Tagging Hansenula polymorpha genes by random integration of linear DNA fragments (RALF)

We have investigated the feasibility of using gene tagging by restriction enzyme-mediated integration (REMI) to isolate mutants in Hansenula polymorpha. A plasmid that cannot replicate in H. polymorpha and contains a dominant zeocin resistance cassette, pREMI-Z, was used as the integrative/mutagenic plasmid. We observed that high transformation efficiency was primarily dependent on the use of linearised pREMI-Z, and that the addition of restriction endonuclease to linearised pREMI-Z prior to transformation increased the transformation frequency only slightly. Integration of linearised pREMI-Z occurred at random in the H. polymorpha genome. Therefore, we termed this method Random integration of Linear DNA Fragments (RALF). To explore the potential of RALF in H. polymorpha, we screened a collection of pREMI-Z transformants for mutants affected in peroxisome biogenesis (pex) or selective peroxisome degradation (pdd). Many previously described PEX genes were obtained from the mutant collection, as well as a number of new genes, including H. polymorpha PEX12 and genes whose function in peroxisome biogenesis is still unclear. These results demonstrate that RALF is a powerful tool for tagging genes in H. polymorpha that should make it possible to carry out genome-wide mutagenesis screens.

Deconstructing Golgi inheritance

Eukaryotic cells use a variety of strategies to inherit the Golgi apparatus. During vertebrate mitosis, the Golgi reorganizes dramatically in a process that seems to be driven by the reversible fragmentation of existing Golgi structures and the temporary redistribution of Golgi components to the endoplasmic reticulum. Several proteins that participate in vertebrate Golgi inheritance have been identified, but their detailed functions remain unknown. A comparison between vertebrates and other eukaryotes reveals common mechanisms of Golgi inheritance. In many cell types, Golgi stacks undergo fission early in mitosis. Some cells exhibit a further Golgi breakdown that is probably due to a mitotic inhibition of membrane traffic. In all eukaryotes examined, Golgi inheritance involves either the partitioning of pre-existing Golgi elements between the daughter cells or the emergence of new Golgi structures from the endoplasmic reticulum, or some combination of these two pathways.

Vector for pop-in/pop-out gene replacement in Pichia pastoris

Gene replacement in yeast is often accomplished by using a counterselectable marker such as URA3. Although ura3 strains of Pichia pastoris have been generated, these strains are inconvenient to work with because they grow slowly, even in the presence of uracil. To overcome this limitation, we have developed an alternative counterselectable marker that can be used in any P. pastoris strain. This marker is the T-urf13 gene from the mitochondrial genome of male-sterile maize. Previous work showed that expression of a mitochondrially targeted form of T-urf13 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae rendered the cells sensitive to the insecticide methomyl, and similar results have now been obtained with P. pastoris. We have incorporated T-urf13 into a vector that also contains an ARG4 marker for positive selection. The resulting plasmid allows for pop-in/pop-out gene replacement in P. pastoris.

ER export: More than one way out

Protein export from the ER is mediated by COPII vesicles. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked proteins seem to be segregated from other cargo proteins during ER export, suggesting that ER membranes produce more than one type of vesicle.

Raising the speed limits for 4D fluorescence microscopy

Three-dimensional time-lapse (4D) fluorescence microscopy is becoming a routine experimental tool. This article summarizes current technologies, and describes a new method for speeding image acquisition during 4D confocal microscopy.

Dynamics of transitional endoplasmic reticulum sites in vertebrate cells

A typical vertebrate cell contains several hundred sites of transitional ER (tER). Presumably, tER sites generate elements of the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC), and ERGIC elements then generate Golgi cisternae. Therefore, characterizing the mechanisms that influence tER distribution may shed light on the dynamic behavior of the Golgi. We explored the properties of tER sites using Sec13 as a marker protein. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed that tER sites are long-lived ER subdomains. tER sites proliferate during interphase but lose Sec13 during mitosis. Unlike ERGIC elements, tER sites move very little. Nevertheless, when microtubules are depolymerized with nocodazole, tER sites redistribute rapidly to form clusters next to Golgi structures. Hence, tER sites have the unusual property of being immobile, yet dynamic. These findings can be explained by a model in which new tER sites are created by retrograde membrane traffic from the Golgi. We propose that the tER-Golgi system is organized by mutual feedback between these two compartments.

Organization of the Golgi apparatus

Investigators are revisiting basic concepts of the structure-function relationships of the Golgi apparatus. A key issue is the properties of the transport carriers that operate within the secretory pathway. Golgi morphology and dynamics differ between species but data from various model systems are pointing toward an integrated view of Golgi organization.

Isolation of Pichia pastoris genes involved in ER-to-Golgi transport

Pichia pastoris has discrete transitional ER sites and coherent Golgi stacks, making this yeast an ideal system for studying the organization of the early secretory pathway. To provide molecular tools for this endeavour, we isolated P. pastoris homologues of the SEC12, SEC13, SEC17, SEC18 and SAR1 genes. The P. pastoris SEC12, SEC13, SEC17 and SEC18 genes were shown to complement the corresponding S. cerevisiae mutants. The SEC17 and SAR1 genes contain introns at the same relative positions in both P. pastoris and S. cerevisiae, whereas the SEC13 gene contains an intron in P. pastoris but not in S. cerevisiae. Intron structure is similar in the two yeasts, although the favoured 5' splice sequence appears to be GTAAGT in P. pastoris vs. GTATGT in S. cerevisiae. The predicted amino acid sequences of Sec13p, Sec17p, Sec18p and Sar1p show strong conservation in the two yeasts. By contrast, the predicted lumenal domain of Sec12p is much larger in P. pastoris, suggesting that this domain may help localize Sec12p to transitional ER sites. A comparison of the SEC12 loci in various budding yeasts indicates that the SEC12-related gene SED4 is probably unique to the Saccharomyces lineage.

Golgi structure correlates with transitional endoplasmic reticulum organization in Pichia pastoris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Golgi stacks are often located near sites of "transitional ER" (tER), where COPII transport vesicles are produced. This juxtaposition may indicate that Golgi cisternae form at tER sites. To explore this idea, we examined two budding yeasts: Pichia pastoris, which has coherent Golgi stacks, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has a dispersed Golgi. tER structures in the two yeasts were visualized using fusions between green fluorescent protein and COPII coat proteins. We also determined the localization of Sec12p, an ER membrane protein that initiates the COPII vesicle assembly pathway. In P. pastoris, Golgi stacks are adjacent to discrete tER sites that contain COPII coat proteins as well as Sec12p. This arrangement of the tER-Golgi system is independent of microtubules. In S. cerevisiae, COPII vesicles appear to be present throughout the cytoplasm and Sec12p is distributed throughout the ER, indicating that COPII vesicles bud from the entire ER network. We propose that P. pastoris has discrete tER sites and therefore generates coherent Golgi stacks, whereas S. cerevisiae has a delocalized tER and therefore generates a dispersed Golgi. These findings open the way for a molecular genetic analysis of tER sites.

A yeast t-SNARE involved in endocytosis

The ORF YOL018c (TLG2) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a protein that belongs to the syntaxin protein family. The proteins of this family, t-SNAREs, are present on target organelles and are thought to participate in the specific interaction between vesicles and acceptor membranes in intracellular membrane trafficking. TLG2 is not an essential gene, and its deletion does not cause defects in the secretory pathway. However, its deletion in cells lacking the vacuolar ATPase subunit Vma2p leads to loss of viability, suggesting that Tlg2p is involved in endocytosis. In tlg2Delta cells, internalization was normal for two endocytic markers, the pheromone alpha-factor and the plasma membrane uracil permease. In contrast, degradation of alpha-factor and uracil permease was delayed in tlg2Delta cells. Internalization of positively charged Nanogold shows that the endocytic pathway is perturbed in the mutant, which accumulates Nanogold in primary endocytic vesicles and shows a greatly reduced complement of early endosomes. These results strongly suggest that Tlg2p is a t-SNARE involved in early endosome biogenesis.

A versatile set of vectors for constitutive and regulated gene expression in Pichia pastoris

The budding yeast Pichia pastoris is an attractive system for exploring certain questions in cell biology, but experimental use of this organism has been limited by a lack of convenient expression vectors. Here we describe a set of compact vectors that should allow for the expression of a wide range of endogenous or foreign genes in P. pastoris. A gene of interest is inserted into a modified pUC19 polylinker; targeted integration into the genome then results in stable and uniform expression of this gene. The utility of these vectors was illustrated by expressing the bacterial beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. Constitutive GUS expression was obtained with the strong GAP promoter or the moderate YPT1 promoter. The regulatable AOX1 promoter yielded very strong GUS expression in methanol-grown cells, negligible expression in glucose-grown cells, and intermediate expression in mannitol-grown cells. GenBank Accession Numbers are: pIB1, AF027958; pIB2, AF0279959; pIB3, AF027960; pIB4, AF027961.

Strong precursor-pore interactions constrain models for mitochondrial protein import

Mitochondrial precursor proteins are imported from the cytosol into the matrix compartment through a proteinaceous translocation pore. Import is driven by mitochondrial Hsp70 (mHsp70), a matrix-localized ATPase. There are currently two postulated mechanisms for this function of mHsp70: 1) The "Brownian ratchet" model proposes that the precursor chain diffuses within the pore, and that binding of mHsp70 to the lumenal portion of the chain biases this diffusion. 2) The "power stroke" model proposes that mHsp70 undergoes a conformational change that actively pulls the precursor chain through the pore. Here we formulate these two models quantitatively, and compare their performance in light of recent experimental evidence that precursor chains interact strongly with the walls of the translocation pore. Under these conditions the simulated Brownian ratchet is inefficient, whereas the power stroke mechanism seems to be a plausible description of the import process.

Active unfolding of precursor proteins during mitochondrial protein import

Precursor proteins made in the cytoplasm must be in an unfolded conformation during import into mitochondria. Some precursor proteins have tightly folded domains but are imported faster than they unfold spontaneously, implying that mitochondria can unfold proteins. We measured the import rates of artificial precursors containing presequences of varying length fused to either mouse dihydrofolate reductase or bacterial barnase, and found that unfolding of a precursor at the mitochondrial surface is dramatically accelerated when its presequence is long enough to span both membranes and to interact with mhsp70 in the mitochondrial matrix. If the presequence is too short, import is slow but can be strongly accelerated by urea-induced unfolding, suggesting that import of these 'short' precursors is limited by spontaneous unfolding at the mitochondrial surface. With precursors that have sufficiently long presequences, unfolding by the inner membrane import machinery can be orders of magnitude faster than spontaneous unfolding, suggesting that mhsp70 can act as an ATP-driven force-generating motor during protein import.

A cisternal maturation mechanism can explain the asymmetry of the Golgi stack

Morphological data suggest that Golgi cisternae form at the cis-face of the stack and then progressively mature into trans-cisternae. However, other studies indicate that COPI vesicles transport material between Golgi cisternae. These two observations can be reconciled by assuming that cisternae carry secretory cargo through the stack in the anterograde direction, while COPI vesicles transport Golgi enzymes in the retrograde direction. This model provides a mechanism for cisternal maturation. If Golgi enzymes compete with one another for packaging into COPI vesicles, we can account for the asymmetric distribution of enzymes across the stack.

What is the driving force for protein import into mitochondria?

Nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins are synthesized in the cytosol as precursors and then imported into mitochondria. Protein import into the matrix space requires the function of the mitochondrial hsp70 (mhsp70) chaperone. mhsp70 is an ATPase that acts in conjunction with two partner proteins: the Tim44 subunit of the inner membrane import complex, and the nucleotide exchange factor mGrpE. A central question concerns how mhsp70 uses the energy of ATP hydrolysis to transport precursor proteins into the matrix. Recent evidence suggests that mhsp70 is a mechanochemical enzyme that actively pulls precursors across the inner membrane.

Translocation arrest of an intramitochondrial sorting signal next to Tim11 at the inner-membrane import site

The import of proteins from the cytosol into the mitochondrial matrix involves the concerted action of two separate import systems: the TOM system in the outer membrane, and the TIM system in the inner membrane. Here we report that the inner-membrane system also sorts proteins to the intermembrane space. Some intermembrane-space proteins, such as cytochromes b2 and c1, are synthesized with a complex pre-sequence consisting of a positively charged matrix targeting signal followed by an uncharged sequence that acts as sorting signal for the intermembrane space. We show that this sorting signal can be efficiently crosslinked to an inner-membrane protein of relative molecular mass 11K after the mature part of the precursor has been sorted to the intermembrane space. The 11K protein, which we term Tim11, is a component of the protein import system in the inner membrane.

Cell biology: alternatives to baker's yeast

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an excellent model organism for addressing questions in cell biology, but other yeast systems are also providing new insights into several fundamental cellular processes.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria lack a bacterial-type sec machinery

The bacterial Sec genes encode a generalized protein export machinery. Although the mitochondria present in eukaryotic cells are derived from bacterial ancestors, a comprehensive search of the complete genomic sequence for the eukaryotic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae did not reveal any close homologs of the bacterial Sec genes, strongly suggesting that yeast mitochondria lack a generalized bacterial-type export system. This finding has implications for the sorting of imported mitochondrial proteins to the intermembrane space compartment, and also for the insertion of mitochondrially encoded proteins into the inner membrane.

The mitochondrial protein import motor: dissociation of mitochondrial hsp70 from its membrane anchor requires ATP binding rather than ATP hydrolysis

During protein import into mitochondria, matrix-localized mitochondrial hsp70 (mhsp70) interacts with the inner membrane protein Tim44 to pull a precursor across the inner membrane. We have proposed that the Tim44-mhsp70 complex functions as an ATP-dependent "translocation motor" that exerts an inward force on the precursor chain. To clarify the role of ATP in mhsp70-driven translocation, we tested the effect of the purified ATP analogues AMP-PNP and ATP gamma S on the Tim44-mhsp70 interaction. Both analogues mimicked ATP by causing dissociation of mhsp70 from Tim44. ADP did not disrupt the Tim44-mhsp70 complex, but did block the ATP-induced dissociation of this complex. In the presence of ADP, mhsp70 can bind simultaneously to Tim44 and to a peptide substrate. These data are consistent with a model in which mhsp70 first hydrolyzes ATP, then associates tightly with Tim44 and a precursor protein, and finally undergoes a conformational change to drive translocation.

Hsp60-independent protein folding in the matrix of yeast mitochondria

Proteins that are imported from the cytosol into mitochondria cross the mitochondrial membranes in an unfolded conformation and then fold in the matrix. Some of these proteins require the chaperonin hsp60 for folding. To test whether hsp60 is required for the folding of all imported matrix proteins, we monitored the folding of four monomeric proteins after import into mitochondria from wild-type yeast or from a mutant strain in which hsp60 had been inactivated. The four precursors included two authentic matrix proteins (rhodanese and the mitochondrial cyclophilin Cpr3p) and two artificial precursors (matrix-targeted variants of dihydrofolate reductase and barnase). Only rhodanese formed a tight complex with hsp60 and required hsp60 for folding. The three other proteins folded efficiently without, and showed no detectable binding to, hsp60. Thus, the mitochondrial chaperonin system is not essential for the folding of all matrix proteins. These data agree well with earlier in vitro studies, which had demonstrated that only a subset of proteins require chaperones for efficient folding.

Cyclophilin catalyzes protein folding in yeast mitochondria

Cyclophilins are a family of ubiquitous proteins that are the intracellular target of the immunosuppressant drug cyclosporin A. Although cyclophilins catalyze peptidylprolyl cis-trans isomerization in vitro, it has remained open whether they also perform this function in vivo. Here we show that Cpr3p, a cyclophilin in the matrix of yeast mitochondria, accelerates the refolding of a fusion protein that was synthesized in a reticulocyte lysate and imported into the matrix of isolated yeast mitochondria. The fusion protein consisted of the matrix-targeting sequence of subunit 9 of F1F0-ATPase fused to mouse dihydrofolate reductase. Refolding of the dihydrofolate reductase moiety in the matrix was monitored by acquisition of resistance to proteinase K. The rate of refolding was reduced by a factor of 2-6 by 2.5 microM cyclosporin A. This reduced rate of folding was also observed with mitochondria lacking Cpr3p. In these mitochondria, protein folding was insensitive to cyclosporin A. The rate of protein import was not affected by cyclosporin A or by deletion of Cpr3p.

A C-terminally-anchored Golgi protein is inserted into the endoplasmic reticulum and then transported to the Golgi apparatus

Unlike conventional membrane proteins of the secretory pathway, proteins anchored to the cytoplasmic surface of membranes by hydrophobic sequences near their C termini follow a posttranslational, signal recognition particle-independent insertion pathway. Many such C-terminally-anchored proteins have restricted intracellular locations, but it is not known whether these proteins are targeted directly to the membranes in which they will ultimately reside. Here we have analyzed the intracellular sorting of the Golgi protein giantin, which consists of a rod-shaped 376-kDa cytoplasmic domain followed by a hydrophobic C-terminal anchor sequence. Unexpectedly, we find that giantin behaves like a conventional secretory protein in that it inserts into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and then is transported to the Golgi. A deletion mutant lacking a portion of the cytoplasmic domain adjacent to the membrane anchor still inserts into the ER but fails to reach the Golgi, even though this mutant has a stable folded structure. These findings suggest that the localization of a C-terminally-anchored Golgi protein involves at least three steps: insertion into the ER membrane, controlled incorporation into transport vesicles, and retention within the Golgi.

The protein import receptor of mitochondria

Protein import into the mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae depends on two receptor subcomplexes composed of integral outer-membrane proteins. One subcomplex is the MAS37-MAS70 heterodimer, which preferentially recognizes the mature regions of precursor proteins associated with ATP-dependent cytosolic chaperones. The other subcomplex contains the acidic proteins MAS20 and MAS22, which recognize the positively charged targeting sequences of a wide variety of mitochondrial precursors. We propose that the two subcomplexes can act together as a single, multifunctional receptor that binds simultaneously to different regions of a precursor molecule.

Dynamic interaction between Isp45 and mitochondrial hsp70 in the protein import system of the yeast mitochondrial inner membrane

The protein import system of the yeast mitochondrial inner membrane includes at least three membrane proteins that presumably form a transmembrane channel as well as several chaperone proteins that mediate the import and refolding of precursor proteins. We show that one of the membrane proteins, Isp45, spans the mitochondrial inner membrane yet is extracted from this membrane at high pH. Solubilization of mitochondria with a nonionic detergent releases Isp45 as a complex with the chaperones mitochondrial hsp70 (mhsp70) and GrpEp. Both chaperones reversibly dissociate from Isp45 upon addition of ATP or adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, suggesting that dissociation requires the binding of ATP. Control experiments indicate that the interaction between mhsp70 and Isp45 occurs in the intact mitochondria. We propose that Isp45 lines the inside of a proteinaceous channel across the inner membrane and that it is the membrane anchor for an ATP-driven "import motor" composed of mhsp70 and GrpEp. This arrangement is reminiscent of the protein transport systems of the yeast endoplasmic reticulum and the bacterial plasma membrane.

Fusion proteins containing the cytochrome b2 presequence are sorted to the mitochondrial intermembrane space independently of hsp60

hsp60 is a chaperonin located in the mitochondrial matrix. It has been suggested that hsp60 participates in two processes: protein folding in the matrix, and the sorting of imported proteins to the intermembrane space. We analyzed hsp60 function by allowing isolated mitochondria to import two model precursor proteins and then measuring the binding of these proteins to the chaperonin. Of the methods that we tested for monitoring the association of imported proteins with hsp60, only co-immunoprecipitation with specific anti-hsp60 antibodies proved to be reliable. A chimeric matrix-targeted precursor, consisting of a mitochondrial presequence fused to a chloroplast-encoded protein, bound stably to hsp60 after import. In contrast, there was no detectable binding to hsp60 with a fusion protein that was targeted to the intermembrane space by the bipartite cytochrome b2 presequence. Analysis of a translocation intermediate demonstrated that the cytochrome b2 presequence arrests import through the inner membrane, with the result that the attached passenger protein is never exposed to hsp60.

A mitochondrial homolog of bacterial GrpE interacts with mitochondrial hsp70 and is essential for viability

Mitochondrial hsp70 (mhsp70) is located in the matrix and an essential component of the mitochondrial protein import system. To study the function of mhsp70 and to identify possible partner proteins we constructed a yeast strain in which all mhsp70 molecules carry a C-terminal hexa-histidine tag. The tagged mhsp70 appears to be functional in vivo. When an ATP depleted mitochondrial extract was incubated with a nickel-derivatized affinity resin, the resin bound not only mhsp70, but also a 23 kDa protein. This protein was dissociated from mhsp70 by ATP. ADP and GTP were much less effective in promoting dissociation whereas CTP and TTP were inactive. We cloned the gene encoding the 23 kDa protein. This gene, termed GRPE, encodes a 228 residue protein, whose sequence closely resembles that of the bacterial GrpE protein. Microsequencing the purified 23 kDa protein established it as the product of the yeast GRPE gene. Yeast GrpEp is made as a precursor that is cleaved upon import into isolated mitochondria. GrpEp is essential for viability. We suggest that this protein interacts with mhsp70 in a manner analogous to that of GrpE with DnaK of E.coli.

Protein import into mitochondria: the requirement for external ATP is precursor-specific whereas intramitochondrial ATP is universally needed for translocation into the matrix

ATP is needed for the import of precursor proteins into mitochondria. However, the role of ATP and its site of action have been unclear. We have now investigated the ATP requirements for protein import into the mitochondrial matrix. These experiments employed an in vitro system that allowed ATP levels to be manipulated both inside and outside the mitochondrial inner membrane. Our results indicate that there are two distinct ATP requirements for mitochondrial protein import. ATP in the matrix is always needed for complete import of precursor proteins into this compartment, even when the precursors are presented to mitochondria in an unfolded conformation. In contrast, the requirement for external ATP is precursor-specific; depletion of external ATP strongly inhibits import of some precursors but has little or no effect with other precursors. A requirement for external ATP can often be overcome by denaturing the precursor with urea. We suggest that external ATP promotes the release of precursors from cytosolic chaperones, whereas matrix ATP drives protein translocation across the inner membrane.

Cloning and disruption of the gene encoding yeast mitochondrial chaperonin 10, the homolog of E. coli groES

The mitochondrial chaperonin system consists of chaperonin 60 (also termed hsp60), which is homologous to E. coli groEL, and chaperonin 10, which is homologous to E. coli groES. In yeast, chaperonin 60 function has been shown to be essential for viability. We report here that the same is true for chaperonin 10. We have cloned, sequenced and disrupted the nuclear chaperonin 10 gene CPN10 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This gene encodes a protein of 11,372 Da that is imported into the mitochondrial matrix without detectable cleavage. Haploid cells lacking a functional copy of CPN10 fail to grow at temperatures between 23 and 37 degrees C.

Identification and functional analysis of chaperonin 10, the groES homolog from yeast mitochondria

Chaperonin 60 (cpn60) and chaperonin 10 (cpn10) constitute the chaperonin system in prokaryotes, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. In Escherichia coli, these two chaperonins are also termed groEL and groES. We have used a functional assay to identify the groES homolog cpn10 in yeast mitochondria. When dimeric ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) is denatured and allowed to bind to yeast cpn60, subsequent refolding of Rubisco is strictly dependent upon yeast cpn10. The heterologous combination of cpn60 from E. coli plus yeast cpn10 is also functional. In contrast, yeast cpn60 plus E. coli cpn10 do not support refolding of Rubisco. In the presence of MgATP, yeast cpn60 and yeast cpn10 form a stable complex that can be isolated by gel filtration and that facilitates refolding of denatured Rubisco. Although the potassium-dependent ATPase activity of E. coli cpn60 can be inhibited by cpn10 from either E. coli or yeast, neither of these cpn10s inhibits the ATPase activity of yeast cpn60. Amino acid sequencing of yeast cpn10 reveals substantial similarity to the corresponding cpn10 proteins from rat mitochondria and prokaryotes.

Import of cytochrome b2 to the mitochondrial intermembrane space: the tightly folded heme-binding domain makes import dependent upon matrix ATP

Cytochrome b2 is synthesized as a precursor in the cytoplasm and imported to the intermembrane space of yeast mitochondria. We show here that the precursor contains a tightly folded heme-binding domain and that translocation of this domain across the outer membrane requires ATP. Surprisingly, it is ATP in the mitochondrial matrix rather than external ATP that drives import of the heme-binding domain. When the folded structure of the heme-binding domain is disrupted by mutation or by urea denaturation, import and correct processing take place in ATP-depleted mitochondria. These results indicate that (1) cytochrome b2 reaches the intermembrane space without completely crossing the inner membrane, and (2) some precursors fold outside the mitochondria but remain translocation-competent, and import of these precursors in vitro does not require ATP-dependent cytosolic chaperone proteins.

Role of ATP in the intramitochondrial sorting of cytochrome c1 and the adenine nucleotide translocator

Import of precursor proteins across the mitochondrial inner membrane requires ATP in the matrix. However, some precursors can still cross the outer membrane in ATP-depleted mitochondria. Here we show that the adenine nucleotide translocator is imported normally into the inner membrane after the matrix has been depleted of ATP. This result supports the earlier suggestion that the translocator inserts into the inner membrane without passing through the matrix. Depletion of matrix ATP also has no detectable effect on the import and maturation of cytochrome c1, which is targeted to the intermembrane space. It thus seems probable that cytochrome c1 does not completely cross the inner membrane during its import pathway.

Protein sorting in mitochondria

Most polypeptides that are imported into the mitochondrial matrix use a common translocation machinery. By contrast, proteins of the other mitochondrial compartments are imported by a variety of different mechanisms. Some of these proteins completely bypass the common translocation machinery, others use only the outer membrane components of this machinery, and still others use components of this machinery from both the outer and inner membranes. Import to the intermembrane space compartment provides examples of all three possibilities.

Cytochromes c1 and b2 are sorted to the intermembrane space of yeast mitochondria by a stop-transfer mechanism

The pathway by which cytochromes c1 and b2 reach the mitochondrial intermembrane space has been controversial. According to the "conservative sorting" hypothesis, these proteins are first imported across both outer and inner membranes into the matrix, and then are retranslocated across the inner membrane. Our data argue against this model: import intermediates of cytochromes c1 and b2 were found only outside the inner membrane; maturation of these proteins was independent of the matrix-localized hsp60 chaperone; and dihydrofolate reductase linked to the presequence of either cytochrome was imported to the intermembrane space in the absence of ATP. We conclude that cytochromes c1 and b2 are sorted by a mechanism in which translocation through the inner membrane is arrested by a "stop-transfer" signal in the presequence. The arrested intermediates may be associated with a proteinaceous channel in the inner membrane.

Fatty acylation promotes fusion of transport vesicles with Golgi cisternae

Two different methods, stimulation of transport by fatty acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) and inhibition of transport by a nonhydrolyzable analogue of palmitoyl-CoA, reveal that fatty acylation is required to promote fusion of transport vesicles with Golgi cisternae. Specifically, fatty acyl-CoA is needed after the attachment of coated vesicles and subsequent uncoating of the vesicles, and after the binding of the NEM-sensitive fusion protein (NSF) to the membranes, but before the actual fusion event. We therefore suggest that an acylated transport component participates, directly or indirectly, in membrane fusion.

Fatty acyl-coenzyme A is required for budding of transport vesicles from Golgi cisternae

We describe a new role for fatty acylation. Conditions were established under which vesicular transport from the cis to the medial Golgi compartment in vitro depends strongly upon the addition of a fatty acyl-coenzyme A, e.g., palmitoyl-CoA. Using an inhibitor of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase, we demonstrate that the fatty acid has to be activated by CoA to stimulate transport. A nonhydrolyzable analog of palmitoyl-CoA competitively inhibits transport. Electron microscopy and biochemical studies show that fatty acyl-CoA is required for budding of (non-clathrin-) coated transport vesicles from Golgi cisternae and that budding is inhibited by the nonhydrolyzable analog.

Vesicular transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi stack requires the NEM-sensitive fusion protein

An N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF) has been purified on the basis of its ability to catalyse vesicular transport within the Golgi stack. We report here that this same protein is required for transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi stack in semi-intact cells. This transport process is inhibited by a monoclonal antibody against NSF. Furthermore, pretreatment of semi-intact cells with N-ethylmaleimide, a sulphydryl alkylating reagent, inhibits transport. Addition of highly purified NSF largely restores transport from endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi. These results suggest that NSF is a general component of the transport machinery required for membrane fusion at multiple stages of the secretory pathway.

Purification of an N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive protein catalyzing vesicular transport

N-Ethylmaleimide (NEM) inhibits protein transport between successive compartments of the Golgi stack in a cell-free system. After inactivation of the Golgi membranes by NEM, transport can be rescued by adding back an appropriately prepared cytosol fraction. This complementation assay has allowed us to purify the NEM-sensitive factor, which we term NSF. The NEM-sensitive factor is a tetramer of 76-kDa subunits, and appears to act catalytically, one tetramer leading to the metabolism of numerous transport vesicles.

Role of an N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive transport component in promoting fusion of transport vesicles with cisternae of the Golgi stack

An N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive transport component (NSF) has been purified on the basis of its ability to support transport between Golgi cisternae. We now report that NSF is needed for membrane fusion. Thus, when NSF is withheld from incubations of Golgi stacks with cytosol and ATP, uncoated transport vesicles accumulate. Biochemical experiments confirm this conclusion and reveal that NSF is needed to form the first of two previously described prefusion complexes. NSF, therefore, acts within a cascade in which a vesicle-cisterna complex is matured until it is competent for fusion. We suggest that this reflects the stepwise assembly of a multisubunit "fusion machine" following vesicle attachment.

Involvement of GTP-binding "G" proteins in transport through the Golgi stack

GTP gamma S irreversibly inhibits protein transport between successive compartments of the Golgi stack in a cell-free system. Fluoride, potentiated by the addition of aluminum ion, also causes a strong inhibition. These are hallmarks of the involvement of a guanine nucleotide-binding or regulatory "G" protein. Inhibition by GTP gamma S requires a cytosolic inhibitory factor that binds to Golgi membranes during inhibition. Preincubation experiments reveal that GTP gamma S blocks the function of acceptor Golgi but not donor Golgi membranes. More specifically, a processing step in between vesicle attachment and the actual fusion event seems to be affected. Electron microscopy demonstrates a corresponding 5-fold accumulation of non-clathrin-coated buds and vesicles associated with the Golgi cisternae during inhibition by GTP gamma S.

Possible role for fatty acyl-coenzyme A in intracellular protein transport

The transport of proteins between subcellular compartments is a vectorial, energy-requiring process mediated by the budding and fusion of a series of vesicular carriers. As yet, nothing is known of the chemical reactions that underlie these events, or how or in exactly what forms energy is used to sustain such movements. Here we report that fatty acyl-CoA acts as cofactor to a Golgi-associated protein factor (termed NSF) that is required for transport between cisternae of the Golgi stack in a cell-free system. This previously unsuspected connection may offer a link between the complex process of protein transport and a single, well-defined type of chemical reaction. We suggest that an ATP-dependent cycle of fatty acylation and deacylation may play an important role in driving rounds of vectorial protein transport.

A new type of coated vesicular carrier that appears not to contain clathrin: its possible role in protein transport within the Golgi stack

Isolated Golgi membranes incubated in the presence of ATP and a cytosolic protein fraction form a population of coated buds or vesicles from the Golgi cisternae. The coats do not have the characteristic hexagonal-pentagonal basketwork of clathrin, and do not react with anti-clathrin polyclonal antibody. The conditions that produce these apparently nonclathrin-coated buds also reconstitute protein transport between compartments of the Golgi stack. The membrane of the buds contains the glycoprotein in transit through these Golgi stacks (VSV-encoded G protein). This suggests that protein transport through the Golgi stack is mediated by a new type of coated vesicle that does not contain clathrin. The concentration of G protein in the coated buds reflects the local concentration of G protein in the cisternae, raising the possibility that the Golgi coated vesicles may be "bulk" membrane carriers.

Components responsible for transport between successive Golgi cisternae are highly conserved in evolution

Transport of a glycoprotein between compartments of the Golgi has been reconstituted in an in vitro system (Balch, W. E., Dunphy, W. G., Braell, W. A., and Rothman, J. E. (1984) Cell 39, 405-416). Cytosolic components and ATP are absolutely required for transport. Here, we have tested the acceptor activity of Golgi fractions and of cytosolic fractions prepared from a variety of organisms. All mammalian Golgi fractions can act as "acceptor" in the in vitro assay. Similarly, the cytosol fractions obtained from plants as well as animals and a lower eukaryote substitute for the homologous CHO cytosol normally used. Moreover, a cytosol subfraction prepared from wheat germ complements a different cytosolic fraction obtained from bovine brain. Apparently, the essential components involved in the post-translational protein transport are remarkably conserved between plants, animals, and lower eukaryotes.