Transport of microinjected proteins into peroxisomes of mammalian cells: inability of Zellweger cell lines to import proteins with the SKL tripeptide peroxisomal targeting signal.

Previous work has shown that the firefly (Photinus pyralis) luciferase contains a C-terminal peroxisomal targeting signal consisting of the tripeptide Ser-Lys-Leu. This report describes the microinjection of two proteins, (i) luciferase and (ii) albumin conjugated to a peptide ending in the sequence Ser-Lys-Leu, into mammalian cells grown in tissue culture. Following microinjection, incubation of the cells at 37 degrees C resulted in peroxisomal transport of these exogenous proteins into catalase-containing vesicles. The translocation was both time and temperature dependent. The transport could be inhibited by coinjection of synthetic peptides bearing various peroxisomal targeting signal motifs. These proteins could be transported into peroxisomes in normal human fibroblast cell lines but not in cell lines derived from patients with Zellweger syndrome. These results demonstrate that microinjection of peroxisomal proteins yields an authentic in vivo system with which to study peroxisomal transport. Furthermore, these results reveal that the process of peroxisomal transport does not involve irreversible modification of the protein, that artificial hybrid substrates can be transported and used as tools to study peroxisomal transport, and that the defect in Zellweger syndrome is indeed the inability to transport proteins containing the Ser-Lys-Leu targeting signal into the peroxisomal lumen.     

Import of human bifunctional enzyme into peroxisomes of human hepatoma cells in vitro.

A polypeptide containing the carboxyl-terminal fragment of human peroxisomal enoyl-CoA hydratase:3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional enzyme was synthesized in vitro from its cDNA clone. This expression polypeptide was transported into purified rat liver peroxisomes. When the expression polypeptide was incubated with postnuclear supernatant fractions of human hepatoma cells and analyzed by Nycodenz gradient SDS-PAGE and fluorography, it was imported specifically into peroxisomes as indicated by its resistance to proteinase K degradation. A deletion of the last nine amino acid residues at the carboxyl-terminus of this polypeptide prevents its peroxisomal import. A tripeptide sequence, SKL, located at the carboxyl-terminus of human bifunctional enzyme appears to be the targeting signal for the peroxisomal importation of bifunctional enzyme in human cells.     

Investigation of the oligomeric status of the peroxisomal isoform of human 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase

Unprocessed 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) lyase, retaining the mitochondrial signal sequence, has been proposed to correspond to a peroxisomal isoform. Using a modified expression plasmid and purification protocol, it is now possible to isolate substantial amounts (>10mg) of highly purified peroxisomal HMG-CoA lyase. These improvements facilitate more detailed protein chemistry approaches for characterization of the enzyme, which exhibits substantial (eightfold) dithiothreitol (DTT) stimulation of activity. The C323S mutant shows little DTT activation. Superose gel filtration chromatography data have prompted other investigators to hypothesize that the peroxisomal isoform is a monomer. This study confirms the elution properties presented in that earlier report, but also demonstrates anomalous elution up on Superose chromatography. Elution properties observed using a polyacrylamide resin (Bio-Gel P100) suggest a dimeric, rather than monomeric, enzyme. This observation has been further tested by protein chemistry experiments. The peroxisomal enzyme forms a covalently linked dimeric species upon crosslinking with dibromopropanone or o-phenylenedimaleimide or upon disulfide formation as a result of incubation with diamide. Cysteine-323 is required for intersubunit covalent crosslinking. Crosslinking efficiency is not dependent on HMG-CoA lyase protein concentration nor is it influenced by the presence of varying concentrations of an unrelated protein, such as ovalbumin. Sedimentation equilibrium analyses do not indicate a monomeric form of either human mitochondrial or human peroxisomal HMG-CoA lyase; the results suggest that these proteins are predominantly dimers. The retention of the basic N-terminal mitochondrial signal sequence in the peroxisomal HMG-CoA lyase isoform may influence elution from Superose gel filtration media but does not alter the oligomeric status of the enzyme.     

Transport of microinjected alcohol oxidase from Pichia pastoris into vesicles in mammalian cells: involvement of the peroxisomal targeting signal

This report describes the microinjection of a purified peroxisomal protein, alcohol oxidase, from Pichia pastoris into mammalian tissue culture cells and the subsequent transport of this protein into vesicular structures. Transport was into membrane-enclosed vesicles as judged by digitonin-permeabilization experiments. The transport was time and temperature dependent. Vesicles containing alcohol oxidase could be detected as long as 6 d after injection. Coinjection of synthetic peptides containing a consensus carboxyterminal tripeptide peroxisomal targeting signal resulted in abolition of alcohol oxidase transport into vesicles in all cell lines examined. Double-label experiments indicated that, although some of the alcohol oxidase was transported into vesicles that contained other peroxisomal proteins, the bulk of the alcohol oxidase did not appear to be transported to preexisting peroxisomes. While the inhibition of transport of alcohol oxidase by peptides containing the peroxisomal targeting signal suggests a competition for some limiting component of the machinery involved in the sorting of proteins into peroxisomes, the organelles into which the majority of the protein is targeted appear to be unusual and distinct from endogenous peroxisomes by several criteria. Microinjected alcohol oxidase was transported into vesicles in normal fibroblasts and also in cell lines derived from patients with Zellweger syndrome, which are unable to transport proteins containing the ser-lys-leu-COOH peroxisomal targeting signal into peroxisomes (Walton et al., 1992). The implications of this result for the mechanism of peroxisomal protein transport are discussed.     

Mouse very long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA). This accumulation has been attributed to decreased VLCFA beta-oxidation and peroxisomal very long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (VLCS) activity. The X-ALD gene, ABCD1, encodes a peroxisomal membrane ATP binding cassette transporter, ALDP, that is hypothesized to affect VLCS activity in peroxisomes by direct interaction with the VLCS enzyme. Recently, a VLCS gene that encodes a protein with significant sequence identity to known rat and human peroxisomal VLCS protein has been identified in mice. We find that the mouse VLCS gene (Vlcs) encodes an enzyme (Vlcs) with VLCS activity that localizes to peroxisomes and is expressed in X-ALD target tissues. We show that the expression of Vlcs in the peroxisomes of X-ALD mouse fibroblasts improves VLCFA beta-oxidation in these cells, implying a role for this enzyme in the biochemical abnormality of X-ALD. X-ALD mice, which accumulate VLCFA in tissues, show no change in the expression of Vlcs, the subcellular localization of Vlcs, or general peroxisomal VLCS activity. These observations imply that ALDP is not necessary for the proper expression or localization of Vlcs protein, and the control of VLCFA levels does not depend on the direct interaction of Vlcs and ALDP.     

Catalase gene of the yeast Candida tropicalis. Sequence analysis and comparison with peroxisomal and cytosolic catalases from other sources

A clone harbouring the genomic DNA sequence for the peroxisomal catalase of an n-alkane-utilizable yeast, Candida tropicalis, has been isolated by the hybrid-selection method and confirmed with a probe of catalase partial cDNA. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cloned DNA disclosed that the gene fragment coding for catalase had a length of 1455 base pairs (corresponding to 485 amino acids; m = 54937 Da), and that the size of this enzyme was the smallest among all catalases reported hitherto. No intervening sequence was found in this coding region and some portions coincided with the amino acid sequences obtained from the analysis of the purified catalase. The comparison with three peroxisomal catalases from rat liver, bovine liver and human kidney, and one cytosolic catalase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has revealed that catalase from C. tropicalis was more homologous to the peroxisomal enzymes than to the cytosolic one. C. tropicalis used the codons of the high-expression type. Amino acid residues were all conserved at the active and heme-binding sites. In the N and C-terminal regions there was no characteristic signal sequence or consensus sequence. However, a noticeable region, which can be discriminated between peroxisomal and cytosolic catalases, was proposed.     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the cDNA for rat mitochondrial enoyl-CoA hydratase. Structural and evolutionary relationships linked to the bifunctional enzyme of the peroxisomal beta-oxidation system

To elucidate structural relationships between the mitochondrial and peroxisomal isozymes of beta-oxidation systems, cDNA of the mitochondrial enoyl-CoA hydratase was cloned and sequenced. The 1454-bp cDNA sequence contained a 870 bp of open reading frame, encoding a polypeptide of 290 amino acid residues. When compared with the amino-terminal sequence of the mature enzyme, the predicted sequence contained a 29-residue presequence at the amino terminus. This presequence had characteristics typical of a mitochondrial signal peptide. The primary structure of this enzyme showed significant similarity with the amino-terminal portion of sequence of the peroxisomal enoyl-CoA hydratase: 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional enzyme. The carboxy-terminal part of the latter enzyme has sequence similarity with mitochondrial 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase [Ishii, N., Hijikata, M., Osumi, T. & Hashimoto, T. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 8144-8150]. These findings suggest that the peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme has the hydratase and dehydrogenase functions on the amino- and carboxy-terminal sides, respectively. The mitochondrial beta-oxidation enzymes and the peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme may have common evolutionary origins.     

Peroxisomal copper, zinc superoxide dismutase. Characterization of the isoenzyme from watermelon cotyledons.

The biochemical and immunochemical characterization of a superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) from peroxisomal origin has been carried out. The enzyme is a Cu,Zn-containing SOD (CuZn-SOD) located in the matrix of peroxisomes from watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris Schrad.) cotyledons (L.M. Sandalio and L.A. del Río [1988] Plant Physiol 88: 1215-1218). The amino acid composition of the enzyme was determined. Analysis by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of the peroxisomal CuZn-SOD incubated with 6 M guanidine-HCl indicated that this enzyme contained a noncovalently bound chromophore group that was responsible for the absorbance peak of the native enzyme at 260 nm. The amino acid sequence of the peroxisomal CuZn-SOD was determined by Edman degradation. Comparison of its sequence with those reported for other plant SODs revealed homologies of about 70% with cytosolic CuZn-SODs and of 90% with chloroplastic CuZn-SODs. The peroxisomal SOD has a high thermal stability and resistance to inactivation by hydrogen peroxide. A polyclonal antibody was raised against peroxisomal CuZn-SOD, and by western blotting the antibody cross-reacted with plant CuZn-SODs but did not recognize either plant Mn-SOD or bacterial Fe-SOD. The antiSOD-immunoglobulin G showed a weak cross-reaction with bovine erythrocytes and liver CuZn-SODs, and also with cell-free extracts from trout liver. The possible function of this CuZn-SOD in the oxidative metabolism of peroxisomes is discussed.     

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the cDNA for rat peroxisomal enoyl-CoA: hydratase-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional enzyme

For the studies on the mechanism of induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzymes and biogenesis of the organelle, we have isolated cDNA clones for rat peroxisomal enoyl-CoA: hydratase-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional enzyme. On blotting experiments with liver RNA, the cDNAs hybridized to a 3.0-kilobase RNA which was increased 5-7-fold by the administration of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate to rats. Nucleotide sequencing was carried out for four cloned cDNAs and one obtained by a primer extension method. By overlapping these sequences with each other, we identified 20 nucleotides of 5'-noncoding, 2,166 nucleotides of coding, and 910 nucleotides of 3'-noncoding regions. The deduced amino acid sequence of the enzyme is composed of 722 residues, and the composition agrees with that of the protein data. The sequence was confirmed by the amino acid compositions and sequence analyses of some of the tryptic peptides. The molecular weight of the mature enzyme is calculated to be 78,511 from the predicted amino acid sequence. The enzyme has no terminal peptide extension as a signal for translocation into peroxisomes.     

Sequence of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae CTA1 gene and amino acid sequence of catalase A derived from it

The nucleotide sequence of a 2785-base-pair stretch of DNA containing the Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalase A (CTA1) gene has been determined. This gene contains an uninterrupted open reading frame encoding a protein of 515 amino acids (relative molecular mass 58,490). Catalase A, the peroxisomal catalase of S. cerevisiae was compared to the peroxisomal catalases from bovine liver and from Candida tropicalis and to the non-peroxisomal, presumably cytoplasmic, catalase T of S. cerevisiae. Whereas the peroxisomal catalases are almost colinear, three major insertions have to be introduced in the catalase T sequence to obtain an optimal fit with the other proteins. Catalase A is most closely related to the C. tropicalis enzyme. It is also more similar to the bovine liver catalase than to the second S. cerevisiae catalase. The differences between the two S. cerevisiae enzymes are most striking within four blocks of amino acids consisting of a total of 37 residues with high homology between the three peroxisomal, but low conservation between the S. cerevisiae catalases. The results obtained indicate that the peroxisomal catalases compared have very similar three-dimensional structures and might have similar targeting signals.     

Peroxisomal catalase in the methylotrophic yeast Candida boidinii: transport efficiency and metabolic significance

In this study we cloned CTA1, the gene encoding peroxisomal catalase, from the methylotrophic yeast Candida boidinii and studied targeting of the gene product, Cta1p, into peroxisomes by using green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins. A strain from which CTA1 was deleted (cta1Delta strain) showed marked growth inhibition when it was grown on the peroxisome-inducing carbon sources methanol, oleate, and D-alanine, indicating that peroxisomal catalase plays an important nonspecific role in peroxisomal metabolism. Cta1p carries a peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 (PTS1) motif, -NKF, in its carboxyl terminus. Using GFP fusion proteins, we found that (i) Cta1p is transported to peroxisomes via its PTS1 motif, -NKF; (ii) peroxisomal localization is necessary for Cta1p to function physiologically; and (iii) Cta1p is bimodally distributed between the cytosol and peroxisomes in methanol-grown cells but is localized exclusively in peroxisomes in oleate- and D-alanine-grown cells. In contrast, the fusion protein GFP-AKL (GFP fused to another typical PTS1 sequence, -AKL), in the context of CbPmp20 and D-amino acid oxidase, was found to localize exclusively in peroxisomes. A yeast two-hybrid system analysis suggested that the low transport efficiency of the -NKF sequence is due to a level of interaction between the -NKF sequence and the PTS1 receptor that is lower than the level of interaction with the AKL sequence. Furthermore, GFP-Cta1pDeltankf coexpressed with Cta1p was successfully localized in peroxisomes, suggesting that the oligomer was formed prior to peroxisome import and that it is not necessary for all four subunits to possess a PTS motif. Since the main physiological function of catalase is degradation of H2O2, suboptimal efficiency of catalase import may confer an evolutionary advantage. We suggest that the PTS1 sequence, which is found in peroxisomal catalases, has evolved in such a way as to give a higher priority for peroxisomal transport to peroxisomal enzymes other than to catalases (e.g., oxidases), which require a higher level of peroxisomal transport efficiency.     

Source of the hepatic microsomal trans-2-enoyl CoA hydratase bifunctional protein: endoplasmic reticulum or peroxisomes

The present study was designed to investigate the hepatic localization of the microsomal bifunctional trans-2-enoyl CoA hydratase. Despite the low activity (less than 10%) of peroxisomal marker enzymes in isolated hepatic microsomes (acyl CoA oxidase (this study), catalase, and urate oxidase (L. Cook, M. N. Nagi, J. Piscatelli, T. Joseph, M. R. Prasad, D. Ghesquier, and D. L. Cinti, 1986, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 245, 24-26), additional evidence in this study suggests that the microsomal enzyme is derived from peroxisomes. For example, the microsomal hydratase activity was associated with the ribosomal fractions but not with the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, when an extract of the peroxisomal enzyme was incubated with either free ribosomes or membrane-bound ribosomes, marked binding was observed with each of the fractions. Furthermore, the ease of release of the bifunctional enzyme from both free ribosomes and membrane-bound ribosomes by only KCl suggests that the bound enzyme is not a nascent protein. Labeling of liver tissue from DEHP-treated rats with rabbit immune IgG made to the purified microsomal hydratase followed by gold conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG suggested a single subcellular site for the bifunctional hydratase--the peroxisomal organelle.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of two mouse peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha)-regulated peroxisomal acyl-CoA thioesterases

Peroxisomes are organelles that function in the beta-oxidation of long- and very long-chain acyl-CoAs, bile acid-CoA intermediates, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, dicarboxylic fatty acids, pristanic acid, and xenobiotic carboxylic acids. The very long- and long-chain acyl-CoAs are mainly chain-shortened and then transported to mitochondria for further metabolism. We have now identified and characterized two peroxisomal acyl-CoA thioesterases, named PTE-Ia and PTE-Ic, that hydrolyze acyl-CoAs to the free fatty acid and coenzyme A. PTE-Ia and PTE-Ic show 82% sequence identity at the amino acid level, and a putative peroxisomal type 1 targeting signal of -AKL was identified at the carboxyl-terminal end of both proteins. Localization experiments using green fluorescent fusion protein showed PTE-Ia and PTE-Ic to be localized in peroxisomes. Despite their high level of sequence identity, we show that PTE-Ia is mainly active on long-chain acyl-CoAs, whereas PTE-Ic is mainly active on medium-chain acyl-CoAs. Lack of regulation of enzyme activity by free CoASH suggests that PTE-Ia and PTE-Ic regulate intraperoxisomal levels of acyl-CoA, and they may have a function in termination of beta-oxidation of fatty acids of different chain lengths. Tissue expression studies revealed that PTE-Ia is highly expressed in kidney, whereas PTE-Ic is most highly expressed in spleen, brain, testis, and proximal and distal intestine. Both PTE-Ia and PTE-Ic were highly up-regulated in mouse liver by treatment with the peroxisome proliferator WY-14,643 and by fasting in a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha-dependent manner. These data show that PTE-Ia and PTE-Ic have different functions based on different substrate specificities and tissue expression.     

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1: AGT mistargeting highlights the fundamental differences between the peroxisomal and mitochondrial protein import pathways

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is an atypical peroxisomal disorder, as befits a deficiency of alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT), which is itself an atypical peroxisomal enzyme. PH1 is characterized by excessive synthesis and excretion of the metabolic end-product oxalate and the progressive accumulation of insoluble calcium oxalate in the kidney and urinary tract. Disease in many patients is caused by a unique protein trafficking defect in which AGT is mistargeted from peroxisomes to mitochondria, where it is metabolically ineffectual, despite remaining catalytically active. Although the peroxisomal import of human AGT is dependent upon the PTS1 import receptor PEX5p, its PTS1 is exquisitely specific for mammalian AGT, suggesting the presence of additional peroxisomal targeting information elsewhere in the AGT molecule. This and many other functional peculiarities of AGT are probably a consequence of its rather chequered evolutionary history, during which much of its time has been spent being a mitochondrial, rather than a peroxisomal, enzyme. Analysis of the molecular basis of AGT mistargeting in PH1 has thrown into sharp relief some of the fundamental differences between the requirements of the peroxisomal and mitochondrial protein import pathways, particularly the properties of peroxisomal and mitochondrial matrix targeting sequences and the different conformational limitations placed upon importable cargos.     

Peroxisomal localization and function of NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenases in yeast

Yeast peroxisomal NADP⁺-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDP3) contains a canonical type I peroxisomal targeting sequence (a carboxyl-terminal Cys-Lys-Leu tripeptide), and provides the NADPH required for β-oxidation of some fatty acids in that organelle. Cytosolic yeast IDP2 carrying a PTS1 (IDP2^+CKL) was only partially localized to peroxisomes, and the enzyme was able to function in lieu of either peroxisomal IDP3 or cytosolic IDP2. The analogous isocitrate dehydrogenase enzyme (IDPA) from Aspergillus nidulans, irrespective of the presence or absence of a putative PTS1, was found to exhibit patterns of dual compartmental distribution and of dual function in yeast similar to those observed for IDP2^+CKL. To test a potential cellular limit on peroxisomal levels, authentic yeast IDP3, which is normally strictly peroxisomal, was over-expressed. This also resulted in dual distribution and function of the enzyme in both the cytosol and in peroxisomes, supporting the possibility of a restriction on organellar amounts of IDP.     

How proteins get into microbodies (peroxisomes, glyoxysomes, glycosomes)

All microbody proteins studies, including one microbody membrane protein, are made on free polysomes and imported post-translationally. This holds for animal tissues, plants, and fungi. The majority of microbody protein sub-units are synthesized in a form not detectably different from mature sub-units. In five cases a larger precursor protein has been found. The position of the extra piece in this precursor is not known. In two of the five cases, processing of the precursor is not coupled to import; in the other three this remains to be determined. It is not even known whether information in the prepiece contributes to topogenesis, or serves other purposes. Microbody preparations from Neurospora, plant tissue and rat liver can take up some newly synthesized microbody proteins in vitro. In most cases uptake is inefficient. No special requirements for uptake have been established and whether a receptor is involved is not yet known. Several examples have been reported of peroxisomal enzymes with a counterpart in another cell compartment. With the exception of catalase, no direct evidence is available in any of these cases for two isoenzymes specified by the same gene. In the Zellweger syndrome, a lethal hereditary disease of man, characterized by a lack of peroxisomes, the levels of several enzymes of lipid metabolism are strongly decreased. In contrast, D-amino-acid oxidase, L-alpha-hydroxyacid oxidase and catalase levels are normal. The catalase resides in the cytosol. Since there is no separate gene for cytosolic catalase, the normal catalase levels in Zellweger cells show that some peroxisomal enzymes can mature and survive stably in the cytosol. It is possible that maturation of the peroxisomal enzyme in the cytoplasm can account for the finding of cytosolic catalase in some normal mammalian cells. The glycosomes of trypanosomes are microbodies that contain a glycolytic system. Comparison of the glycosomal phosphoglycerate kinase with its cytosolic counterpart has shown that these isoenzymes are 93% homologous in amino-acid sequence, but less than 50% homologous to the corresponding enzymes of yeast and mammals. This implies that few alterations are required to direct a protein into microbodies. This interpretation is supported by the evidence for homology between some microbody and mitochondrial isoenzymes in other organisms mentioned under point 4. The major changes of the glycosomal phosphoglycerate kinase relative to the cytosolic enzyme are a large increase in positive charge and a C-terminal extension of 20 amino acids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Carnitine-dependent transport of acetyl coenzyme A in Candida albicans is essential for growth on nonfermentable carbon sources and contributes to biofilm formation

In eukaryotes, acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) produced during peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation needs to be transported to mitochondria for further metabolism. Two parallel pathways for acetyl-CoA transport have been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; one is dependent on peroxisomal citrate synthase (Cit), while the other requires peroxisomal and mitochondrial carnitine acetyltransferase (Cat) activities. Here we show that the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans lacks peroxisomal Cit, relying exclusively on Cat activity for transport of acetyl units. Deletion of the CAT2 gene encoding the major Cat enzyme in C. albicans resulted in a strain that had lost both peroxisomal and mitochondrion-associated Cat activities, could not grow on fatty acids or C(2) carbon sources (acetate or ethanol), accumulated intracellular acetyl-CoA, and showed greatly reduced fatty acid beta-oxidation activity. The cat2 null mutant was, however, not attenuated in virulence in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. These observations support our previous results showing that peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation activity is not essential for C. albicans virulence. Biofilm formation by the cat2 mutant on glucose was slightly reduced compared to that by the wild type, although both strains grew at the same rate on this carbon source. Our data show that C. albicans has diverged considerably from S. cerevisiae with respect to the mechanism of intracellular acetyl-CoA transport and imply that carnitine dependence may be an important trait of this human fungal pathogen.     

Identification of a peroxisomal targeting signal at the carboxy terminus of firefly luciferase

Translocation of proteins across membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrion, and chloroplast has been shown to be mediated by targeting signals present in the transported proteins. To test whether the transport of proteins into peroxisomes is also mediated by a peptide targeting signal, we have studied the firefly luciferase gene that encodes a protein transported to peroxisomes in both insect and mammalian cells. We have identified two regions of luciferase which are necessary for transport of this protein into peroxisomes. We demonstrate that one of these, region II, represents a peroxisomal targeting signal because it is both necessary and sufficient for directing cytosolic proteins to peroxisomes. The signal is no more than twelve amino acids long and is located at the extreme carboxy-terminus of luciferase. The location of the targeting signal for translocation across the peroxisomal membrane therefore differs from the predominantly amino-terminal location of signals responsible for transport across the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast, or mitochondrion.     

Differential enzyme targeting as an evolutionary adaptation to herbivory in carnivora

Not all members of the order Carnivora are carnivorous. Some are omnivorous, and a few, such as the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, are almost exclusively herbivorous. Although a number of adaptations to increased plant-eating are recognized within Carnivora, few have been studied at the molecular level. One molecular adaptation to diet that is spread widely across Mammalia is the differential intracellular targeting of the intermediary metabolic enzyme alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT), which tends to be mitochondrial in carnivores, peroxisomal in herbivores, and both mitochondrial and peroxisomal in omnivores. In the present study, we have analyzed the targeting of AGT in Carnivora in relation to species' natural diets. We show not only that there has been an adaptive shift in AGT targeting from the mitochondrion toward the peroxisome as diets have shifted from being mainly carnivorous to ones that are more omnivorous and herbivorous but also that in one lineage, namely that of the giant panda, there is evidence for positive selection pressure at the molecular level on the AGT mitochondrial targeting sequence to decrease its efficiency, thereby allowing more AGT to be targeted to the peroxisomes.