title: Mitochondrial protein import receptors in Kinetoplastids reveal convergent evolution over large phylogenetic distances.
abstract: Mitochondrial protein import is essential for all eukaryotes and mediated by hetero-oligomeric protein translocases thought to be conserved within all eukaryotes. We have identified and analysed the function and architecture of the non-conventional outer membrane (OM) protein translocase in the early diverging eukaryote Trypanosoma brucei. It consists of six subunits that show no obvious homology to translocase components of other species. Two subunits are import receptors that have a unique topology and unique protein domains and thus evolved independently of the prototype receptors Tom20 and Tom70. Our study suggests that protein import receptors were recruited to the core of the OM translocase after the divergence of the major eukaryotic supergroups. Moreover, it links the evolutionary history of mitochondrial protein import receptors to the origin of the eukaryotic supergroups.
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Mani
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Desy
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland.
authors: Moritz
authors: M
authors: Niemann
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland.
authors: Astrid
authors: A
authors: Chanfon
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Functional Proteomics, Faculty of Biology and BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79104, Germany.
authors: Silke
authors: S
authors: Oeljeklaus
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland.
authors: Mascha
authors: M
authors: Pusnik
authors: Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, ZBMZ and BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg 79104, Germany.
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Schmidt
authors: Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, ZBMZ and BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg 79104, Germany.
authors: Carolin
authors: C
authors: Gerbeth
authors: Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, ZBMZ and BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg 79104, Germany.
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Meisinger
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Functional Proteomics, Faculty of Biology and BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79104, Germany.
authors: Bettina
authors: B
authors: Warscheid
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland.
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Schneider
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D016830:Kinetoplastida / Q000235:genetics; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000090622:Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins; D010802:Phylogeny; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000090622:Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins