In vivo analysis of mutated initiation codons in the mitochondrial COX2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fused to the reporter gene ARG8m reveals lack of downstream reinitiation

To examine normal and aberrant translation initiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria, we fused the synthetic mitochondrial reporter gene ARG8m to codon 91 of the COX2 coding sequence and inserted the chimeric gene into mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Translation of the cox2(1-91)::ARG8m mRNA yielded a fusion protein precursor that was processed to yield wild-type Arg8p. Thus mitochondrial translation could be monitored by the ability of mutant chimeric genes to complement a nuclear arg8 mutation. As expected, translation of the cox2(1-91)::ARG8m mRNA was dependent on the COX2 mRNA-specific activator PET111. We tested the ability of six triplets to function as initiation codons in both the cox2(1-91)::ARG8m reporter mRNA and the otherwise wild-type COX2 mRNA. Substitution of AUC, CCC or AAA for the initiation codon abolished detectable translation of both mRNAs, even when PET111 activity was increased. The failure of these mutant cox2(1-91)::ARG8m genes to yield Arg8p demonstrates that initiation at downstream AUG codons, such as COX2 codon 14, does not occur even when normal initiation is blocked. Three mutant triplets at the site of the initiation codon supported detectable translation, with efficiencies decreasing in the order GUG, AUU, AUA. Increased PET111 activity enhanced initiation at AUU and AUA codons. Comparisons of expression, at the level of accumulated product, of cox2(1-91)::ARG8m and COX2 carrying these mutant initiation codons revealed that very low-efficiency translation can provide enough Cox2p to sustain significant respiratory growth, presumably because Cox2p is efficiently assembled into stable cytochrome oxidase complexes.     

Rpm2, the protein subunit of mitochondrial RNase P in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also has a role in the translation of mitochondrially encoded subunits of cytochrome c oxidase

RPM2 is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae nuclear gene that encodes the protein subunit of mitochondrial RNase P and has an unknown function essential for fermentative growth. Cells lacking mitochondrial RNase P cannot respire and accumulate lesions in their mitochondrial DNA. The effects of a new RPM2 allele, rpm2-100, reveal a novel function of RPM2 in mitochondrial biogenesis. Cells with rpm2-100 as their only source of Rpm2p have correctly processed mitochondrial tRNAs but are still respiratory deficient. Mitochondrial mRNA and rRNA levels are reduced in rpm2-100 cells compared to wild type. The general reduction in mRNA is not reflected in a similar reduction in mitochondrial protein synthesis. Incorporation of labeled precursors into mitochondrially encoded Atp6, Atp8, Atp9, and Cytb protein was enhanced in the mutant relative to wild type, while incorporation into Cox1p, Cox2p, Cox3p, and Var1p was reduced. Pulse-chase analysis of mitochondrial translation revealed decreased rates of translation of COX1, COX2, and COX3 mRNAs. This decrease leads to low steady-state levels of Cox1p, Cox2p, and Cox3p, loss of visible spectra of aa(3) cytochromes, and low cytochrome c oxidase activity in mutant mitochondria. Thus, RPM2 has a previously unrecognized role in mitochondrial biogenesis, in addition to its role as a subunit of mitochondrial RNase P. Moreover, there is a synthetic lethal interaction between the disruption of this novel respiratory function and the loss of wild-type mtDNA. This synthetic interaction explains why a complete deletion of RPM2 is lethal.     

Pet111p, an inner membrane-bound translational activator that limits expression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial gene COX2

The protein specified by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae nuclear gene PET111 specifically activates translation of the mitochondrially coded mRNA for cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (Cox2p). We found Pet111p specifically in mitochondria of both wild-type cells and cells expressing a chromosomal gene for a functional epitope-tagged form of Pet111p. Pet111p was associated with mitochondrial membranes and was highly resistant to extraction with alkaline carbonate. Pet111p was protected from proteolytic digestion by the mitochondrial inner membrane. Thus, it is exposed only on the matrix side, where it could participate directly in organellar translation and localize Cox2p synthesis by virtue of its functional interaction with the COX2 mRNA 5'-untranslated leader. We also found that Pet111p is present at levels limiting the synthesis of Cox2p by examining the effect of altered PET111 gene dosage in the nucleus on expression of a reporter gene, cox2::ARG8(m), that was inserted into mitochondrial DNA. The level of the reporter protein, Arg8p, was one-half that of wild type in a diploid strain heterozygous for a pet111 deletion mutation, whereas it was increased 2.8-fold in a strain bearing extra copies of PET111 on a high-copy plasmid. Thus, Pet111p could play dual roles in both membrane localization and regulation of Cox2p synthesis within mitochondria.     

Site-Directed Mutagenesis of a Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Mitochondrial Translation Initiation Codon

We have used a generally applicable strategy for gene replacement in yeast mitochondria to mutate the translation initiation codon of the COX3 gene from AUG to AUA. The mutation, cox3-1, substantially reduced, but did not eliminate, translation of cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (coxIII). Strains bearing the mutation exhibited a leaky (partial) nonrespiratory growth phenotype and a reduced incorporation of radiolabeled amino acids into coxIII in vivo in the presence of cycloheximide. Hybridization experiments demonstrated that the mutation had little or no effect on levels of the COX3 mRNA. Residual translation of the cox3-1 mutant mRNA was dependent upon the three nuclearly coded mRNA-specific activators PET494, PET54 and PET122, known from previous studies to work through a site (or sites) upstream of the initiation codon to promote translation of the wild-type mRNA. Furthermore, respiratory growth of cox3-1 mutant strains was sensitive to decreased dosage of genes PET494 and PET122 in heterozygous mutant diploids, unlike the growth of strains carrying wild-type mtDNA. Some residual translation of the cox3-1 mRNA appeared to initiate at the mutant AUA codon, despite the fact that the 610-base 5'-mRNA leader contains numerous AUA triplets. We conclude that, while AUG is an important component of the COX3 translation initiation site, the site probably is also specified by other sequence or structural features.     

Aberrant translation of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mRNA species in the absence of Mss51p in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Expression of yeast mitochondrial genes depends on specific translational activators acting on the 5'-untranslated region of their target mRNAs. Mss51p is a translational factor for cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) mRNA and a key player in down-regulating Cox1p expression when subunits with which it normally interacts are not available. Mss51p probably acts on the 5'-untranslated region of COX1 mRNA to initiate translation and on the coding sequence itself to facilitate elongation. Mss51p binds newly synthesized Cox1p, an interaction that could be necessary for translation. To gain insight into the different roles of Mss51p on Cox1p biogenesis, we have analyzed the properties of a new mitochondrial protein, mp15, which is synthesized in mss51 mutants and in cytochrome oxidase mutants in which Cox1p translation is suppressed. The mp15 polypeptide is not detected in cox14 mutants that express Cox1p normally. We show that mp15 is a truncated translation product of COX1 mRNA whose synthesis requires the COX1 mRNA-specific translational activator Pet309p. These results support a key role for Mss51p in translationally regulating Cox1p synthesis by the status of cytochrome oxidase assembly.     

Cox25 teams up with Mss51, Ssc1, and Cox14 to regulate mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 expression and assembly in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX) biogenesis is translationally regulated. Mss51, a specific COX1 mRNA translational activator and Cox1 chaperone, drives the regulatory mechanism. During translation and post-translationally, newly synthesized Cox1 physically interacts with a complex of proteins involving Ssc1, Mss51, and Cox14, which eventually hand over Cox1 to the assembly pathway. This step is probably catalyzed by assembly chaperones such as Shy1 in a process coupled to the release of Ssc1-Mss51 from the complex. Impaired COX assembly results in the trapping of Mss51 in the complex, thus limiting its availability for COX1 mRNA translation. An exception is a null mutation in COX14 that does not affect Cox1 synthesis because the Mss51 trapping complexes become unstable, and Mss51 is readily available for translation. Here we present evidence showing that Cox25 is a new essential COX assembly factor that plays some roles similar to Cox14. A null mutation in COX25 by itself or in combination with other COX mutations does not affect Cox1 synthesis. Cox25 is an inner mitochondrial membrane intrinsic protein with a hydrophilic C terminus protruding into the matrix. Cox25 is an essential component of the complexes containing newly synthesized Cox1, Ssc1, Mss51, and Cox14. In addition, Cox25 is also found to interact with Shy1 and Cox5 in a complex that does not contain Mss51. These results suggest that once Ssc1-Mss51 are released from the Cox1 stabilization complex, Cox25 continues to interact with Cox14 and Cox1 to facilitate the formation of multisubunit COX assembly intermediates.     

Characterization of COX19, a widely distributed gene required for expression of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase

COX19, a nuclear gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was cloned by transformation of a respiratory-deficient mutant from complementation group G188 of a pet mutant collection. The gene codes for an 11-kDa protein (Cox19p) required for expression of cytochrome oxidase. Because cox19 mutants are able to synthesize the mitochondrial and nuclear gene products of cytochrome oxidase, Cox19p probably functions post-translationally during assembly of the enzyme. Cox19p is present in the cytoplasm and mitochondria, where it exists as a soluble intermembrane protein. This dual location is similar to what was previously reported for Cox17p, a low molecular weight copper protein thought to be required for maturation of the CuA center of subunit 2 of cytochrome oxidase. The similarity in their subcellular distribution, combined with the presence of four cysteines in Cox19p that align with a subset of the cysteines in Cox17p, suggests that like the latter, Cox19p may function in metal transport to mitochondria.     

Overexpression of the COX2 translational activator, Pet111p, prevents translation of COX1 mRNA and cytochrome c oxidase assembly in mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Dramatically elevated levels of the COX2 mitochondrial mRNA-specific translational activator protein Pet111p interfere with respiratory growth and cytochrome c oxidase accumulation. The respiratory phenotype appears to be caused primarily by inhibition of the COX1 mitochondrial mRNA translation, a finding confirmed by lack of cox1Delta::ARG8(m) reporter mRNA translation. Interference with Cox1p synthesis depends to a limited extent upon increased translation of the COX2 mRNA, but is largely independent of it. Respiratory growth is partially restored by a chimeric COX1 mRNA bearing the untranslated regions of the COX2 mRNA, and by overproduction of the COX1 mRNA-specific activators, Pet309p and Mss51p. These results suggest that excess Pet111p interacts unproductively with factors required for normal COX1 mRNA translation. Certain missense mutations in PET111 alleviate the interference with COX1 mRNA translation but do not completely restore normal respiratory growth in strains overproducing Pet111p, suggesting that elevated Pet111p also perturbs assembly of newly synthesized subunits into active cytochrome c oxidase. Thus, this severe imbalance in translational activator levels appears to cause multiple problems in mitochondrial gene expression, reflecting the dual role of balanced translational activators in cooperatively regulating both the levels and locations of organellar translation.     

MrpL36p, a highly diverged L31 ribosomal protein homolog with additional functional domains in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria

Translation in mitochondria utilizes a large complement of ribosomal proteins. Many mitochondrial ribosomal components are clearly homologous to eubacterial ribosomal proteins, but others appear unique to the mitochondrial system. A handful of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins appear to be eubacterial in origin but to have evolved additional functional domains. MrpL36p is an essential mitochondrial ribosomal large-subunit component in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Increased dosage of MRPL36 also has been shown to suppress certain types of translation defects encoded within the mitochondrial COX2 mRNA. A central domain of MrpL36p that is similar to eubacterial ribosomal large-subunit protein L31 is sufficient for general mitochondrial translation but not suppression, and proteins bearing this domain sediment with the ribosomal large subunit in sucrose gradients. In contrast, proteins lacking the L31 domain, but retaining a novel N-terminal sequence and a C-terminal sequence with weak similarity to the Escherichia coli signal recognition particle component Ffh, are sufficient for dosage suppression and do not sediment with the large subunit of the ribosome. Interestingly, the activity of MrpL36p as a dosage suppressor exhibits gene and allele specificity. We propose that MrpL36p represents a highly diverged L31 homolog with derived domains functioning in mRNA selection in yeast mitochondria.     

Antagonistic signals within the COX2 mRNA coding sequence control its translation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria

Translation of the mitochondrially coded COX2 mRNA within the organelle in yeast produces the precursor of Cox2p (pre-Cox2p), which is processed and assembled into cytochrome c oxidase. The mRNA sequence of the first 14 COX2 codons, specifying the pre-Cox2p leader peptide, was previously shown to contain a positively acting element required for translation of a mitochondrial reporter gene, ARG8(m), fused to the 91st codon of COX2. Here we show that three relatively short sequences within the COX2 mRNA coding sequence, or structures they form in vivo, inhibit translation of the reporter in the absence of the positive element. One negative element was localized within codons 15 to 25 and shown to function at the level of the mRNA sequence, whereas two others are within predicted stem-loop structures formed by codons 22-44 and by codons 46-74. All three of these inhibitory elements are antagonized in a sequence-specific manner by reintroduction of the upstream positive-acting sequence. These interactions appear to be independent of 5'- and 3'-untranslated leader sequences, as they are also observed when the same reporter constructs are expressed from the COX3 locus. Overexpression of MRS2, which encodes a mitochondrial magnesium carrier, partially suppresses translational inhibition by each isolated negatively acting element, but does not suppress them in combination. We hypothesize that interplay among these signals during translation in vivo may ensure proper timing of pre-Cox2p synthesis and assembly into cytochrome c oxidase.     

Reduced Dosage of Genes Encoding Ribosomal Protein S18 Suppresses a Mitochondrial Initiation Codon Mutation in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

A yeast mitochondrial translation initiation codon mutation affecting the gene for cytochrome oxidase subunit III (COX3) was partially suppressed by a spontaneous nuclear mutation. The suppressor mutation also caused cold-sensitive fermentative growth on glucose medium. Suppression and cold sensitivity resulted from inactivation of the gene product of RPS18A, one of two unlinked genes that code the essential cytoplasmic small subunit ribosomal protein termed S18 in yeast. The two S18 genes differ only by 21 silent substitutions in their exons; both are interrupted by a single intron after the 15th codon. Yeast S18 is homologous to the human S11 (70% identical) and the Escherichia coli S17 (35% identical) ribosomal proteins. This highly conserved family of ribosomal proteins has been implicated in maintenance of translational accuracy and is essential for assembly of the small ribosomal subunit. Characterization of the original rps18a-1 missense mutant and rps18aΔ and rps18bΔ null mutants revealed that levels of suppression, cold sensitivity and paromomycin sensitivity all varied directly with a limitation of small ribosomal subunits. The rps18a-1 mutant was most affected, followed by rps18aΔ then rps18bΔ. Mitochondrial mutations that decreased COX3 expression without altering the initiation codon were not suppressed. This allele specificity implicates mitochondrial translation in the mechanism of suppression. We could not detect an epitope-tagged variant of S18 in mitochondria. Thus, it appears that suppression of the mitochondrial translation initiation defect is caused indirectly by reduced levels of cytoplasmic small ribosomal subunits, leading to changes in either cytoplasmic translational accuracy or the relative levels of cytoplasmic translation products.     

Alteration of a novel dispensable mitochondrial ribosomal small-subunit protein, Rsm28p, allows translation of defective COX2 mRNAs

Mutations affecting the RNA sequence of the first 10 codons of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial gene COX2 strongly reduce translation of the mRNA, which encodes the precursor of cytochrome c oxidase subunit II. A dominant chromosomal mutation that suppresses these defects is an internal in-frame deletion of 67 codons from the gene YDR494w. Wild-type YDR494w encodes a 361-residue polypeptide with no similarity to proteins of known function. The epitope-tagged product of this gene, now named RSM28, is both peripherally associated with the inner surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane and soluble in the matrix. Epitope-tagged Rsm28p from Triton X-100-solubilized mitochondria sedimented with the small subunit of mitochondrial ribosomes in a sucrose gradient containing 500 mM NH4Cl. Complete deletion of RSM28 caused only a modest decrease in growth on nonfermentable carbon sources in otherwise wild-type strains and enhanced the respiratory defect of the suppressible cox2 mutations. The rsm28 null mutation also reduced translation of an ARG8m reporter sequence inserted at the COX1, COX2, and COX3 mitochondrial loci. We tested the ability of RSM28-1 to suppress a variety of cox2 and cox3 mutations and found that initiation codon mutations in both genes were suppressed. We conclude that Rsm28p is a dispensable small-subunit mitochondrial ribosomal protein previously undetected in systematic investigations of these ribosomes, with a positive role in translation of several mitochondrial mRNAs.     

Mss51p and Cox14p jointly regulate mitochondrial Cox1p expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutations in SURF1, the human homologue of yeast SHY1, are responsible for Leigh's syndrome, a neuropathy associated with cytochrome oxidase (COX) deficiency. Previous studies of the yeast model of this disease showed that mutant forms of Mss51p, a translational activator of COX1 mRNA, partially rescue the COX deficiency of shy1 mutants by restoring normal synthesis of the mitochondrially encoded Cox1p subunit of COX. Here we present evidence showing that Cox1p synthesis is reduced in most COX mutants but is restored to that of wild type by the same mss51 mutation that suppresses shy1 mutants. An important exception is a null mutation in COX14, which by itself or in combination with other COX mutations does not affect Cox1p synthesis. Cox14p and Mss51p are shown to interact with newly synthesized Cox1p and with each other. We propose that the interaction of Mss51p and Cox14p with Cox1p to form a transient Cox14p-Cox1p-Mss51p complex functions to downregulate Cox1p synthesis. The release of Mss51p from the complex occurs at a downstream step in the assembly pathway, probably catalyzed by Shy1p.     

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATP22 gene codes for the mitochondrial ATPase subunit 6-specific translation factor

Mutations in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATP22 gene were previously shown to block assembly of the F0 component of the mitochondrial proton-translocating ATPase. Further inquiries into the function of Atp22p have revealed that it is essential for translation of subunit 6 of the mitochondrial ATPase. The mutant phenotype can be partially rescued by the presence in the same cell of wild-type mitochondrial DNA and a rho- deletion genome in which the 5'-UTR, first exon, and first intron of COX1 are fused to the fourth codon of ATP6. The COX1/ATP6 gene is transcribed and processed to the mature mRNA by splicing of the COX1 intron from the precursor. The hybrid protein translated from the novel mRNA is proteolytically cleaved at the normal site between residues 10 and 11 of the subunit 6 precursor, causing the release of the polypeptide encoded by the COX1 exon. The ability of the rho- suppressor genome to express subunit 6 in an atp22 null mutant constitutes strong evidence that translation of subunit 6 depends on the interaction of Atp22p with the 5'-UTR of the ATP6 mRNA.     

Modular assembly of yeast cytochrome oxidase

Previous studies of yeast cytochrome oxidase (COX) biogenesis identified Cox1p, one of the three mitochondrially encoded core subunits, in two high–molecular weight complexes combined with regulatory/assembly factors essential for expression of this subunit. In the present study we use pulse-chase labeling experiments in conjunction with isolated mitochondria to identify new Cox1p intermediates and place them in an ordered pathway. Our results indicate that before its assimilation into COX, Cox1p transitions through five intermediates that are differentiated by their compositions of accessory factors and of two of the eight imported subunits. We propose a model of COX biogenesis in which Cox1p and the two other mitochondrial gene products, Cox2p and Cox3p, constitute independent assembly modules, each with its own complement of subunits. Unlike their bacterial counterparts, which are composed only of the individual core subunits, the final sequence in which the mitochondrial modules associate to form the holoenzyme may have been conserved during evolution.