Mammalian Oxa1 protein is useful for assessment of submitochondrial protein localization and mitochondrial membrane integrity.
Taking advantage of the unique topology of oxidase assembly 1 (Oxa1) protein, a mitochondrial inner membrane protein with N (intermembrane space)-C (matrix) orientation, we explored the usefulness of the protein as a marker for submitochondrial protein localization. Mammalian Oxa1 protein exhibited different proteolytic patterns depending on mitochondrial membrane integrity, and in mitochondria with a disrupted outer membrane and outer and inner membranes, the proteolytic patterns of Oxa1 protein were consistent with those of mitochondrial intermembrane space and matrix marker proteins, respectively, suggesting that Oxa1 protein, a single molecule, can serve as a versatile submitochondrial localization marker that doubles as a membrane integrity marker.
Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. t-sato@hokuriku-u.ac.jp
Takashi
T
Sato
Katsuyoshi
K
Mihara
D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013367:Submitochondrial Particles / Q000378:metabolism*
D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C090858:OXA1 protein; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV