title: The chloroplast import receptor Toc34 functions as preprotein-regulated GTPase.
abstract: Toc34 is a protein of the chloroplast outer envelope membrane that acts as receptor for preproteins containing a transit sequence. The recognition of preproteins by Toc34 is regulated by GTP binding and phosphorylation. The phosphorylation site of Toc34 is located at serine 113, close to the postulated triphosphate binding site. This can explain the down-regulation of Toc34 by phosphorylation, resulting in the loss of GTP binding. Vice versa, GTP but not GDP binding of Toc34 influences the phosphorylation. The nucleotide specificity of Toc34 is not only determined by the classical nucleotide binding domains but by a non-typical region at the N-terminus of the protein. As a result, the GTP binding properties are unusual, since the triphosphate moiety of GTP is bound with higher affinity than the purine base. Purified Toc34 hydrolyses GTP at a low rate, which could regulate the receptor function. The rate of hydrolysis is greatly stimulated by a precursor protein.
authors.affiliation: Botanisches Institut, LMU München, Menzinger Str 67, D-80638 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jelic
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sveshnikova
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motzkus
authors.forename: Patric
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hörth
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soll
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schleiff
mesh_terms: D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized / Q000737:chemistry; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics*; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006868:Hydrolysis; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008566:Membranes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019606:Phosphoamino Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010768:Phosphoserine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012685:Sepharose
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009711:Nucleotides; D010455:Peptides; D019606:Phosphoamino Acids; D010940:Plant Proteins; C112475:Toc34 protein, plant; D010768:Phosphoserine; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D012685:Sepharose; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases