title: A component of the mitochondrial outer membrane proteome of T. brucei probably contains covalent bound fatty acids.
abstract: A subclass of eukaryotic proteins is subject to modification with fatty acids, the most common of which are palmitic and myristic acid. Protein acylation allows association with cellular membranes in the absence of transmembrane domains. Here we examine POMP39, a protein previously described to be present in the outer mitochondrial membrane proteome (POMP) of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. POMP39 lacks canonical transmembrane domains, but is likely both myristoylated and palmitoylated on its N-terminus. Interestingly, the protein is also dually localized on the surface of the mitochondrion as well as in the flagellum of both insect-stage and the bloodstream form of the parasites. Upon abolishing of global protein acylation or mutation of the myristoylation site, POMP39 relocates to the cytosol. RNAi-mediated ablation of the protein neither causes a growth phenotype in insect-stage nor bloodstream form trypanosomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, Bern 3012, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albisetti
authors.affiliation: Core Unit Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Medical Faculty, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, Ulm 89081, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiese
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, Bern 3012, Switzerland.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, Bern 3012, Switzerland. Electronic address: niemann@dcb.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niemann
mesh_terms: D000215:Acylation; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D019295:Computational Biology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005407:Flagella / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry*; D019814:Myristic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D020543:Proteome / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D020543:Proteome; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D019814:Myristic Acid; D019308:Palmitic Acid
keywords: African trypanosomes; Dual localization of proteins; Mitochondrial outer membrane proteome; Myristoylation/palmitoylation; Protein acylation; Protein targeting