title: Dynamic interaction of the protein translocation systems in the inner and outer membranes of yeast mitochondria.
abstract: Mitochondria contain two distinct protein import systems, one in the outer and the other in the inner membrane. These systems can act independently of one another in submitochondrial fractions of if a protein is transported to the outer membrane or to the intermembrane space. It has been proposed that the two systems associate reversibly when a protein is transported across both membranes, but this hypothesis has remained unproven. In order to address this question, we have checked whether antibodies against a subunit of one system can co-immunoprecipitate subunits of the other system. We find that the two systems associate stably if a matrix-targeted precursor is arrested during import; no association is seen in the absence of a stuck precursor. These experiments provide direct evidence that protein import into the mitochondrial matrix is mediated by the reversible interaction of the two translocation systems.
authors.affiliation: Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horst
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hilfiker-Rothenfluh
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oppliger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schatz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011485:Protein Binding; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV