A proton gradient is required for the transport of two lumenal oxygen-evolving proteins across the thylakoid membrane.

The 33- and 23-kDa proteins of the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving complex are synthesized in the cytosol as larger precursors and transported into the thylakoid lumen via stromal intermediate forms. We have investigated the energetics of protein transport across the thylakoid membrane using import assays that utilize either intact chloroplasts or isolated thylakoids. We have found that the light-driven import of the 23-kDa protein into isolated thylakoids is almost completely inhibited by electron transport inhibitors or by the ionophore nigericin but not by valinomycin. These compounds have similar effects in chloroplast import assays: precursors of both the 33- and 23-kDa proteins are imported and processed to intermediate forms in the stroma, but transport into the thylakoid lumen is blocked when electron transport is inhibited or nigericin is present. These results indicate that the transport of these proteins across the thylakoid membrane requires a protonmotive force and that the dominant component in this respect is the proton gradient and not the electrical potential.     

Targeting of proteins to the thylakoid lumen by the bipartite transit peptide of the 33 kd oxygen-evolving protein.

Various chimeric precursors and deletions of the 33 kd oxygen-evolving protein (OEE1) were constructed to study the mechanism by which chloroplast proteins are imported and targeted to the thylakoid lumen. The native OEE1 precursor was imported into isolated chloroplasts, processed and localized in the thylakoid lumen. Replacement of the OEE1 transit peptide with the transit peptide of the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, a stromal protein, resulted in redirection of mature OEE1 into the stromal compartment of the chloroplast. Utilizing chimeric transit peptides and block deletions we demonstrated that the 85 residue OEE1 transit peptide contains separate signal domains for importing and targeting the thylakoid lumen. The importing domain, which mediates translocation across the two membranes of the chloroplast envelope, is present in the N-terminal 58 amino acids. The thylakoid lumen targeting domain, which mediates translocation across the thylakoid membrane, is located within the C-terminal 27 residues of the OEE1 transit peptide. Chimeric precursors were constructed and used in in vitro import experiments to demonstrate that the OEE1 transit peptide is capable of importing and targeting foreign proteins to the thylakoid lumen.     

Protein-specific energy requirements for protein transport across or into thylakoid membranes. Two lumenal proteins are transported in the absence of ATP.

Cytosolically synthesized thylakoid proteins must be translocated across the chloroplast envelope membranes, traverse the stroma, and then be translocated into or across the thylakoid membrane. Protein transport across the envelope requires ATP hydrolysis but not electrical or proton gradients. The energy requirements for the thylakoid translocation step were studied here for the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein (LHCP), an integral membrane protein, and for several thylakoid lumen-resident proteins: plastocyanin and OE33, OE23, and OE17 (the 33-, 23-, and 17-kDa subunits of the oxygen-evolving complex, respectively). Dissipation of the thylakoid protonmotive force during an in organello protein import assay partially inhibited the thylakoid localization of LHCP and OE33, totally inhibited localization of OE23 and OE17, and had no effect on localization of plastocyanin. We used reconstitution assays for LHCP insertion and for OE23 and OE17 transport into isolated thylakoids to investigate the energy requirements in detail. The results indicated that LHCP insertion absolutely requires ATP hydrolysis and is enhanced by a transthylakoid delta pH and that transport of OE23 and OE17 is absolutely dependent upon a delta pH. Surprisingly, OE23 and OE17 transport occurred maximally in the complete absence of ATP. These results establish the thylakoid membrane as the only membrane system in which a delta pH can provide all of the energy required to translocate proteins across the bilayer. They also demonstrate that the energy requirements for integration into or translocation across the thylakoid membranes are protein-specific.     

Assembly of Newly Imported Oxygen-Evolving Complex Subunits in Isolated Chloroplasts: Sites of Assembly and Mechanism of Binding

We have examined the assembly of the nuclear-encoded subunits of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) after their import into isolated intact chloroplasts. We showed that all three subunits examined (OE33, OE23, and OE17) partition between the thylakoid lumen and a site on the inner surface of the thylakoid membrane after import in a homologous system (e.g., pea or spinach subunits into pea or spinach chloroplasts, respectively). Although some interspecies protein import experiments resulted in OEC subunit binding, maize OE17 did not bind thylakoid membranes in chloroplasts isolated from peas. Newly imported OE33 and OE23 were washed from the membranes at the same concentrations of urea and NaCl as the native, indigenous proteins; this observation suggests that the former subunits are bound productively within the OEC. Inhibition of neither chloroplast protein synthesis nor light- or ATP-dependent energization of the thylakoid membrane significantly affected these assembly reactions, and we present evidence suggesting that incoming subunits actively displace those already bound to the thylakoid membrane. Transport of OE33 took place primarily in the stromal-exposed membranes and proceeded through a protease-sensitive, mature intermediate. Initial binding of OE33 to the thylakoid membrane occurred primarily in the stromal-exposed membranes, from where it migrated with measurable kinetics to the granal region. In contrast, OE23 assembly occurred in the granal membrane regions. This information is incorporated into a model of the stepwise assembly of oxygen-evolving photosystem II.     

Transport of proteins into chloroplasts. Import and maturation of precursors to the 33-, 23-, and 16-kDa proteins of the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving complex

The 33-, 23-, and 16-kDa proteins of the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving complex are synthesized as precursors in the cytoplasm and transported into the thylakoid lumen of higher plant chloroplasts. In this report we have analyzed the import and maturation of these precursors, using reconstituted protein import assays and partially purified preparations of the processing peptidases involved. Precursors of the 33- and 23-kDa proteins from Spinacia and Triticum aestivum are processed by a stromal peptidase to intermediate forms; polypeptides of similar size are observed during the transport of these precursors and possibly that of the 16-kDa protein, into isolated chloroplasts. Complete maturation of the 33- and 23-kDa proteins is carried out by a thylakoidal peptidase shown previously to be involved in plastocyanin biogenesis. The data support an import mechanism involving successive cleavages by the stromal and thylakoidal processing peptidases.     

Carboxyl-terminal sequences can influence the in vitro import and intraorganellar targeting of chloroplast protein precursors.

The transit peptide of the lumenal 33-kDa oxygen-evolving polypeptide (OEE1) is capable of directing the import and targeting of the foreign protein dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) to the thylakoid lumen. The import results from the first part of this study indicate that methotrexate cannot block the import or intraorganellar targeting of OEE1-DHFR in chloroplasts in contrast to that reported for the import of cytochrome oxidase subunit IV (COXIV)-DHFR in mitochondria. These results suggest that the fusion of the OEE1 transit sequence to DHFR affected the protein's methotrexate binding properties. We further examined and compared the transport characteristics of a number of carboxyl-terminal truncated native chloroplast precursors to determine whether carboxyl domains contribute to the import and intraorganellar targeting mechanism of these proteins. The plastid precursors chosen for this study are targeted to one of the following chloroplast compartments: the stroma, the thylakoid membrane, and the lumen. In most cases, removal of carboxyl domains had a dramatic effect on one or more stages of the translocation pathway, such as import, processing, and intraorganellar targeting. The effects of carboxyl deletions varied from precursor to precursor and were dependent on the extent of the deletion. These combined results suggest that carboxyl domains in the mature part of the proteins can influence the function of the transit peptide, and as a result play an important role in determining the import and targeting competence of chloroplast precursors.     

