A presequence- and voltage-sensitive channel of the mitochondrial preprotein translocase formed by Tim23. |
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Authors: | K N Truscott P Kovermann A Geissler A Merlin M Meijer A J Driessen J Rassow N Pfanner R Wagner |
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Affiliation: | Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, Universit?t Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 7, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany. |
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Abstract: | Proteins imported into the mitochondrial matrix are synthesized in the cytosol with an N-terminal presequence and are translocated through hetero-oligomeric translocase complexes of the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes. The channel across the inner membrane is formed by the presequence translocase, which consists of roughly six distinct subunits; however, it is not known which subunits actually form the channel. Here we report that purified Tim23 forms a hydrophilic, approximately 13-24 A wide channel characteristic of the mitochondrial presequence translocase. The Tim23 channel is cation selective and activated by a membrane potential and presequences. The channel is formed by the C-terminal domain of Tim23 alone, whereas the N-terminal domain is required for selectivity and a high-affinity presequence interaction. Thus, Tim23 forms a voltage-sensitive high-conductance channel with specificity for mitochondrial presequences. |
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