Protein import into yeast mitochondria is accelerated by the outer membrane protein MAS70.

The yeast mitochondrial outer membrane contains a major 70 kd protein with an amino-terminal hydrophobic membrane anchor and a hydrophilic 60 kd domain exposed to the cytosol. We now show that this protein (which we term MAS70) accelerates the mitochondrial import of many (but not all) precursor proteins. Anti-MAS70 IgGs or removal of MAS70 from the mitochondria by either mild trypsin treatment or by disrupting the nuclear MAS70 gene inhibits import of the F1-ATPase beta-subunit, the ADP/ATP translocator, and of several other precursors into isolated mitochondria by up to 75%, but has little effect on the import of porin. Intact cells of a mas70 null mutant import the F1-ATPase alpha-subunit and beta-subunits, cytochrome c1 and other precursors at least several fold more slowly than wild-type cells. Removal of MAS70 from wild-type mitochondria inhibits binding of the ADP/ATP translocator to the mitochondrial surface, indicating that MAS70 mediates one of the earliest import steps. Several precursors are thus imported by a pathway in which MAS70 functions as a receptor-like component. MAS70 is not essential for import of these precursors, but only accelerates this process.     

Transport of F1-ATPase subunit beta into mitochondria depends on both a membrane potential and nucleoside triphosphates

Transport of cytoplasmically synthesized precursor proteins into or across the inner mitochondrial membrane requires a mitochondrial membrane potential. We have studied whether additional energy sources are also necessary for protein translocation. Reticulocyte lysate (containing radiolabelled precursor proteins) and mitochondria were depleted of ATP by pre-incubation with apyrase. A membrane potential was then established by the addition of substrates of the electron transport chain. Oligomycin was included to prevent dissipation of delta psi by the action of the F0F1-ATPase. Under these conditions, import of subunit beta of F1-ATPase (F1 beta) was inhibited. Addition of ATP or GTP restored import. When the membrane potential was destroyed, however, the import of F1 beta was completely inhibited even in the presence of ATP. We therefore conclude that the import of F1 beta depends on both nucleoside triphosphates and a membrane potential.     

Import pathways of precursor proteins into mitochondria: multiple receptor sites are followed by a common membrane insertion site

The precursor of porin, a mitochondrial outer membrane protein, competes for the import of precursors destined for the three other mitochondrial compartments, including the Fe/S protein of the bc1- complex (intermembrane space), the ADP/ATP carrier (inner membrane), subunit 9 of the F0-ATPase (inner membrane), and subunit beta of the F1- ATPase (matrix). Competition occurs at the level of a common site at which precursors are inserted into the outer membrane. Protease- sensitive binding sites, which act before the common insertion site, appear to be responsible for the specificity and selectivity of mitochondrial protein uptake. We suggest that distinct receptor proteins on the mitochondrial surface specifically recognize precursor proteins and transfer them to a general insertion protein component (GIP) in the outer membrane. Beyond GIP, the import pathways diverge, either to the outer membrane or to translocation contact-sites, and then subsequently to the other mitochondrial compartments.     

The mitochondrial F1ATPase alpha-subunit is necessary for efficient import of mitochondrial precursors.

The mitochondrial import and assembly of the F1ATPase subunits requires, respectively, the participation of the molecular chaperones hsp70SSA1 and hsp70SSC1 and other components operating on opposite sides of the mitochondrial membrane. In previous studies, both the homology and the assembly properties of the F1ATPase alpha-subunit (ATP1p) compared to the groEL homologue, hsp60, have led to the proposal that this subunit could exhibit chaperone-like activity. In this report the extent to which this subunit participates in protein transport has been determined by comparing import into mitochondria that lack the F1ATPase alpha-subunit (delta ATP1) versus mitochondria that lack the other major catalytic subunit, the F1ATPase beta-subunit (delta ATP2). Yeast mutants lacking the alpha-subunit but not the beta-subunit grow much more slowly than expected on fermentable carbon sources and exhibit delayed kinetics of protein import for several mitochondrial precursors such as the F1 beta subunit, hsp60MIF4 and subunits 4 and 5 of the cytochrome oxidase. In vitro and in vivo the F1 beta-subunit precursor accumulates as a translocation intermediate in absence of the F1 alpha-subunit. In the absence of both the ATPase subunits yeast grows at the same rate as a strain lacking only the beta-subunit, and import of mitochondrial precursors is restored to that of wild type. These data indicate that the F1 alpha-subunit likely functions as an "assembly partner" to influence protein import rather than functioning directly as a chaperone. These data are discussed in light of the relationship between the import and assembly of proteins in mitochondria.     

The alpha-subunit of Leishmania F1 ATP synthase hydrolyzes ATP in presence of tRNA

Import of tRNAs into the mitochondria of the kinetoplastid protozoon Leishmania requires the tRNA-dependent hydrolysis of ATP leading to the generation of membrane potential through the pumping of protons. Subunit RIC1 of the inner membrane RNA import complex is a bi-functional protein that is identical to the alpha-subunit of F1F0 ATP synthase and specifically binds to a subset (Type I) of importable tRNAs. We show that recombinant, purified RIC1 is a Type I tRNA-dependent ATP hydrolase. The activity was insensitive to oligomycin, sensitive to mutations within the import signal of the tRNA, and required the cooperative interaction between the ATP-binding and C-terminal domains of RIC1. The ATPase activity of the intact complex was inhibited by anti-RIC1 antibody, while knockdown of RIC1 in Leishmania tropica resulted in deficiency of the tRNA-dependent ATPase activity of the mitochondrial inner membrane. Moreover, RIC1 knockdown extracts failed to generate a membrane potential across reconstituted proteoliposomes, as shown by a rhodamine 123 uptake assay, but activity was restored by adding back purified RIC1. These observations identify RIC1 as a novel form of the F1 ATP synthase alpha-subunit that acts as the major energy transducer for tRNA import.     

Interaction of ATP17 gene with SUP45 and SUP35 genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast

Genes SUP35 and SUP45 have been identified in the saccharomycete yeast as genes controlling termination of translation in cytoplasmic ribosomes. However, many facts indicate that the control of translation termination is not the only function of these genes. This work is devoted to studying one of the pleiotropic effects of sup35 and sup45 mutations, a respiratory deficiency. The compensation for this deficiency in mutants for either gene can occur due to a mutation in the ATP17 gene encoding the f-subunit of mitochondrial F1F0 ATP synthase. It is assumed that the observed interaction can be related to the system of co-translational protein import into mitochondria.     

An unusual mitochondrial import pathway for the precursor to yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va

We have studied the import of the precursor to yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va, a protein of the mitochondrial inner membrane. Like the majority of mitochondrial precursor proteins studied thus far, import of presubunit Va was dependent upon both a membrane potential (delta psi) and the hydrolysis of ATP. However, the levels of ATP necessary for the import of presubunit Va were significantly lower than those required for the import of a different mitochondrial precursor protein, the beta subunit of the F1-ATPase. The rate of import of presubunit Va was found to be unaffected by temperature over the range 0 to 30 degrees C, and was not facilitated by prior denaturation of the protein. These results, in conjunction with those of an earlier study demonstrating that presubunit Va could be efficiently targeted to mitochondria with minimal presequences, suggest that the subunit Va precursor normally exists in a loosely folded conformation. Presubunit Va could also be imported into mitochondria that had been pretreated with high concentrations of trypsin or proteinase K (1 mg/ml and 200 micrograms/ml, respectively). Furthermore, the rate of import into trypsin-treated mitochondria, at both 0 and 30 degrees C, was identical to that observed with the untreated organelles. Thus, import of presubunit Va is not dependent upon the function of a protease-sensitive surface receptor. When taken together, the results of this study suggest that presubunit Va follows an unusual import pathway. While this pathway uses several well-established translocation steps, in its entirety it is distinct from either the receptor-independent pathway used by apocytochrome c, or the more general pathway used by a majority of mitochondrial precursor proteins.     

Localization of mRNAs coding for mitochondrial proteins in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Targeted mRNA localization is a likely determinant of localized protein synthesis. To investigate whether mRNAs encoding mitochondrial proteins (mMPs) localize to mitochondria and, thus, might confer localized protein synthesis and import, we visualized endogenously expressed mMPs in vivo for the first time. We determined the localization of 24 yeast mMPs encoding proteins of the mitochondrial matrix, outer and inner membrane, and intermembrane space and found that many mMPs colocalize with mitochondria in vivo. This supports earlier cell fractionation and microarray-based studies that proposed mMP association with the mitochondrial fraction. Interestingly, a number of mMPs showed a dependency on the mitochondrial Puf3 RNA-binding protein, as well as nonessential proteins of the translocase of the outer membrane (TOM) complex import machinery, for normal colocalization with mitochondria. We examined the specific determinants of ATP2 and OXA1 mRNA localization and found a mutual dependency on the 3' UTR, Puf3, Tom7, and Tom70, but not Tom20, for localization. Tom6 may facilitate the localization of specific mRNAs as OXA1, but not ATP2, mRNA was mislocalized in tom6Δ cells. Interestingly, a substantial fraction of OXA1 and ATP2 RNA granules colocalized with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and a deletion in MDM10, which mediates mitochondria-ER tethering, resulted in a significant loss of OXA1 mRNA localization with ER. Finally, neither ATP2 nor OXA1 mRNA targeting was affected by a block in translation initiation, indicating that translation may not be essential for mRNA anchoring. Thus, endogenously expressed mRNAs are targeted to the mitochondria in vivo, and multiple factors contribute to mMP localization.     

Phosphodiester bond cleavage outside mitochondria is required for the completion of protein import into the mitochondrial matrix

The present studies show that hydrolysis of a phosphodiester bond, most likely ATP, is a distinct, second step required to complete import of the F1-ATPase beta-subunit into the mitochondria. This step follows a membrane potential-dependent first step. We show, using an inhibitor of adenine nucleotide transport and the analogue beta,gamma-AMP-PCP, that the activity required for this phosphodiester hydrolysis-dependent completion of protein import resides outside the mitochondrial inner membrane. This activity is proposed to act on the precursor at the site of translocation either to render it competent or to catalyze its vectorial movement directly through the import apparatus. This activity shares properties ascribed to proteins of the heat-shock family, which are proposed to participate in the ATP-dependent refolding of partially denatured proteins and nascent peptides.     

Interleukin-3 withdrawal induces an early increase in mitochondrial membrane potential unrelated to the Bcl-2 family. Roles of intracellular pH, ADP transport, and F(0)F(1)-ATPase

Cytokines such as interleukin-3 (IL-3) promote the survival of hematopoietic cells through mechanisms that are not well characterized. Withdrawal of IL-3 from an IL-3-dependent pro-B cell line induced early stress-related events that preceded cell death by more than 40 h. Intracellular pH rose above pH 7.8, peaking 2-3 h post-IL-3 withdrawal, and induced a transient increase in mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta Psi(m)) detected using several different dyes. Similar events were observed following IL-7 withdrawal from a different dependent cell line. Bcl-2, Bax, and caspases were unrelated to these early events. Intracellular alkaline pH inhibited the mitochondrial import of ADP, which would limit ATP synthesis. Total cellular ATP sharply declined during this early period, presumably as a consequence of suppressed ADP import. This was followed by an increase in reduced pyridine nucleotides. The transient increase in Delta Psi(m) was blocked by oligomycin, an inhibitor of F(0)F(1-)ATPase that may have undergone reversal caused by the abnormal ADP-ATP balance within mitochondria. These findings suggest a novel sequence of early events following trophic factor withdrawal in which alkaline pH inhibits ADP import into mitochondria, reversing the F(0)F(1-)ATPase, which in turn consumes ATP and pumps out protons, raising Delta Psi(m).     

Mitochondrial protein import. Bypass of proteinaceous surface receptors can occur with low specificity and efficiency

Proteolytic degradation of receptor sites on the mitochondrial surface strongly reduces the efficiency of mitochondrial protein import. The remaining residual import still involves basic mechanisms of protein import, including: insertion of precursors into the outer membrane, requirement for ATP and a membrane potential, and translocation through contact sites between both membranes. The import of a chloroplast protein into isolated mitochondria which occurs with a low rate is not inhibited by a protease-pretreatment of mitochondria, indicating that this precursor only follows the bypass pathway. The low efficiency of bypass import suggests that this unspecific import does not disturb the uniqueness of mitochondrial protein composition. We conclude that mitochondrial protein import involves a series of steps in which receptor sites appear to be responsible for the specificity of protein uptake.     

Precursors to two nuclear-encoded chloroplast proteins bind to the outer envelope membrane before being imported into chloroplasts

Precursor forms of chloroplast proteins synthesized in cell-free translation systems can be imported posttranslationally into isolated, intact chloroplasts. Radiochemically pure precursors to the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and to the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein have been prepared by in vitro translation of hybrid-selected mRNA and used to study this import process. If chloroplasts are pretreated with the uncoupler nigericin, import does not occur, but the precursors bind to the chloroplast surface. Reincubation of the precursor-chloroplast complex in the presence of ATP results in import of bound precursors. The binding appears to be mediated by proteins of the outer chloroplast envelope membrane because pretreatment of chloroplasts with protease inhibits their ability to bind as well as to import precursors. These results indicate that at least a portion of the observed binding is to functional receptor proteins involved in the import process.     

Conservative sorting of F0-ATPase subunit 9: export from matrix requires delta pH across inner membrane and matrix ATP.

In an attempt to understand the mechanisms of sorting of mitochondrial inner membrane proteins, we have analyzed the import of subunit 9 of the mitochondrial F1F0-ATPase (Su9) from Neurospora crassa, an integral inner membrane protein. A chimeric protein was used consisting of the presequence and the first transmembrane domain of Su9 fused to mouse dihydrofolate reductase (preSu9(1-112)-DHFR). This protein attains the correct topology across the inner membrane (Nout-Cin) following import. The transmembrane domain becomes first completely imported into the matrix, where after processing of the presequence, it mediates membrane insertion and export of the N-terminal tail. Import and export steps can be experimentally dissected into two distinct events. Translocation of the N-terminal hydrophilic tail out of the matrix was blocked when the presequence was not processed, indicating an important role of the sequences and charges flanking the hydrophobic domain. Furthermore, export was supported by a delta pH and required matrix ATP hydrolysis. Thus the hydrophobic transmembrane domain operates as a membrane insertion signal and not as a stop-transfer signal. Our findings suggest that several aspects of this sorting process have been conserved from their prokaryotic ancestors.     

tRNA-triggered ATP hydrolysis and generation of membrane potential by the leishmania mitochondrial tRNA import complex

Translocation of tRNAs across mitochondrial membranes is a receptor-mediated active transport process requiring ATP. A large tRNA import complex from the inner membrane of Leishmania mitochondria catalyzes translocation into phospholipid vesicles. In this reconstituted system, the import substrate tRNA(Tyr)(GUA) specifically stimulated hydrolysis of ATP within the vesicles, with the subsequent generation of a membrane potential by pumping out of protons, as shown by the protonophore-sensitive uptake of the potential-sensitive dye rhodamine 123. Generation of membrane potential was dependent on ATP hydrolysis, and inhibited by oligomycin, recalling the proton-translocation mechanism of the respiratory F(1)-F(0)-ATPase. For translocation of tRNA, ATP could be replaced by low pH of the medium, but proton-dependent import was resistant to oligomycin. Moreover, ATP hydrolysis, generation of membrane potential and tRNA uptake were inhibited by carboxyatractyloside, a specific inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP-ADP translocase, implying an ATP requirement within the vesicles. These observations imply a gating mechanism in which tRNA, on binding to its receptor, triggers the energetic activation of the complex, leading to the opening of import channels.     

MOM19, an import receptor for mitochondrial precursor proteins

We have identified a 19 kd protein of the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM19). Monospecific IgG and Fab fragments directed against MOM19 inhibit import of precursor proteins destined for the various mitochondrial subcompartments, including porin, cytochrome c1, Fe/S protein, F0 ATPase subunit 9, and F1 ATPase subunit beta. Inhibition occurs at the level of high affinity binding of precursors to mitochondria. Consistent with previous functional studies that suggested the existence of distinct import sites for ADP/ATP carrier and cytochrome c, we find that import of those precursors is not inhibited. We conclude that MOM19 is identical to, or closely associated with, a specific mitochondrial import receptor.     

Sorting pathways of mitochondrial inner membrane proteins

Two distinct pathways of sorting and assembly of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial inner membrane proteins are described. In the first pathway, precursor proteins that carry amino-terminal targeting signals are initially translocated via contact sites between both mitochondrial membranes into the mitochondrial matrix. They become proteolytically processed, interact with the 60-kDa heat-shock protein hsp60 in the matrix and are retranslocated to the inner membrane. The sorting of subunit 9 of Neurospora crassa F0-ATPase has been studied as an example. F0 subunit 9 belongs to that class of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins which are evolutionarily derived from a prokaryotic ancestor according to the endosymbiont hypothesis. We suggest that after import into mitochondria, these proteins follow the ancestral sorting and assembly pathways established in prokaryotes (conservative sorting). On the other hand, ADP/ATP carrier was found not to require interaction with hsp60 for import and assembly. This agrees with previous findings that the ADP/ATP carrier possesses non-amino-terminal targeting signals and uses a different import receptor to other mitochondrial precursor proteins. It is proposed that the ADP/ATP carrier represents a class of mitochondrial inner membrane proteins which do not have a prokaryotic equivalent and thus appear to follow a non-conservative sorting pathway.     

Early events in the transport of proteins into mitochondria. Import competition by a mitochondrial presequence.

Studies with a synthetic presequence peptide, F1 beta 1-20, corresponding to the NH2-terminal 20 amino acids of the F1-ATPase beta-subunit precursor (pF1 beta) show that although this peptide binds avidly to phospholipid bi-layers it does not efficiently compete for import of full-length precursor into mitochondria, Ki approximately 100 microM (Hoyt, D.W., Cyr, D.M., Gierasch, L.M., and Douglas, M.G. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 21693-21699). Herein we report that longer F1 beta presequence peptides F1 beta 1-32 + 2, F1 beta 1-32SQ + 2, and F1 beta 21-51 + 3 compete for mitochondrial import at 1000-, 250-, and 25-fold lower concentrations, respectively, than F1 beta 1-20. A longer peptide, F1 beta 1-51 + 3, was no more effective as an import competitor than F1 beta 1-32 + 2. Both minimal length and amphiphilic character appear required in order for F1 beta peptides to block mitochondrial import. Import competition by longer F1 beta peptides seems to occur at a step common to all precursors since they blocked import of precursors to F1-ATPase alpha- and beta-subunits and the ADP/ATP carrier protein. Dissipation of membrane potential (delta psi) across the inner mitochondrial membrane is observed in the presence of F1 beta-peptides, but this mechanism alone does not account for the observed import inhibition. F1 beta 1-32 + 2 and 21-51 + 3 block import of pF1 beta 100% at peptide concentrations which dissipate delta psi less than 25%. In contrast, experiments with valinomycin demonstrate that when mitochondrial delta psi is reduced 25% import of pF1 beta is inhibited only 25%. Therefore, at least 75% of maximal import inhibition observed in the presence of F1 beta 1-32 + 2 and F1 beta 21-51 + 3 does not result from dissipation of delta psi. Import inhibition by F1 beta-peptides is reversible and can be overcome by increasing the amount of full-length precursor in import reactions. F1 beta presequence peptides and full-length precursor are therefore likely to compete for a common import step. Presequence dependent binding of pF1 beta to trypsin-sensitive elements on the outer mitochondrial membrane is insensitive to inhibitory concentrations of F1 beta presequence peptide. We conclude that import inhibition by F1 beta presequence peptides is competitive and occurs at a site beyond initial interaction of precursor proteins with mitochondria.