Oligomeric states of the SecA and SecYEG core components of the bacterial Sec translocon

Many proteins synthesized in the cytoplasm ultimately function in non-cytoplasmic locations. In Escherichia coli, the general secretory (Sec) pathway transports the vast majority of these proteins. Two fundamental components of the Sec transport pathway are the SecYEG heterotrimeric complex that forms the channel through the cytoplasmic membrane, and SecA, the ATPase that drives the preprotein to and across the membrane. This review focuses on what is known about the oligomeric states of these core Sec components and how the oligomeric state might change during the course of the translocation of a preprotein.     

Dimeric SecA couples the preprotein translocation in an asymmetric manner

The Sec translocase mediates the post-translational translocation of a number of preproteins through the inner membrane in bacteria. In the initiatory translocation step, SecB targets the preprotein to the translocase by specific interaction with its receptor SecA. The latter is the ATPase of Sec translocase which mediates the post-translational translocation of preprotein through the protein-conducting channel SecYEG in the bacterial inner membrane. We examined the structures of Escherichia coli Sec intermediates in solution as visualized by negatively stained electron microscopy in order to probe the oligomeric states of SecA during this process. The symmetric interaction pattern between the SecA dimer and SecB becomes asymmetric in the presence of proOmpA, and one of the SecA protomers predominantly binds to SecB/proOmpA. Our results suggest that during preprotein translocation, the two SecA protomers are different in structure and may play different roles.     

Electron microscopic visualization of asymmetric precursor translocation intermediates: SecA functions as a dimer

SecA, the ATPase of Sec translocase, mediates the post-translational translocation of preprotein through the protein-conducting channel SecYEG in the bacterial inner membrane. Here we report the structures of Escherichia coli Sec intermediates during preprotein translocation as visualized by electron microscopy to probe the oligomeric states of SecA during this process. We found that the translocase holoenzyme is symmetrically assembled by SecA and SecYEG on proteoliposomes, whereas the translocation intermediate 31 (I₃₁) becomes asymmetric because of the presence of preprotein. Moreover, SecA is a dimer in these two translocation complexes. This work also shows surface topological changes in the components of translocation intermediates by immunogold labeling. The channel entry for preprotein translocation was found at the center of the I₃₁ structures. Our results indicate that the presence of preprotein introduces asymmetry into translocation intermediates, while SecA remains dimeric during the translocation process.     

SecA: a tale of two protomers

Bacteria, Archaea and Eukaryotes have evolved a plethora of mechanisms to translocate proteins across their various membranes. The bacterial Sec pathway is ubiquitous and essential for cell viability and is used by most proteins destined for the inner membrane, the periplasm or beyond. In bacteria, Sec system components include the heterotrimers SecY/SecE/SecG and SecD/SecF/YajC and the peripherally associated ATPase motor SecA. SecA in solution is mainly dimeric. Unexpectedly, structures of SecA dimers from different or even the same bacterium do not have a consistent dimerization interface. Analysis of the functional assembled translocase complexes blurs the picture even further as the functional quaternary state of the SecYEG channel is also disputed. Several experimental approaches tried to define the oligomeric state of SecA during preprotein ‘pushing’ through SecYEG. One high‐resolution SecA–SecYEG complex has been visualized. This snapshot might be a step closer to the actual translocating machinery. Nevertheless, because of the use of detergent, the true quartenary state of the translocase might have been disturbed. Hence, even after this and other studies, several issues remain puzzling. New approaches must be combined with current tools to gain insight into the functionally relevant quartenary states of SecA and SecYEG during preprotein translocation.     

以SecA为靶点的新型抗绿脓杆菌药物细胞水平筛选模型的建立和应用

Sec途径(即分泌途径secretion pathway)是蛋白质转运的主要途径.其中,最为关键的组分之一是SecAATP酶,是蛋白质转运途径中的"动力泵",通过ATP的水解循环驱使蛋白质前体穿过细菌内膜,在细菌中是不可缺少的.我们推测抑制SecAATP酶活性的化合物.必然会在一定程度上抑制蛋白质的转运和分泌.通过绿脓杆菌与大肠杆菌SecA蛋白的互补作用,利用本实验室构建的高效表达SecA蛋白的基因工程菌,建立了SecA蛋白ATP酶活性抑制剂的细胞水平筛选模型.利用所纯化的绿脓杆菌SecA蛋白的ATP酶活测定体系,验证了所建立的细胞水平筛选模型具有一定的特异性.研究结果表明其中两个酯相组分在细胞水平和蛋白水平均具有活性,值得进行深入的研究.     

The assembly pathway of the mitochondrial carrier translocase involves four preprotein translocases

The mitochondrial inner membrane contains preprotein translocases that mediate insertion of hydrophobic proteins. Little is known about how the individual components of these inner membrane preprotein translocases combine to form multisubunit complexes. We have analyzed the assembly pathway of the three membrane-integral subunits Tim18, Tim22, and Tim54 of the twin-pore carrier translocase. Tim54 displayed the most complex pathway involving four preprotein translocases. The precursor is translocated across the intermembrane space in a supercomplex of outer and inner membrane translocases. The TIM10 complex, which translocates the precursor of Tim22 through the intermembrane space, functions in a new posttranslocational manner: in case of Tim54, it is required for the integration of Tim54 into the carrier translocase. Tim18, the function of which has been unknown so far, stimulates integration of Tim54 into the carrier translocase. We show that the carrier translocase is built via a modular process and that each subunit follows a different assembly route. Membrane insertion and assembly into the oligomeric complex are uncoupled for each precursor protein. We propose that the mitochondrial assembly machinery has adapted to the needs of each membrane-integral subunit and that the uncoupling of translocation and oligomerization is an important principle to ensure continuous import and assembly of protein complexes in a highly active membrane.     

Glycine residues in the hydrophobic core of the GspB signal sequence route export toward the accessory Sec pathway

The Streptococcus gordonii cell surface glycoprotein GspB mediates high-affinity binding to distinct sialylated carbohydrate structures on human platelets and salivary proteins. GspB is glycosylated in the cytoplasm of S. gordonii and is then transported to the cell surface via a dedicated transport system that includes the accessory Sec components SecA2 and SecY2. The means by which the GspB preprotein is selectively recognized by the accessory Sec system have not been characterized fully. GspB has a 90-residue amino-terminal signal sequence that displays a traditional tripartite structure, with an atypically long amino-terminal (N) region followed by hydrophobic (H) and cleavage regions. In this report, we investigate the relative importance of the N and H regions of the GspB signal peptide for trafficking of the preprotein. The results show that the extended N region does not prevent export by the canonical Sec system. Instead, three glycine residues in the H region not only are necessary for export via the accessory Sec pathway but also interfere with export via the canonical Sec route. Replacement of the H-region glycine residues with helix-promoting residues led to a decrease in the efficiency of SecA2-dependent transport of the preprotein and a simultaneous increase in SecA2-independent translocation. Thus, the hydrophobic core of the GspB signal sequence is responsible primarily for routing towards the accessory Sec system.     

Ceramide biosynthesis is required for the formation of the oligomeric H+-ATPase Pma1p in the yeast endoplasmic reticulum

The yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase Pma1p is one of the most abundant proteins to traverse the secretory pathway. Newly synthesized Pma1p exits the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via COPII-coated vesicles bound for the Golgi. Unlike most secreted proteins, efficient incorporation of Pma1p into COPII vesicles requires the Sec24p homolog Lst1p, suggesting a unique role for Lst1p in ER export. Vesicles formed with mixed Sec24p-Lst1p coats are larger than those with Sec24p alone. Here, we examined the relationship between Pma1p biosynthesis and the requirement for this novel coat subunit. We show that Pma1p forms a large oligomeric complex of >1 MDa in the ER, which is packaged into COPII vesicles. Furthermore, oligomerization of Pma1p is linked to membrane lipid composition; Pma1p is rendered monomeric in cells depleted of ceramide, suggesting that association with lipid rafts may influence oligomerization. Surprisingly, monomeric Pma1p present in ceramide-deficient membranes can be exported from the ER in COPII vesicles in a reaction that is stimulated by Lst1p. We suggest that Lst1p directly conveys Pma1p into a COPII vesicle and that the larger size of mixed Sec24pLst1p COPII vesicles is not essential to the packaging of large oligomeric complexes.     

BAP31 interacts with Sec61 translocons and promotes retrotranslocation of CFTRDeltaF508 via the derlin-1 complex

BAP31 is an endoplasmic reticulum protein-sorting factor that associates with newly synthesized integral membrane proteins and controls their fate (i.e., egress, retention, survival, or degradation). BAP31 is itself an integral membrane protein and a constituent of several large protein complexes. Here, we show that a part of the BAP31 population interacts with two components of the Sec61 preprotein translocon, Sec61beta and TRAM. BAP31 associates with the N terminus of one of its newly synthesized client proteins, the DeltaF508 mutant of CFTR, and promotes its retrotranslocation from the ER and degradation by the cytoplasmic 26S proteasome system. Depletion of BAP31 reduces the proteasomal degradation of DeltaF508 and permits a significant fraction of the surviving protein to reach the cell surface. Of note, BAP31 also associates physically and functionally with the Derlin-1 protein disclocation complex in the DeltaF508 degradation pathway. Thus, BAP31 operates at early steps to deliver newly synthesized CFTRDeltaF508 to its degradation pathway.     

以SecA蛋白为“动力泵”的细菌Sec蛋白转运途径

细菌细胞中,三分之一的蛋白质是在合成后被转运到细胞质外才发挥功能的.其中大多数蛋白是通过Sec途径(即分泌途径secretion pathway)进行跨膜运动的.Sec转运酶是一个多组分的蛋白质复合体,膜蛋白三聚体SecYEG及水解ATP的动力蛋白SecA构成了Sec转运酶的核心.整合膜蛋白SecD,SecF和vajC形成了一个复合体亚单位,可与SecYEG相连并稳定SecA蛋白的膜结合形式.SecB是蛋白质转运中的伴侣分子,可以和很多蛋白质前体结合.SecM是由位于secA基因上游的secM基因编码的,可调节SecA蛋白的合成量,维持细胞在不同环境条件下的正常生长.新生肽链的信号肽被高度保守的SRP特异性识别.伴侣分子SecB通过与细胞膜上的SecA二聚体特异性结合将蛋白质前体引导至Sec转运途径,起始转运过程.结合蛋白质前体的SecA与组成转运通道的SecYEG复合体具有较高的亲和性.SecA经历插入和脱离细胞内膜SecYEG通道的循环,为转运提供所需的能量,每一次循环可推动20多个氨基酸的连续跨膜运动.     

SecA specificity for different signal peptides

SecA performs a critical function in the recognition, targeting, and transport of secretory proteins across the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli. In this study we investigate the substrate specificity of SecA, including the influence of the early mature region of the preprotein on SecA interactions, and the extent to which SecA recognizes targeting signals from different transport pathways. A series of fusion proteins were generated which involved the tandem expression of GST, signal peptide, and the first 30 residues from alkaline phosphatase. These were purified and evaluated for their ability to promote SecA ATPase activity. No significant difference in the stimulation of SecA-lipid ATPase activity between the synthetic wild-type alkaline phosphatase signal peptide and a fusion that also contains the first 30 residues of alkaline phosphatase was observed. The incorporation of sequence motifs in the mature region, which confer SecB dependence in vivo, had no impact on SecA activation in vitro. These results suggest that the early mature region of alkaline phosphatase does not affect the interactions between SecA and the signal peptide. Sec, Tat, and YidC signal peptide fusions were also assayed for their ability to stimulate SecA ATPase activity in vitro and further analyzed in vivo for the Sec dependence of the transport of the corresponding signal peptide mutants of alkaline phosphatase. Our results demonstrate that E. coli Sec signals give the highest level of SecA activation; however, SecA-signal peptide interactions in vitro are not the only arbiter of whether the preprotein utilizes the Sec pathway in vivo.     

Structure of the SecY complex unlocked by a preprotein mimic

The Sec complex forms the core of a conserved machinery coordinating the passage of proteins across or into biological membranes. The bacterial complex SecYEG interacts with the ATPase SecA or translating ribosomes to translocate secretory and membrane proteins accordingly. A truncated preprotein competes with the physiological full-length substrate and primes the protein-channel complex for transport. We have employed electron cryomicroscopy of two-dimensional crystals to determine the structure of the complex unlocked by the preprotein. Its visualization in the native environment of the membrane preserves the active arrangement of SecYEG dimers, in which only one of the two channels is occupied by the polypeptide substrate. The signal sequence could be identified along with the corresponding conformational changes in SecY, including relocation of transmembrane segments 2b and 7 as well as the plug, which presumably then promote channel opening. Therefore, we propose that the structure describes the translocon unlocked by preprotein and poised for protein translocation.     

SecA supports a constant rate of preprotein translocation

In Escherichia coli, secretory proteins (preproteins) are translocated across the cytoplasmic membrane by the Sec system composed of a protein-conducting channel, SecYEG, and an ATP-dependent motor protein, SecA. After binding of the preprotein to SecYEG-bound SecA, cycles of ATP binding and hydrolysis by SecA are thought to drive the stepwise translocation of the preprotein across the membrane. To address how the length of a preprotein substrate affects the SecA-driven translocation process, we constructed derivatives of the precursor of the outer membrane protein A (proOmpA) with 2, 4, 6, and 8 in-tandem repeats of the periplasmic domain. With increasing polypeptide length, an increasing delay in the time before full-length translocation was observed, but the translocation rate expressed as amino acid translocation per minute remained constant. These data indicate that in the ATP-dependent reaction, SecA drives a constant rate of preprotein translocation consistent with a stepping mechanism of translocation.     

Structural Characterization of the Complex of SecB and Metallothionein-Labeled proOmpA by Cryo-Electron Microscopy

ProOmpA is a preprotein that is translocated across the plasma membrane by the general secretory pathway in Escherichia coli. The molecular chaperon SecB in Sec pathway can recognize and bind proOmpA for its translocation. However, the structure of the SecB/proOmpA complex remains unknown. Here, we constructed an uncleavable proOmpA fused with metallothionein at its C-terminus and labeled it with metals in vitro for the study of cryo-electron microscopy. Using single particle cryo-electron microscopy, we reconstructed 3D structure of the stable SecB/proOmpA complex. The structure shows that the major portion of preprotein locates on one side of SecB tetramer, resulting in an asymmetric binding pattern. This work also provides a possible approach to the structure determination of small protein complexes by cryo-electron microscopy.     

Structural insight into the protein translocation channel

A structurally conserved protein translocation channel is formed by the heterotrimeric Sec61 complex in eukaryotes, and SecY complex in archaea and bacteria. Electron microscopy studies suggest that the channel may function as an oligomeric assembly of Sec61 or SecY complexes. Remarkably, the recently determined X-ray structure of an archaeal SecY complex indicates that the pore is located at the center of a single molecule of the complex. This structure suggests how the pore opens perpendicular to the plane of the membrane to allow the passage of newly synthesized secretory proteins across the membrane and opens laterally to allow transmembrane segments of nascent membrane proteins to enter the lipid bilayer. The electron microscopy and X-ray results together suggest that only one copy of the SecY or Sec61 complex within an oligomer translocates a polypeptide chain at any given time.     

The Brl domain in Sec63p is required for assembly of functional endoplasmic reticulum translocons

Protein translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum occurs at pore-forming structures known as translocons. In yeast, two different targeting pathways converge at a translocation pore formed by the Sec61 complex. The signal recognition particle-dependent pathway targets nascent precursors co-translationally, whereas the Sec62p-dependent pathway targets polypeptides post-translationally. In addition to the Sec61 complex, both pathways also require Sec63p, an integral membrane protein of the Hsp40 family, and Kar2p, a soluble Hsp70 located in the ER lumen. Using a series of mutant alleles, we demonstrate that a conserved Brl (Brr2-like) domain in the COOH-terminal cytosolic region of Sec63p is essential for function both in vivo and in vitro. We further demonstrate that this domain is required for assembly of two oligomeric complexes of 350 and 380 kDa, respectively. The larger of these corresponds to the heptameric "SEC complex" required for post-translational translocation. However, the 350-kDa complex represents a newly defined hexameric SEC' complex comprising Sec61p, Sss1p, Sbh1p, Sec63p, Sec71p, and Sec72p. Our data indicate that the SEC' complex is required for co-translational protein translocation across the yeast ER membrane.     

绿脓杆菌SecA ATPase抑制剂筛选模型的建立和应用

Sec途径(分泌途径,Secretion pathway)是蛋白质转运的主要途径。其中,SecA ATPase是蛋白质转运途径中的"动力泵",它通过ATP的水解循环驱使蛋白质前体穿过细菌内膜。SecA蛋白在细菌中是独有且不可缺少的。克隆和高效表达绿脓杆菌PasecAN75蛋白(绿脓杆菌SecA蛋白N端645个氨基酸残基组成的片段,大小约75 kD)并优化其ATPase酶活测定体系,在此基础上建立了更为灵敏的SecA蛋白ATPase活性抑制剂的筛选模型。运用该模型从化合物库的3220个样品中筛选得到可抑制绿脓杆菌SecA ATP酶的活性阳性化合物4个,从7196个微生物发酵液中得到66个阳性样品,筛选阳性率为0.67%(以抑制率大于30%为筛选阳性标准)。而后通过已建立的细胞水平筛选模型对其抗菌活性进行验证。研究结果表明3个化合物样品和6个发酵液样品在酶水平和细胞水平对绿脓杆菌SecA ATPase均有较好的抑制作用,值得进一步研究。     

The structure of SecB/OmpA as visualized by electron microscopy: The mature region of the precursor protein binds asymmetrically to SecB

SecB, a molecular chaperone in Escherichia coli, binds a subset of precursor proteins that are exported across the plasma membrane via the Sec pathway. Previous studies showed that SecB bound directly to the mature region rather than to the signal sequence of the precursor protein. To determine the binding pattern of SecB and the mature region of the preprotein, here, we visualized the structure of the SecB/OmpA complex by electron microscopy. This complex is composed by two parts: the main density represents one SecB tetramer and the unfolded part of OmpA wrapping round it; the elongated smaller density represents the rest of OmpA. Each SecB protomer makes a different contribution to the binding of SecB with OmpA. The binding pattern between SecB tetramer and OmpA is asymmetric.     

Purification of a functional mature region from a SecA-dependent preprotein

Most of the bacterial proteins that are active in extracytoplasmic locations are translocated through the inner membrane by the Sec translocase. Translocase comprises a membrane "pore" and the peripheral ATPase SecA. Where preproteins bind to SecA and how they activate translocation ATPase remains elusive. To address this central question we have purified to homogeneity the mature and preprotein parts of an exported protein (pCH5EE). pCH5EE satisfies a minimal size required for protein translocation and its membrane insertion is SecA-dependent. Purified pCH5EE and CH5EE can form physical complexes with SecA and can functionally suppress the elevated ATPase of a constitutively activated mutant. These properties render pCH5EE and CH5EE unique tools for the biochemical mapping of the preprotein binding site on SecA.     

Differential translocation of green fluorescent protein fused to signal sequences of Ruminococcus albus cellulases by the Tat and Sec pathways of Escherichia coli

Ruminococcus albus is a Gram-positive bacterium that degrades plant cell walls in the rumen of herbivores. It was described to synthesize two major glycoside-hydrolases (Cel9B and Cel48A), which are exported and anchored at the cell surface. In bacteria, proteins destined to cross the cytoplasmic membrane are synthesized as precursors and possess a signal sequence (SS) directing them to the 'Sec' (general secretory) or 'Tat' (twin arginine translocation) pathway. SS composition of Cel9B and Cel48A suggests that these two enzymes translocate using different secretory pathways. In order to confirm this hypothesis, the SSs of Cel9B and Cel48A were fused to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and expressed in wild-type Escherichia coli and in its Tat and Sec isogenic mutants. The SS cleavage and the formation of the mature protein were then followed by Western blot and fluorescence microscopy. This study shows that the SS of Cel9B directs the preprotein to the 'Tat' translocation pathway while the GFP fused to the SS of Cel48A is exported through the 'Sec' machinery. These observations suggest that R. albus possess a Tat pathway, in addition to the general secretory pathway.