title: Zim17, a novel zinc finger protein essential for protein import into mitochondria.
abstract: Translocation of precursor proteins across the mitochondrial membranes requires the coordinated action of multisubunit translocases in the outer and inner membrane, and the driving force for translocation across the inner membrane is provided by the matrix-located heat shock protein 70 (mtHsp70). The central components of the protein import machinery are essential. Here we describe Zim17, an essential protein with a zinc finger motif involved in protein import into mitochondria. Comparative genomics suggested a correction to the open reading frame of YNL310c, the gene encoding Zim17 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The revised open reading frame codes for a classic mitochondrial targeting signal, which is processed from Zim17 in the mitochondrial matrix. Loss of Zim17 selectively diminishes import of proteins into the matrix of mitochondria, but this loss of Zim17 is partially suppressed by overexpression of the J-protein Pam18/Tim14. We propose that Zim17 functions as an example of a "fractured" J-protein, where a protein like Zim17 contributes a zinc finger domain to Type III J-proteins, in toto providing for substrate loading onto Hsp70.
authors.affiliation: Russell Grimwade School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burri
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vascotto
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fredersdorf
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tiedt
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lithgow
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000090622:Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; C445095:HUA1 protein, Arabidopsis; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000090622:Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C480348:PAM18 J protein, S cerevisiae; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C077016:TIM44 protein, S cerevisiae; C478853:Tim14 protein, S cerevisiae; C495990:Zim17 protein, S cerevisiae