Small single transmembrane domain (STMD) proteins organize the hydrophobic subunits of large membrane protein complexes.
The large membrane protein complexes of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation are composed of central subunits that are essential for their bioenergetic core function and accessory subunits that may assist in regulation, assembly or stabilization. Although sequence conservation is low, a significant proportion of the accessory subunits is characterized by a common single transmembrane (STMD) topology. The STMD signature is also found in subunits of other membrane protein complexes. We hypothesize that the general function of STMD subunits is to organize the hydrophobic subunits of large membrane protein complexes in specialized environments like the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Zickermann
Volker
V
Goethe-Universität, Fachbereich Medizin, Molekulare Bioenergetik, Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt "Macromolecular Complexes", Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Angerer
Heike
H
Ding
Martina G
MG
Nübel
Esther
E
Brandt
Ulrich
U
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000737:chemistry; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry*; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021122:Protein Subunits; D040681:Structural Homology, Protein; D025062:Yarrowia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D021122:Protein Subunits