Characterisation of the membrane-extrinsic domain of the TatB component of the twin arginine protein translocase

FEBS Lett. 2011 Feb 4;585(3):478-84. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2011.01.016. Epub 2011 Jan 13.

Abstract

The twin arginine protein transport (Tat) system transports folded proteins across cytoplasmic membranes of bacteria and thylakoid membranes of plants, and in Escherichia coli it comprises TatA, TatB and TatC components. In this study we show that the membrane extrinsic domain of TatB forms parallel contacts with at least one other TatB protein. Truncation of the C-terminal two thirds of TatB still allows complex formation with TatC, although protein transport is severely compromised. We were unable to isolate transport-inactive single codon substitution mutations in tatB suggesting that the precise amino acid sequence of TatB is not critical to its function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Codon
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / physiology*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / physiology*
  • Mutation
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs / physiology*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Protein Subunits / physiology
  • Protein Transport / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Secretory Pathway
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Codon
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Protein Subunits
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • TatA protein, E coli
  • TatB protein, E coli
  • TatC protein, E coli