title: A stretch of positively charged amino acids at the N terminus of Hansenula polymorpha Pex3p is involved in incorporation of the protein into the peroxisomal membrane.
abstract: Pex3p is a peroxisomal membrane protein that is essential for peroxisome biogenesis. Here, we show that a conserved stretch of positively charged amino acids (Arg(11)-X-Lys-Lys-Lys(15)) in the N terminus of Hansenula polymorpha Pex3p is involved in incorporation of the protein into its target membrane. Despite the strong conservation, this sequence shows a high degree of redundancy. Substitution of either Arg(11), Lys(13), Lys(14), or Lys(15) with uncharged or negatively charged amino acids did not interfere with Pex3p location and function. However, a mutant Pex3p, carrying negatively charged amino acids at position 13 and 15 (K13E/K15E), caused moderate but significant defects in peroxisome assembly and matrix protein import. Additional changes in the N terminus of Pex3p, e.g. replacing three or four of the positively charged amino acids with negatively charged ones, led to a typical pex3 phenotype, i.e. accumulation of peroxisomal matrix proteins in the cytosol and absence of peroxisomal remnants. Also, in these cases, the mutant Pex3p levels were reduced. Remarkably, mutant Pex3p proteins were mislocalized to mitochondria or the cytosol, depending on the nature of the mutation. Furthermore, in case of reduced amounts of Pex3p, the levels of other peroxisomal membrane proteins, e.g. Pex10p and Pex14p, were also diminished, suggesting that Pex3p maybe involved in the recruitment or stabilization of these proteins (in the membrane).
authors.affiliation: Eukaryotic Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, 9751 NN Haren, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Baerends
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kram
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kiel
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: van der Klei
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veenhuis
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D000074401:Peroxins; D020675:Peroxisomes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010843:Pichia / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010957:Plasmids; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D017931:DNA Primers; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C070895:PEX3 protein, S cerevisiae; D000074401:Peroxins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C406793:SPF1 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins