title: Proteolysis of normal and mutated steroidogenic acute regulatory proteins in the mitochondria: the fate of unwanted proteins.
abstract: Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) is a nuclear encoded mitochondrial protein that enhances steroid synthesis by facilitating the transfer of cholesterol to the inner membranes of mitochondria in hormonally regulated steroidogenic cells. It is currently assumed that StAR activity commences before or during StAR import into the mitochondrial matrix. The present study was designed to demonstrate that, once imported and becoming physiologically irrelevant, exhaustive accumulation of StAR must be limited by a rapid degradation of the protein to prevent potential damage to the organelles. The use of uncouplers and manipulation of the interior mitochondrial pH in hormone-induced ovarian granulosa cells and StAR-expressing COS cells suggests that StAR degradation is biphasic and involves two classes of proteases. During phase I, which normally lasts for the first approximately 2 h following import, StAR is rapidly degraded by a protease, or proteases, that can be arrested by a nonclassical action of proteasome inhibitors such as MG132. StAR molecules that evade phase I are subjected to a second class of protease(s), which is slower and MG132 resistant. A third proteolytic entity was revealed in studies with C-28 StAR, a loss-of-function mutant of StAR. Upon initiation of its import, C-28 StAR dissipates the inner membrane potential and causes swelling of the mitochondria. Degradation of C-28 StAR, probably by an intermembrane space protease, is extremely rapid and MG132 insensitive. Collectively, this study defines StAR as the first naturally occurring mitochondrial protein that can serve as a substrate to probe multiple proteolytic activities in mammalian mitochondria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Granot
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Geiss-Friedlander
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Melamed-Book
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eimerl
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Timberg
authors.forename: Aryeh M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Karen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hales
authors.forename: Dale B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hales
authors.forename: Douglas M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Stocco
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D012756:Sheep; D013256:Steroids / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013256:Steroids; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein