Abstract
Most inner membrane proteins of mitochondria are synthesized in the cytosol and reach the inner membrane using one of two alternative sorting pathways. On the stop transfer route, proteins are arrested during import at the level of the inner membrane. The conservative sorting pathway involves translocation through the inner membrane and insertion from the matrix. It is unclear how the translocase of the inner membrane 23 protein translocation machinery differentiates between the two classes of proteins. Here we show that proline residues in hydrophobic stretches strongly disfavor the translocation arrest of transmembrane domains (TMDs) and favor the transfer of preproteins to the matrix. We propose that proline residues, together with the hydrophobicity of the TMD and the presence of charged residues COOH-terminally flanking the TMD, are determinants of the intramitochondrial sorting of inner membrane proteins.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Autoradiography
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Blotting, Western
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Electron Transport Complex IV / chemistry
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Electron Transport Complex IV / genetics
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Electron Transport Complex IV / metabolism
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Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
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Intracellular Membranes / chemistry*
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Mitochondria / metabolism*
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Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / chemistry
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Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism*
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Mitochondrial Proteins / chemistry
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Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
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Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism
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Models, Biological
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Mutagenesis, Insertional
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Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
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Proline / chemistry*
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Proline / metabolism*
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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Protein Transport
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / cytology
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / growth & development
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Transaminases / analysis
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Transaminases / metabolism
Substances
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Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins
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Mitochondrial Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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OXA1 protein
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Proline
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Electron Transport Complex IV
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Transaminases
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acetylornithine transaminase