Signals, receptors, and cytosolic factors involved in peroxisomal protein import.
Peroxisomes are ubiquitous eukaryotic organelles which function in a wide variety of metabolic processes. The many lethal human disorders associated with defects in peroxisomal protein import underscore the importance of this organelle. In recent years, the evolutionarily conserved molecular mechanisms of protein targeting to, and translocation across, peroxisomal membranes have begun to emerge. Signals which route proteins to the organelle have been identified, as have cytosolic, membrane-associated, and lumenal components of the import machinery. The goal of this brief review was to summarize our current knowledge of some of these molecules and to describe several potential mechanisms by which peroxisomes selectively import their constituent proteins. Aspects of these mechanisms that distinguish peroxisomal protein import from protein targeting to other organelles are highlighted.
Terlecky
S R
SR
Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0322, USA.
Wiemer
E A
EA
Nuttley
W M
WM
Walton
P A
PA
Subramani
S
S
D001692:Biological Transport; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008830:Microbodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074437:Peroxisomal Targeting Signal 2 Receptor; D000074435:Peroxisome-Targeting Signal 1 Receptor; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C082902:PEX7 protein, S cerevisiae; D000074437:Peroxisomal Targeting Signal 2 Receptor; D000074435:Peroxisome-Targeting Signal 1 Receptor; D011506:Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins