RESUMEN
During mitochondrial apoptosis, pro-apoptotic BH3-only proteins cause the translocation of cytosolic Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) to the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) where it is activated to release cytochrome c from the mitochondrial intermembrane space, but the mechanism is under dispute. We show that most BH3-only proteins are mitochondrial proteins that are imported into the OMM via a C-terminal tail-anchor domain in isolated yeast mitochondria, independently of binding to anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. This C-terminal domain acted as a classical mitochondrial targeting signal and was sufficient to direct green fluorescent protein to mitochondria in human cells. When expressed in mouse fibroblasts, these BH3-only proteins localised to mitochondria and were inserted in the OMM. The BH3-only proteins Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death (Bim), tBid and p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis sensitised isolated mitochondria from Bax/Bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer-deficient fibroblasts to cytochrome c-release by recombinant, extramitochondrial Bax. For Bim, this activity is shown to require the C-terminal-targeting signal and to be independent of binding capacity to and presence of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. Bim further enhanced Bax-dependent killing in yeast. A model is proposed where OMM-tail-anchored BH3-only proteins permit passive 'recruitment' and catalysis-like activation of extra-mitochondrial Bax. The recognition of C-terminal membrane-insertion of BH3-only proteins will permit the development of a more detailed concept of the initiation of mitochondrial apoptosis.
Asunto(s)
Proteína Proapoptótica que Interacciona Mediante Dominios BH3/metabolismo , Membranas Mitocondriales/metabolismo , Proteína X Asociada a bcl-2/metabolismo , Animales , Apoptosis/fisiología , Proteína Proapoptótica que Interacciona Mediante Dominios BH3/genética , Línea Celular , Línea Celular Tumoral , Humanos , Ratones , Microscopía Confocal , Proteínas Mitocondriales/genética , Proteínas Mitocondriales/metabolismo , Unión Proteica , Estructura Terciaria de Proteína , Transporte de ProteínasRESUMEN
Tim8 and Tim13 of yeast belong to a family of evolutionary conserved zinc finger proteins that are organized in hetero-oligomeric complexes in the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Mutations in DDP1 (deafness dystonia peptide 1), the human homolog of Tim8, are associated with the Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. We show that DDP1 acts with human Tim13 in a complex in the intermembrane space. The DDP1.hTim13 complex is in direct contact with translocation intermediates of human Tim23 in mammalian mitochondria. The human DDP1.hTim13 complex complements the function of the TIM8.13 complex in yeast and facilitates import of yeast and human Tim23. Thus, the pathomechanism underlying the Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome may involve an impaired biogenesis of the human TIM23 complex causing severe pleiotropic mitochondrial dysfunction.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Portadoras/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/fisiología , Proteínas de la Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana , Mitocondrias/metabolismo , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana Mitocondrial , Proteínas de Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Animales , Transporte Biológico , Proteínas Portadoras/química , Proteínas Portadoras/fisiología , Humanos , Membranas Intracelulares/metabolismo , Proteínas del Complejo de Importación de Proteínas Precursoras Mitocondriales , PolímerosRESUMEN
Most mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the nuclear genome and thus have to be imported into mitochondria from the cytosol. Protein translocation across and into the mitochondrial membranes is a multistep process facilitated by the coordinated action of at least four specialized translocation systems in the outer and inner membranes of mitochondria. The outer membrane contains one general translocase, the TOM complex, whereas three distinct translocases are located in the inner membrane, which facilitates translocation of different classes of preproteins. The TIM23 complex mediates import of matrix-targeted preproteins with N-terminal presequences, whereas hydrophobic preproteins with internal targeting signals are inserted into the inner membrane via the TIM22 complex. The OXA translocase mediates the insertion of preproteins from the matrix space into the inner membrane. This review focuses on the structural organization and function of the import machinery of the model organisms of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Neurospora crassa. In addition, the molecular basis of a new human mitochondrial disorder is discussed, the Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome. This is the first known disease, which is caused by an impaired mitochondrial protein import machinery leading to progressive neurodegeneration.
Asunto(s)
Membranas Intracelulares/metabolismo , Mitocondrias/metabolismo , Proteínas Mitocondriales/metabolismo , Animales , Proteínas Portadoras/metabolismo , Humanos , Sustancias Macromoleculares , Proteínas de la Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana Mitocondrial , Proteínas del Complejo de Importación de Proteínas Precursoras Mitocondriales , Transporte de Proteínas , Proteínas de Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolismo , Transducción de SeñalRESUMEN
Tim8 and Tim13 are non-essential, conserved proteins of the mitochondrial intermembrane space, which are organized in a hetero-oligomeric complex. They are structurally related to Tim9 and Tim10, essential components of the import machinery for mitochondrial carrier proteins. Here we show that the TIM8-13 complex interacts with translocation intermediates of Tim23, which are partially translocated across the outer membrane but not with fully imported or assembled Tim23. The TIM8-13 complex binds to the N-terminal or intermediate domain of Tim23. It traps the incoming precursor in the intermembrane space thereby preventing retrograde translocation. The TIM8-13 complex is strictly required for import of Tim23 under conditions when a low membrane potential exists in the mitochondria. The human homologue of Tim8 is encoded by the DDP1 (deafness/dystonia peptide 1) gene, which is associated with the Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome (MTS), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder leading to deafness. It is demonstrated that import of human Tim23 is dependent on a high membrane potential. A mechanism to explain the pathology of MTS is discussed.