Transport of Proteins into the Thylakoid Lumen--Stromal Processing and Energy Requirements for the Import of the Precursor to the 23-kDa Protein of PS II

Transport of the precursor to the 23-kDa protein of photosystemII was examined by incubation of the precursor with isolatedintact chloroplasts in the presence of ATP in darkness. An intermediary-sizedform was accumulated in the stroma at 0.1–1 mM ATP. Athigher concentrations of ATP (3.2–10 mM), the precursorwas imported into the thylakoid lumen and processed to the matureform. The precursor was not imported even as far as the stromain the absence of ATP. The intermediary-sized form that accumulatedat low concentrations of ATP was imported into the thylakoidlumen and processed to the mature form when chloroplasts weresubsequently incubated in the light. These observations indicatethat the accumulated intermediary-sized form was suitable forfurther translocation and that the intermediary-sized form isa transport intermediate that occurs under natural conditions.Import of the protein into the thylakoid lumen, which was observedat the higher concentrations of ATP, was inhibited by the additionof nigericin or carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazine. Theeffects of these ionophores suggests that the translocationof the protein across thylakoid membrane requires a proton gradientacross the membrane. The results together show that the proteinis imported from the cytosol into the thylakoid lumen in discretesteps: ATP-driven translocation across envelope membranes, stromalprocessing to the intermediate, translocation of the intermediateacross the thylakoid membrane and final processing to the matureprotein within the thylakoids. (Received June 3, 1992; Accepted December 17, 1992)     

Full-length plastocyanin precursor is translocated across isolated thylakoid membranes

In higher plants, the chloroplastic protein plastocyanin is synthesized as a transit peptide-containing precursor by cytosolic ribosomes and posttranslationally transported to the thylakoid lumen. En route to the lumen, a plastocyanin precursor is first imported into chloroplasts and then further directed across the thylakoid membrane by a second distinct transport event. A partially processed form of plastocyanin is observed in the stroma during import experiments using intact chloroplasts and has been proposed to be the translocation substrate for the second step (Smeekens, S., Bauerle, C., Hageman, J., Keegstra, K., and Weisbeek, P. (1986) Cell 46, 365-375). To further characterize this second step, we have reconstituted thylakoid transport in a system containing in vitro-synthesized precursor proteins and isolated thylakoid membranes. This system was specific for lumenal proteins since stromal proteins lacking the appropriate targeting information did not accumulate in the thylakoid lumen. Plastocyanin precursor was taken up by isolated thylakoids, proteolytically processed to mature size, and converted to holo form. Translocation was temperature-dependent and was stimulated by millimolar levels of ATP but did not strictly require the addition of stromal factors. We have examined the substrate requirements of thylakoid translocation by testing the ability of different processed forms of plastocyanin to transport in the in vitro system. Interestingly, only the full-length plastocyanin precursor, not the partially processed intermediate form, was competent for transport in this in vitro system.     

Identification of a Role for an Azide-Sensitive Factor in the Thylakoid Transport of the 17-Kilodalton Subunit of the Photosynthetic Oxygen-Evolving Complex

We have examined the transport of the precursor of the 17-kD subunit of the photosynthetic O₂-evolving complex (OE17) in intact chloroplasts in the presence of inhibitors that block two protein-translocation pathways in the thylakoid membrane. This precursor uses the transmembrane pH gradient-dependent pathway into the thylakoid lumen, and its transport across the thylakoid membrane is thought to be independent of ATP and the chloroplast SecA homolog, cpSecA. We unexpectedly found that azide, widely considered to be an inhibitor of cpSecA, had a profound effect on the targeting of the photosynthetic OE17 to the thylakoid lumen. By itself, azide caused a significant fraction of mature OE17 to accumulate in the stroma of intact chloroplasts. When added in conjunction with the protonophore nigericin, azide caused the maturation of a fraction of the stromal intermediate form of OE17, and this mature protein was found only in the stroma. Our data suggest that OE17 may use the sec-dependent pathway, especially when the transmembrane pH gradient-dependent pathway is inhibited. Under certain conditions, OE17 may be inserted across the thylakoid membrane far enough to allow removal of the transit peptide, but then may slip back out of the translocation machinery into the stromal compartment.     

Multiple pathways for protein transport into or across the thylakoid membrane.

Many thylakoid proteins are cytosolically synthesized and have to cross the two chloroplast envelope membranes as well as the thylakoid membrane en route to their functional locations. In order to investigate the localization pathways of these proteins, we over-expressed precursor proteins in Escherichia coli and used them in competition studies. Competition was conducted for import into the chloroplast and for transport into or across isolated thylakoids. We also developed a novel in organello method whereby competition for thylakoid transport occurred within intact chloroplasts. Import of all precursors into chloroplasts was similarly inhibited by saturating concentrations of the precursor to the OE23 protein. In contrast, competition for thylakoid transport revealed three distinct precursor specificity groups. Lumen-resident proteins OE23 and OE17 constitute one group, lumenal proteins plastocyanin and OE33 a second, and the membrane protein LHCP a third. The specificity determined by competition correlates with previously determined protein-specific energy requirements for thylakoid transport. Taken together, these results suggest that thylakoid precursor proteins are imported into chloroplasts on a common import apparatus, whereupon they enter one of several precursor-specific thylakoid transport pathways.     

A folded protein can be transported across the chloroplast envelope and thylakoid membranes.

Many thylakoid lumenal proteins are nuclear encoded, cytosolically synthesized, and reach their functional location after posttranslational targeting across two chloroplast envelope membranes and the thylakoid membrane via proteinaceous transport systems. To study whether these transmembrane transport machineries can translocate folded structures, we overexpressed the 17-kDa subunit of the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II (prOE17) that had been modified to contain a unique C-terminal cysteine. This allowed us to chemically link a terminal 6.5-kDa bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) moiety to prOE17 to create the chimeric protein prOE17-BPTI. Redox reagents and an irreversible sulfhydryl-specific cross-linker, bis-maleimidohexane, were used to manipulate the structure of BPTI. Import of prOE17-BPTI into isolated chloroplasts and thylakoids demonstrates that the small tightly folded BPTI domain is carried across both the chloroplast envelopes and the delta pH-dependent transmembrane transporter of the thylakoid membrane when linked to the correctly targeted OE17 precursor. Transport proceeded even when the BPTI moiety was internally cross-linked into a protease-resistant form. These data indicate that unfolding is not a ubiquitous requirement for protein translocation and that at least some domains of targeted proteins can maintain a nonlinear structure during their translocation into and within chloroplasts.     

Stoichiometry for binding and transport by the twin arginine translocation system

Twin arginine translocation (Tat) systems transport large folded proteins across sealed membranes. Tat systems accomplish this feat with three membrane components organized in two complexes. In thylakoid membranes, cpTatC and Hcf106 comprise a large receptor complex containing an estimated eight cpTatC-Hcf106 pairs. Protein transport occurs when Tha4 joins the receptor complex as an oligomer of uncertain size that is thought to form the protein-conducting structure. Here, binding analyses with intact membranes or purified complexes indicate that each receptor complex could bind eight precursor proteins. Kinetic analysis of translocation showed that each precursor-bound site was independently functional for transport, and, with sufficient Tha4, all sites were concurrently active for transport. Tha4 titration determined that ～26 Tha4 protomers were required for transport of each OE17 (oxygen-evolving complex subunit of 17 kD) precursor protein. Our results suggest that, when fully saturated with precursor proteins and Tha4, the Tat translocase is an ～2.2-megadalton complex that can individually transport eight precursor proteins or cooperatively transport multimeric precursors.     

Import of polyphenol oxidase by chloroplasts is enhanced by methyl jasmonate

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO; EC 1.10.3.2 or EC 1.14.18.1) takes part in the response of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) to wounding and herbivore attack, mediated by the octadecanoid wound-signaling pathway. Wounding and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) induce expression of ppo genes and markedly increase the level of the enzyme. We report that pretreatment with MeJA also markedly increased the ability of isolated tomato chloroplasts to import and process PPO precursors (pPPO). Pea (Pisum sativum L.) chloroplasts showed no such response. Wounding or ethylene alone was ineffective but ethylene was synergistic with MeJA. Treatment with MeJA conferred a strong binding of pPPO, or its processing intermediate, to thylakoids and subsequent translocation into the lumen and processing to the mature protein. The effect on PPO import and translocation was evident after 8–16 h exposure to MeJA. Membrane-bound pPPO was cross-linked to a proteinaceous component of the thylakoid translocation apparatus, apparently induced by MeJA. The import and processing of other nuclear-encoded thylakoid proteins were not affected by MeJA in tomato. A 90-kDa protein that co-fractionated with thylakoids was induced along with the increase in competence for PPO import, and was identified as the proteinase-inhibitor multicystatin. It is concluded that the 90-kDa protein observed is part of the MeJA-induced defense response of tomato, not a component of the thylakoid translocation apparatus.Abbreviations Chl Chlorophyll - i and p Prefixes used to denote the intermediate and precursor forms of a protein, respectively - JA Jasmonic acid - LSU Large subunit of Rubisco - MeJA Methyl jasmonate - OE23 and OE33 23- and 33-kDa subunits of the oxygen-evolving complex of PSII - PC Plastocyanin - pPPO (iPPO, PPO) Precursor (intermediate, mature) form of polyphenol oxidase     

Chloroplast SecY is complexed to SecE and involved in the translocation of the 33-kDa but not the 23-kDa subunit of the oxygen-evolving complex

SecY is a component of the protein-conducting channel for protein transport across the cytoplasmic membrane of prokaryotes. It is intimately associated with a second integral membrane protein, SecE, and together with SecA forms the minimal core of the preprotein translocase. A chloroplast homologue of SecY (cpSecY) has previously been identified and determined to be localized to the thylakoid membrane. In the present work, we demonstrate that a SecE homologue is localized to the thylakoid membrane, where it forms a complex with cpSecY. Digitonin solubilization of thylakoid membranes releases the SecY/E complex in a 180-kDa form, indicating that other components are present and/or the complex is a higher order oligomer of the cpSecY/E dimer. To test whether cpSecY forms the protein-conducting channel of the thylakoid membrane, translocation assays were conducted with the SecA-dependent substrate OE33 and the SecA-independent substrate OE23, in the presence and absence of antibodies raised against cpSecY. The antibodies inhibited translocation of OE33 but not OE23, indicating that cpSecY comprises the protein-conducting channel used in the SecA-dependent pathway, whereas a distinct protein conducting channel is used to translocate OE23.     

Nucleus-encoded precursors to thylakoid lumen proteins of Euglena gracilis possess tripartite presequences.

The complete presequences of the nucleus-encoded precursors to two proteins, cytochrome c6 and the 30-kDa protein of the oxygen-evolving complex, that reside in the thylakoid lumen of the chloroplasts of Euglena gracilis are presented. Sorting of these proteins involves translocation across four membranes, the three-membraned chloroplast envelope and the thylakoid membrane. The tripartite presequences show the structure: signal sequence transit sequence signal sequence. Three hydrophobic domains become apparent: two of them correspond to signal sequences for translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and the thylakoid membrane, respectively, whereas the third constitutes the stop-transfer signal contained in the long stroma-targeting part of the tripartite presequence.     

Import into chloroplasts of a yeast mitochondrial protein directed by ferredoxin and plastocyanin transit peptides

Many chloroplast proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm as precursors which contain an amino terminal transit peptide. These precursors are subsequently imported into chloroplast and targeted to one of several organellar locations. This import is mediated by the transit peptide, which is cleaved off during import. We have used the transit peptides of ferredoxin (chloroplast stroma) and plastocyanin (thylakoid lumen) to study chloroplast protein import and intra-organellar routing toward different compartments. Chimeric genes were constructed that encode precursor proteins in which the transit peptides are linked to yeast mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase. Chloroplast protein import and localization experiments show that both chimeric proteins are imported into the chloroplast stroma and processed. The plastocyanin transit sequence did not direct superoxide dismutase to the thylakoids; this protein was found in the stroma as an intermediate that still contains part of the plastocyanin transit peptide. The organelle specificity of these chimeric precursors reflected the transit peptide parts of the molecules, because neither the ferredoxin and plastocyanin precursors nor the chimeric proteins were imported into isolated yeast mitochondria.     

A stromal pool of TatA promotes Tat-dependent protein transport across the thylakoid membrane

In chloroplasts and bacteria, the Tat (twin-arginine translocation) system is engaged in transporting folded passenger proteins across the thylakoid and cytoplasmic membranes, respectively. To date, three membrane proteins (TatA, TatB, and TatC) have been identified to be essential for Tat-dependent protein translocation in the plant system, whereas soluble factors seem not to be required. In contrast, in the bacterial system, several cytosolic chaperones were described to be involved in Tat transport processes. Therefore, we have examined whether stromal or peripherally associated membrane proteins also play a role in Tat transport across the thylakoid membrane. Analyzing both authentic precursors as well as the chimeric 16/23 protein, which allows us to study each step of the translocation process individually, we demonstrate that a soluble form of TatA is present in the chloroplast stroma, which significantly improves the efficiency of Tat-dependent protein transport. Furthermore, this soluble TatA is able to reconstitute the Tat transport properties of thylakoid membranes that are transport-incompetent due to extraction with solutions of chaotropic salts.     

Targeting of ricin A chain into pea chloroplasts

A chimaeric gene was constructed encoding the pre-sequence of the 33 kDa oxygen-evolving complex protein from wheat (a thylakoid lumen protein) linked to ricin A chain. The fusion protein is efficiently imported by isolated pea chloroplasts and localised partly in the stroma, with the remainder bound to the stromal surface of the thylakoids. The imported protein is fully processed by both the stromal and thylakoidal processing peptidases, indicating that partial or complete translocation across the thylakoid membrane has taken place.     

Large-scale translocation reversal within the thylakoid Tat system in vivo

In vitro import assays have shown that the thylakoid twin-arginine translocase (Tat) system transports folded proteins in a unidirectional manner. Here, we expressed a natural substrate, pre-23K, and a 23K presequence-green fluorescent protein (GFP) chimera in vivo in tobacco protoplasts. Both are imported into chloroplasts, targeted to the thylakoids, and processed to the mature size by the lumen-facing processing peptidase. However, the vast majority of mature GFP and about half of the 23K are then returned to the stroma. Mutations in the twin-arginine motif block thylakoid targeting and maturation, confirming an involvement of the Tat apparatus. Mutation of the processing site yields membrane-associated intermediate-size protein in vivo, indicating a delayed reversal of translocation to the stroma and suggesting a longer lived interaction with the Tat machinery. We conclude that, in vivo, the Tat system can reject substrates at a late stage in translocation and on a very large scale, indicating the influence of factors that are absent in reconstitution assays.     

Transport of proteins into chloroplasts. Requirements for the efficient import of two lumenal oxygen-evolving complex proteins into isolated thylakoids

The 33- and 23-kDa proteins of the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving complex are synthesized in the cytosol and targeted into the thylakoid lumen by bipartite presequences. In this report, we describe conditions for the efficient import of each of these proteins by isolated pea thylakoids. Import of the 33-kDa protein requires both light and stromal extract. The probable function of the stromal extract is to provide stromal processing peptidase to remove the first "envelope transit" signal of the presequence. Import of the 23-kDa protein is also driven by light, but stromal extract is not required for import; furthermore, efficient import is still observed if the precursor is modified to completely block cleavage by residual stromal processing peptidase activity. The intermediate form of the 23-kDa protein, which is generated by incubation of the precursor protein with stromal processing peptidase, is also efficiently imported. The results indicate that the thylakoidal protein transport system can import both the precursor and intermediate forms of the 23-kDa protein, but probably only the intermediate form of the 33-kDa protein.