title: Mitochondrial protein import. Tom40 plays a major role in targeting and translocation of preproteins by forming a specific binding site for the presequence.
abstract: During preprotein transport across the mitochondrial outer membrane, the N-terminal presequence initially binds to a surface-exposed site, termed cis site, of the protein translocation complex of this membrane (the TOM complex). The presequence then moves into the translocation pore and becomes exposed at the intermembrane space side. Membrane passage is driven by specific interaction of the presequence with the trans site. We have used chemical cross-linking to identify components in the vicinity of the translocating presequence. Preproteins bound to the surface-exposed cis site can be cross-linked via their N-terminal presequence to Tom20 and Tom22, demonstrating their direct association with this part of the preprotein. In addition, the presequence establishes an early contact to Tom40, a membrane-embedded protein of the TOM complex. Upon further entry of the preprotein into the translocation pore, the presequence loses its contact with Tom20/Tom22, but remains in firm association with Tom40. Our study suggests that Tom40 plays an important function in guiding the presequence of a preprotein across the mitochondrial outer membrane. We propose that Tom40 forms a major part of the trans presequence binding site.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Physikalische Biochemie und Zellbiologie der Universität München, Goethestrasse 33, 80336 München, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rapaport
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Neupert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000090622:Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009492:Neurospora crassa; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000090622:Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C489350:TOM20 protein, S cerevisiae; C090857:TOM22 protein, S cerevisiae; C066555:Tom40 protein, S cerevisiae; C489997:Tomm20 protein, mouse; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase