YidC, a newly defined evolutionarily conserved protein, mediates membrane protein assembly in bacteria.
Membranes contain proteins that catalyze a variety of reactions, which lead to the selective permeability of the membrane. For membrane proteins to function as receptors, transporters, channels, and ATPases, they must be targeted to their correct membrane and inserted into the lipid bilayer. Recently, a new membrane component called YidC was discovered that mediates the insertion of proteins into membranes in bacteria. YidC homologs also exist in mitochondria and chloroplasts. Depletion of YidC from the cell interferes with the insertion of membrane proteins that insert both dependent and independent of the SecYEG/SecDFYajC machinery. YidC directly interacts with membrane proteins during the membrane protein insertion process and assists in the folding of the hydrophobic regions into the membrane bilayer. The chloroplast and bacterial YidC homologs are truly functional homologs because the chloroplast homolog Alb3 functionally complements the bacterial YidC depletion strain. The role of YidC in the membrane insertion pathway will be reviewed.
Chen
Minyong
M
Department of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1185, USA.
Xie
Kun
K
Jiang
Fenglei
F
Yi
Liang
L
Dalbey
Ross E
RE
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000502:physiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D001692:Biological Transport; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D000069816:SEC Translocation Channels; D000081416:SecA Proteins
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D000069816:SEC Translocation Channels; C412443:YIDC protein, E coli; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D000081416:SecA Proteins