title: FtsY binds to the Escherichia coli inner membrane via interactions with phosphatidylethanolamine and membrane proteins.
abstract: Targeting of many polytopic proteins to the inner membrane of prokaryotes occurs via an essential signal recognition particle-like pathway. FtsY, the Escherichia coli homolog of the eukaryotic signal recognition particle receptor alpha-subunit, binds to membranes via its amino-terminal AN domain. We demonstrate that FtsY assembles on membranes via interactions with phosphatidylethanolamine and with a trypsin-sensitive component. Both interactions are mediated by the AN domain of FtsY. In the absence of phosphatidylethanolamine, the trypsin-sensitive component is sufficient for binding and function of FtsY in the targeting of membrane proteins. We propose a two-step mechanism for the assembly of FtsY on the membrane similar to that of SecA on the E. coli inner membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Millman
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vulcu
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C087406:FtsY protein, Bacteria; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear