as judged by several different assays. We also found that subunit Va could be effectively targeted to the mitochondrial inner membrane with a heterologous presequence that failed to direct import of its cognate protein. The results presented here confirmed those of an earlier study and showed clearly that the information required to "sort" subunit Va to the inner membrane resides in the mature protein sequence, not within the presequence per se. We present additional evidence that the aforementioned sorting information is contained, at least in part, in a hydrophobic stretch of 22 amino acids residing within the C-terminal third of the protein. Removal of this domain caused subunit Va to be mislocalized to the mitochondrial matrix.

Amino-terminal extension generated from an upstream AUG codon increases the efficiency of mitochondrial import of yeast N2,N2-dimethylguanosine-specific tRNA methyltransferases

Fusions between the TRM1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and COXIV or DHFR were made to examine the mitochondrial targeting signals of N2,N2-dimethylguanosine-specific tRNA methyltransferase [tRNA (m2(2)G)dimethyltransferase]. This enzyme is responsible for the modification of both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic tRNAs. We have previously shown that two forms of the enzyme are translated from two in-frame ATGs in this gene, that they differ by a 16-amino-acid amino-terminal extension, and that both the long and short forms are imported into mitochondria. Results of studies to test the ability of various TRM1 sequences to serve as surrogate mitochondrial targeting signals for passenger protein import in vitro and in vivo showed that the most efficient signal derived from tRNA (m2(2)G)dimethyltransferase included a combination of sequences from both the amino-terminal extension and the amino terminus of the shorter form of the enzyme. The amino-terminal extension itself did not serve as an independent mitochondrial targeting signal, whereas the amino terminus of the shorter form of tRNA (m2(2)G)dimethyltransferase did function in this regard, albeit inefficiently. We analyzed the first 48 amino acids of tRNA (m2(2)G)dimethyltransferase for elements of primary and secondary structure shared with other known mitochondrial targeting signals. The results lead us to propose that the most efficient signal spans the area around the second ATG of TRM1 and is consistent with the idea that there is a mitochondrial targeting signal present at the amino terminus of the shorter form of the enzyme and that the amino-terminal extension augments this signal by extending it to form a larger, more efficient mitochondrial targeting signal.

Sequence and structural requirements of a mitochondrial protein import signal defined by saturation cassette mutagenesis

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae F1-ATPase beta subunit precursor contains redundant mitochondrial protein import information at its NH2 terminus (D. M. Bedwell, D. J. Klionsky, and S. D. Emr, Mol. Cell. Biol. 7:4038-4047, 1987). To define the critical sequence and structural features contained within this topogenic signal, one of the redundant regions (representing a minimal targeting sequence) was subjected to saturation cassette mutagenesis. Each of 97 different mutant oligonucleotide isolates containing single (32 isolates), double (45 isolates), or triple (20 isolates) point mutations was inserted in front of a beta-subunit gene lacking the coding sequence for its normal import signal (codons 1 through 34 were deleted). The phenotypic and biochemical consequences of these mutations were then evaluated in a yeast strain deleted for its normal beta-subunit gene (delta atp2). Consistent with the lack of an obvious consensus sequence for mitochondrial protein import signals, many mutations occurring throughout the minimal targeting sequence did not significantly affect its import competence. However, some mutations did result in severe import defects. In these mutants, beta-subunit precursor accumulated in the cytoplasm, and the yeast cells exhibited a respiration defective phenotype. Although point mutations have previously been identified that block mitochondrial protein import in vitro, a subset of the mutations reported here represents the first single missense mutations that have been demonstrated to significantly block mitochondrial protein import in vivo. The previous lack of such mutations in the beta-subunit precursor apparently relates to the presence of redundant import information in this import signal. Together, our mutants define a set of constraints that appear to be critical for normal activity of this (and possibly other) import signals. These include the following: (i) mutant signals that exhibit a hydrophobic moment greater than 5.5 for the predicted amphiphilic alpha-helical conformation of this sequence direct near normal levels of beta-subunit import (ii) at least two basic residues are necessary for efficient signal function, (iii) acidic amino acids actively interfere with import competence, and (iv) helix-destabilizing residues also interfere with signal function. These experimental observations provide support for mitochondrial protein import models in which both the structure and charge of the import signal play a critical role in directing mitochondrial protein targeting and import.

Amino-terminal extension generated from an upstream AUG codon increases the efficiency of mitochondrial import of yeast N2,N2-dimethylguanosine-specific tRNA methyltransferases

Fusions between the TRM1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and COXIV or DHFR were made to examine the mitochondrial targeting signals of N2,N2-dimethylguanosine-specific tRNA methyltransferase [tRNA (m2(2)G)dimethyltransferase]. This enzyme is responsible for the modification of both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic tRNAs. We have previously shown that two forms of the enzyme are translated from two in-frame ATGs in this gene, that they differ by a 16-amino-acid amino-terminal extension, and that both the long and short forms are imported into mitochondria. Results of studies to test the ability of various TRM1 sequences to serve as surrogate mitochondrial targeting signals for passenger protein import in vitro and in vivo showed that the most efficient signal derived from tRNA (m2(2)G)dimethyltransferase included a combination of sequences from both the amino-terminal extension and the amino terminus of the shorter form of the enzyme. The amino-terminal extension itself did not serve as an independent mitochondrial targeting signal, whereas the amino terminus of the shorter form of tRNA (m2(2)G)dimethyltransferase did function in this regard, albeit inefficiently. We analyzed the first 48 amino acids of tRNA (m2(2)G)dimethyltransferase for elements of primary and secondary structure shared with other known mitochondrial targeting signals. The results lead us to propose that the most efficient signal spans the area around the second ATG of TRM1 and is consistent with the idea that there is a mitochondrial targeting signal present at the amino terminus of the shorter form of the enzyme and that the amino-terminal extension augments this signal by extending it to form a larger, more efficient mitochondrial targeting signal.

Sequence and structural requirements of a mitochondrial protein import signal defined by saturation cassette mutagenesis

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae F1-ATPase beta subunit precursor contains redundant mitochondrial protein import information at its NH2 terminus (D. M. Bedwell, D. J. Klionsky, and S. D. Emr, Mol. Cell. Biol. 7:4038-4047, 1987). To define the critical sequence and structural features contained within this topogenic signal, one of the redundant regions (representing a minimal targeting sequence) was subjected to saturation cassette mutagenesis. Each of 97 different mutant oligonucleotide isolates containing single (32 isolates), double (45 isolates), or triple (20 isolates) point mutations was inserted in front of a beta-subunit gene lacking the coding sequence for its normal import signal (codons 1 through 34 were deleted). The phenotypic and biochemical consequences of these mutations were then evaluated in a yeast strain deleted for its normal beta-subunit gene (delta atp2). Consistent with the lack of an obvious consensus sequence for mitochondrial protein import signals, many mutations occurring throughout the minimal targeting sequence did not significantly affect its import competence. However, some mutations did result in severe import defects. In these mutants, beta-subunit precursor accumulated in the cytoplasm, and the yeast cells exhibited a respiration defective phenotype. Although point mutations have previously been identified that block mitochondrial protein import in vitro, a subset of the mutations reported here represents the first single missense mutations that have been demonstrated to significantly block mitochondrial protein import in vivo. The previous lack of such mutations in the beta-subunit precursor apparently relates to the presence of redundant import information in this import signal. Together, our mutants define a set of constraints that appear to be critical for normal activity of this (and possibly other) import signals. These include the following: (i) mutant signals that exhibit a hydrophobic moment greater than 5.5 for the predicted amphiphilic alpha-helical conformation of this sequence direct near normal levels of beta-subunit import (ii) at least two basic residues are necessary for efficient signal function, (iii) acidic amino acids actively interfere with import competence, and (iv) helix-destabilizing residues also interfere with signal function. These experimental observations provide support for mitochondrial protein import models in which both the structure and charge of the import signal play a critical role in directing mitochondrial protein targeting and import.

Intracellular sorting and processing of a yeast vacuolar hydrolase: proteinase A propeptide contains vacuolar targeting information

An inactive precursor form of proteinase A (PrA) transits through the early secretory pathway before final vacuolar delivery. We used gene fusions between the gene coding for PrA (PEP4) and the gene coding for the secretory enzyme invertase (SUC2) to identify vacuolar protein-sorting information in the PrA precursor. We found that the 76-amino-acid preprosegment of PrA contains at least two sorting signals: an amino-terminal signal peptide that is cleaved from the protein at the level of the endoplasmic reticulum followed by the prosegment which functions as a vacuolar protein-sorting signal. PrA-invertase hybrid proteins that carried this sequence information were accurately sorted to the yeast vacuole as determined by cell fractionation and immunolocalization studies. Hybrid proteins lacking all or a portion of the PrA prosegment were secreted from the cell. Our gene fusion data together with an analysis of the wild-type PrA protein indicated that N-linked carbohydrate modifications are not required for vacuolar sorting of this protein. Furthermore, results obtained with a set of deletion mutations constructed in the PrA prosegment indicated that this sequence also contributes to proper folding of this polypeptide into a stable transit-competent molecule.

Efficient targeting to storage granules of human proinsulins with altered propeptide domain

In neuronal and endocrine cells, peptide hormones are selectively segregated into storage granules, while other proteins are exported continuously without storage. Sorting of hormones by cellular machinery involves the recognition of specific structural domains on prohormone molecules. Since the propeptide of insulin is known to play an important role in its three-dimensional structure, it is reasonable to speculate that targeting of proinsulin to storage granules would require a functional connecting peptide. To test this hypothesis, we constructed two mutations in human proinsulin with different predicted structures. In one mutation, Ins delta C, the entire C peptide was deleted, resulting in an altered insulin in which the B and the A chains are joined contiguously. In the other mutation, Ins/IGF, the C peptide of proinsulin was replaced with the unrelated 12-amino acid connecting peptide of human insulin-like growth factor-I; this substitution should permit correct folding of the B and A chains to form a tertiary structure similar to that of proinsulin. By several biochemical and morphological criteria, we found that Ins/IGF is efficiently targeted to storage granules, suggesting that the C peptide of proinsulin does not contain necessary sorting information. Unexpectedly, Ins delta C, which presumably cannot fold properly, is also targeted to granules at a high efficiency. These results imply that either the targeting machinery can tolerate changes in the tertiary structure of transported proteins, or that the B and A chains of insulin can form a relatively intact three-dimensional structure even in the absence of C peptide.

Intracellular sorting and processing of a yeast vacuolar hydrolase: proteinase A propeptide contains vacuolar targeting information

An inactive precursor form of proteinase A (PrA) transits through the early secretory pathway before final vacuolar delivery. We used gene fusions between the gene coding for PrA (PEP4) and the gene coding for the secretory enzyme invertase (SUC2) to identify vacuolar protein-sorting information in the PrA precursor. We found that the 76-amino-acid preprosegment of PrA contains at least two sorting signals: an amino-terminal signal peptide that is cleaved from the protein at the level of the endoplasmic reticulum followed by the prosegment which functions as a vacuolar protein-sorting signal. PrA-invertase hybrid proteins that carried this sequence information were accurately sorted to the yeast vacuole as determined by cell fractionation and immunolocalization studies. Hybrid proteins lacking all or a portion of the PrA prosegment were secreted from the cell. Our gene fusion data together with an analysis of the wild-type PrA protein indicated that N-linked carbohydrate modifications are not required for vacuolar sorting of this protein. Furthermore, results obtained with a set of deletion mutations constructed in the PrA prosegment indicated that this sequence also contributes to proper folding of this polypeptide into a stable transit-competent molecule.