title: Identification and reverse genetic analysis of mitochondrial processing peptidase and the core protein of the cytochrome bc1 complex of Caenorhabditis elegans, a model parasitic nematode.
abstract: Mitochondria could be a good target for anti-parasitic drugs. The alpha and beta subunits of mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) and the core subunits of the cytochrome bc1 complex, UCR-1 and UCR-2, are homologous to one another and are important for mitochondrial functions. However, our knowledge of these proteins in nematodes is very limited. Caenorhabditis elegans, a free-living nematode, has six genes coding for proteins homologous to these subunits. On primary structure comparison, and immunochemical and enzymological analyses, the gene products were assigned as follows: Y71G12B.24, alpha-MPP; ZC410.2, beta-MPP; F56D2.1, UCR-1; VW06B3R.1, T10B10.2; and T24C4.1, UCR-2. The primary structures of beta-MPP and UCR-1 from Brugia malayi, a parasitic nematode causing human filariasis, were deduced from their cDNA structures. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the UCR-1s from both C. elegans and B. malayi were less related to mammalian UCR-1s than to MPPs from various organisms. MPP and the bc1 complex are essential for the life cycle of C. elegans, because their reverse genetic inhibition is lethal. This suggests the possibility that these proteins are also essential for the viability of B. malayi and other parasitic nematodes, and are potential targets for anti-parasitic agents.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry, School of Life Science, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Senarath B P
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Athauda
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hideshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009348:Nematoda / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D034622:RNA Interference; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D000096122:Mitochondrial Processing Peptidase
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000096122:Mitochondrial Processing Peptidase