a dual function for seca in the assembly of single ... · with the membrane attached srp receptor...

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1 A DUAL FUNCTION FOR SecA IN THE ASSEMBLY OF SINGLE-SPANNING MEMBRANE PROTEINS IN ESCHERICHIA COLI Sandra Deitermann 1,2, # , Grit Sophie Sprie 1,# , and Hans-Georg Koch 1 1 Institute for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty for Medicine and 2 Faculty for Biology, University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, FR Germany Runnning Title: Bacterial membrane protein assembly Address correspondence to: Hans-Georg Koch, Institute for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 7; 79104 Freiburg, FR Germany. Tel. 0049-761-2035250; Fax 0049-761-2035253; E-Mail: [email protected] # both authors contributed equally to this study and are listed in alphabetical order The assembly of bacterial membrane proteins with large periplasmic loops is an intrinsically complex process because the SecY translocon has to coordinate the SRP- dependent targeting and integration of transmembrane domains with the SecA- dependent translocation of the periplasmic loop. The current model suggests that the ATP hydrolysis by SecA is required only if periplasmic loops larger than 30 amino acids have to be translocated. In agreement with this model, our data demonstrate that the SRP- and SecA-dependent multiple-spanning membrane protein YidC becomes SecA-independent if the large periplasmic loop connecting transmembrane domains two and three is reduced to less than 30 amino acids. Strikingly, however, we were unable to render single- spanning membrane proteins SecA-independent by reducing the length of their periplasmic loops. For these proteins, the complete assembly was always SecA-dependent, even if the periplasmic loop was reduced to 13 amino acids. If, however, the 13 amino acid long periplasmic loop was fused to a downstream transmembrane domain, SecA was no longer required for complete translocation. While these data support the current model on the SecA-dependency of multiple-spanning membrane proteins, they indicate a novel function of SecA for the assembly of single- spanning membrane proteins. This could suggest that single- and multiple-spanning membrane proteins are processed differently by the bacterial SecY translocon. Membrane protein assembly in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes is initiated by the cotranslational targeting of ribosome associated nascent chains (RNCs 1 ) to the Sec-translocons in the endoplasmic reticulum or the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. This requires binding of the signal recognition particle (SRP) to the signal anchor sequence of a membrane protein when it emerges from the ribosomal exit tunnel and the subsequent interaction of the SRP-RNC complex with the membrane attached SRP receptor (SR) (1, 2). The subsequent transfer of the RNC to the Sec translocon is probably favoured by the proposed close vicinity of the SR to the Sec translocon (3). A direct interaction between FtsY, the bacterial SR, and SecY has recently been demonstrated in E. coli (4). In contrast to the eukaryotic SRP, which targets both membrane and secretory proteins, the bacterial SRP is predominantly engaged in membrane protein targeting. The vast majority of bacterial secretory proteins, i.e. proteins which are destined to reach the periplasmic space or the outer membrane, are posttranslationally targeted by the bacterial specific SecA/SecB pathway (5). In this pathway, SecB functions as a secretion specific chaperone for most secretory proteins, while SecA is proposed to translocate the preprotein in a stepwise translocation of stretches of about 30 amino acids (6-8) The translocation of large lumenal domains in eukaryotic membrane proteins does not depend on cytosolic proteins other than SRP (3). This is different for bacterial membrane proteins with large periplasmic domains, which are cotranslationally targeted to the membrane by SRP/SR, but are fully assembled only in the presence of SecA (9-11). For these proteins, the ATP hydrolysis by SecA is thought to provide the energy for the translocation of the large periplasmic loops (12). Additionally, the proton motive force appears to be required for complete translocation (13). In contrast, neither SecA nor the proton motive force is required for the JBC Papers in Press. Published on September 26, 2005 as Manuscript M509647200 Copyright 2005 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc. by guest on July 28, 2019 http://www.jbc.org/ Downloaded from

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Page 1: A DUAL FUNCTION FOR SecA IN THE ASSEMBLY OF SINGLE ... · with the membrane attached SRP receptor (SR) (1, 2). The subsequent transfer of the RNC to the Sec translocon is probably

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A DUAL FUNCTION FOR SecA IN THE ASSEMBLY OF SINGLE-SPANNING MEMBRANE PROTEINS IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

Sandra Deitermann1,2, #, Grit Sophie Sprie 1,#, and Hans-Georg Koch1 1Institute for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty for Medicine and 2Faculty

for Biology, University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, FR Germany Runnning Title: Bacterial membrane protein assembly

Address correspondence to: Hans-Georg Koch, Institute for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 7; 79104 Freiburg, FR Germany. Tel. 0049-761-2035250; Fax 0049-761-2035253; E-Mail: [email protected] #both authors contributed equally to this study and are listed in alphabetical order

The assembly of bacterial membrane proteins with large periplasmic loops is an intrinsically complex process because the SecY translocon has to coordinate the SRP-dependent targeting and integration of transmembrane domains with the SecA-dependent translocation of the periplasmic loop. The current model suggests that the ATP hydrolysis by SecA is required only if periplasmic loops larger than 30 amino acids have to be translocated. In agreement with this model, our data demonstrate that the SRP- and SecA-dependent multiple-spanning membrane protein YidC becomes SecA-independent if the large periplasmic loop connecting transmembrane domains two and three is reduced to less than 30 amino acids. Strikingly, however, we were unable to render single-spanning membrane proteins SecA-independent by reducing the length of their periplasmic loops. For these proteins, the complete assembly was always SecA-dependent, even if the periplasmic loop was reduced to 13 amino acids. If, however, the 13 amino acid long periplasmic loop was fused to a downstream transmembrane domain, SecA was no longer required for complete translocation. While these data support the current model on the SecA-dependency of multiple-spanning membrane proteins, they indicate a novel function of SecA for the assembly of single-spanning membrane proteins. This could suggest that single- and multiple-spanning membrane proteins are processed differently by the bacterial SecY translocon.

Membrane protein assembly in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes is initiated by the cotranslational targeting of ribosome associated nascent chains (RNCs1) to the Sec-translocons in

the endoplasmic reticulum or the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. This requires binding of the signal recognition particle (SRP) to the signal anchor sequence of a membrane protein when it emerges from the ribosomal exit tunnel and the subsequent interaction of the SRP-RNC complex with the membrane attached SRP receptor (SR) (1, 2). The subsequent transfer of the RNC to the Sec translocon is probably favoured by the proposed close vicinity of the SR to the Sec translocon (3). A direct interaction between FtsY, the bacterial SR, and SecY has recently been demonstrated in E. coli (4). In contrast to the eukaryotic SRP, which targets both membrane and secretory proteins, the bacterial SRP is predominantly engaged in membrane protein targeting. The vast majority of bacterial secretory proteins, i.e. proteins which are destined to reach the periplasmic space or the outer membrane, are posttranslationally targeted by the bacterial specific SecA/SecB pathway (5). In this pathway, SecB functions as a secretion specific chaperone for most secretory proteins, while SecA is proposed to translocate the preprotein in a stepwise translocation of stretches of about 30 amino acids (6-8)

The translocation of large lumenal

domains in eukaryotic membrane proteins does not depend on cytosolic proteins other than SRP (3). This is different for bacterial membrane proteins with large periplasmic domains, which are cotranslationally targeted to the membrane by SRP/SR, but are fully assembled only in the presence of SecA (9-11). For these proteins, the ATP hydrolysis by SecA is thought to provide the energy for the translocation of the large periplasmic loops (12). Additionally, the proton motive force appears to be required for complete translocation (13). In contrast, neither SecA nor the proton motive force is required for the

JBC Papers in Press. Published on September 26, 2005 as Manuscript M509647200

Copyright 2005 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

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complete assembly of bacterial membrane proteins without extended periplasmic domains. This has been shown for the multiple spanning membrane proteins mannitol permease and SecY (14, 15).

In this study we have analyzed the SRP-

and SecA-dependent steps during the assembly of two SRP- and SecA-dependent membrane proteins: the single-spanning type II model protein Momp2 (9) and the multiple-spanning membrane protein YidC (16, 17). In agreement with the proposed model we demonstrate that the assembly of YidC requires SecA only if periplasmic loops larger than 30 amino acids have to be translocated. Unexpectedly, however, the single-spanning Momp2 was like single-spanning YidC derivatives always SecA dependent, irrespective of the length of the periplasmic loop. If, however, small periplasmic loops were fused to a downstream transmembrane (TM) domain, their translocation became SecA independent. These data indicate that the SecA dependency of a bacterial membrane protein is not solely determined by the length of the periplasmic loop but also by the presence of a downstream transmembrane (TM) domain.

Experimental Procedures Strains

The following E.coli strains were used: BL21 (DE3) pLysS (Novagen, Bad Soden, Germany), MRE600 (18), MC4100 (19), TY1 (ompT::kan, secY205) (20), CM124 (secE∆19-111, pCM22) (21), KN553 (∆uncB-C::Tn10 ∆secG::kan) (22), EK414 (MC4100ara+ ∆secG::kan) (22). Plasmids and plasmid construction

For in vitro protein synthesis, the following plasmids were used: pMomp2 (Momp2) (9), p717-MtlA (mannitol permease) (9), pDMB (pOmpA) (23). For in vitro expression of YidC we used pKSM717-YidC, which was constructed by ligating the NcoI/EcoRI fragment of plasmid pROEX-HTB-yidC (24) into pKSM717 (25). YidC-deletion plasmids were constructed by PCR-introducing a first BglII site at codon 336 of YidC. A second BglII site was then introduced at either codons 30, 51, 61, 71 or 173, respectively. Digestion with BglII and religation yielded the plasmids pKSM717-YidC-∆307, pKSM717-YidC- ∆286, pKSM717-YidC-∆276, pKSM717-YidC-∆266 and pKSM717-YidC-∆164, respectively. To

obtain YidC deletion mutants containing only one or two TM domains, TGA stop codons were introduced at codon 39 or codon 81 of YidC in plasmid pKSM717-YidC-∆307, resulting in the plasmids pKSM717-YidC∆307TM1 and pKSM717-YidC∆307TM1-2, respectively. Preparation of membranes

Inverted inner membrane vesicles (INV) from wild-type E.coli (MRE600), TY1, EK414 and KN553 were prepared as described (18). SecE-depleted membranes were prepared from E.coli strain CM124, carrying a chromosomal secE deletion and an arabinose-inducible secE copy on the plasmid pCM22. CM124 cells were grown at 37°C in the presence of 0.4% arabinose up to mid-log phase, harvested by centrifugation and washed twice in INV-medium (18). Cells were diluted 1:500 in fresh INV medium containing either 0.4% arabinose (SecYE+) or 0.4% glucose (SecYE). The bacterial cultures were grown at 37° up to an OD600 of 1.5 and harvested. Urea treatment of INV (generating U-INV) was performed as previously described (14) using a final urea concentration of 4 M. In vitro synthesis

In vitro protein synthesis and the composition of the reconstituted transcription/translation system of E. coli, purification of its components, and protease protection assay employed in this study have been described previously (14, 9). Synthesis of ribosome associated nascent chains (RNCs) was achieved as described in Beck et al. (26) by the addition of the following oligodeoxynucleotides: Momp2-60, 5`-GTTGATGAAACCAGTA-TCATG-3` (4 µg /25µl); Momp2-65, 5’-TCG-GGCCATTGTTGTTGATG-3`, (4 µg /25µl); Momp2-70, 5`-CCAGTTGGTTTTCATGG-GTCG-3` (2.5 µg/25 µl); Momp2-86, 5`-CAAA-GCCAACATACGGGTTAAC-3` (3 µg/25 µl); Momp2-146, 5`-TAAACGTTGGATTTAGT-GTC-3` (3 µg/25 µl); Momp2-301, 5`-GGAGA-TCAGGTAATCAACAAC-3` (4 µg/25 µl), Momp2-329, 5`-CTGTTTCACGTTGTCACA-GGTG-3` (4 µg/25 µl). YidC-330, 5`-AGAGA-TGAACCACAACCAACC-3` (3 µg/25 µl), YidC-422, 5’-GATCAGCAGCGG-GAAGCAGCC-3’ (3 µg/25 µl); YidC-447, 5`-CACAGTGCAAACG-GTGCCTG-3` (3 µg/25 µl). RNaseH (1U/25µl) and 10Sa RNA anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide (5’-TTAAGCTGCTAAAGCGTAGTTTTCGTC-

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GTTTGCGACTA-3’; 0.25 µg/25 µl) were added routinely. To release the RNCs from the ribosome, puromycin was added to the reaction mixture at a final concentration of 0.8 mM with a further incubation for 15 min at 37°C. For carbonate extraction of membrane bound RNCs, samples were treated with freshly prepared 0.2 M Na2CO3 pH 11.3 (27) for 30 min on ice. Membranes were then recovered by centrifugation in a Beckman TLA-100.2 rotor at 70 000 rpm/4°C for 30 min. For flotation gradient analyses, the reaction mixture was adjusted to 1.6 M sucrose (final volume 100 µl) and overlaid with 200 µl of 1.25 M sucrose and 100 µl of 0.25 M sucrose, each prepared in 40 mM triethanolamine acetate, 5 mM magnesium acetate and 70 mM potassium acetate. After centrifugation for 90 min at 100 000 rpm in a Beckman TLA-100.2 rotor, four fractions of 100 µl each were withdrawn from the top of the gradient and TCA precipitated (5% final concentration). The pellet was directly dissolved in SDS-loading buffer. For subsequent translocation assays of membrane bound RNCs, fractions 2 and 3 of the gradient, representing the vesicle fractions, were withdrawn and incubated further for 20 min at 37°C in the presence of 0.8 mM puromycin, and an ATP-regenerating system (2.5 mM ATP, 2 mM DTT, 8 mM creatine phosphate, and 40 µg/ml creatine phosphokinase). SecA36 (20) was present at concentrations of 300 ng/25 µl during this incubation where indicated; wild type SecA was added at a concentration of 900 ng/25 µl. These concentrations, like those of Ffh (150ng/25 µl) and FtsY (500ng/25 µl), were shown to efficiently stimulate protein transport into U-INV (14), which are devoid of these proteins. The purifications of SecA, SecA36, Ffh and FtsY have been described (14, 28). Sample analysis and quantification

SDS-PAGE (15%, 17%) was carried out according to Laemmli (29). For Momp2-60, Momp2-65 and Momp2-70, a Tris-Tricine (6%-16.5%) SDS-PAGE system was performed as described (30). YidC∆307 and its derivatives were separated on 22% urea-SDS PAGE. Radiolabeled proteins were visualized by phosphorimaging using a Molecular Dynamics PhosphorImager and quantified using ImageQuant software from Molecular Dynamics.

Reagents Growth media components and chemicals

were obtained from Roth (Karlsruhe, Germany), Sigma (Taufkirchen, Germany) and Promega (Mannheim, Germany); oligodeoxynucleotides from MWG Biotech (Ebersberg, Germany) and the S35-Met/Cys labelling mix from Amersham-Pharmacia (Freiburg, Germany). Results SRP and SecA are involved in distinct steps during the transport of bacterial membrane proteins.

For analyzing the SRP- and SecA-dependent steps of membrane protein assembly individually we employed the secY205 mutant in which the SecA-SecY interaction is impaired (21). SecA-dependent proteins are not translocated into inner membrane vesicles (INV) derived form the secY205 mutant as shown in Fig. 1A for the SecA-dependent secretory protein OmpA. In the presence of wild type INV, almost 50% of the in vitro synthesized material was translocated into the lumen of these vesicles as deduced from its proteinase K resistance. In the presence of secY205 INV, however, translocation was reduced to 3%, which is consistent with the SecA-dependent translocation of OmpA. SecA36, a highly active SecA derivative, has been shown to specifically suppress the secY205 defect (21, 28). In agreement with this, the translocation of OmpA into secY205 INV was completely restored by the addition of purified SecA36 (Fig. 1A) but not by the addition of wild type SecA.

The SecA dependency also of membrane

proteins like Momp2 and YidC can be disclosed by use of the secY205 mutant. In the presence of wild type INV (Fig. 1A), a membrane protected fragment of Momp2 (Momp2-MPF) was observed, which corresponds to the TM domain and the 320 amino acid long periplasmic domain translocated into the lumen of the INV. The reduction in size is due to proteinase K cleavage of the major part of the N-terminal amphiphilic helix (9). The occurrence of the Momp2-MPF was significantly reduced in the presence of secY205 INV, unless SecA36 was added. Similar results were also observed for YidC, in which the TM domains 1 and 2 are connected by a 320 amino acid long

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periplasmic loop. The 42 kDa protease protected fragment of YidC, observed in the presence of wild type INV (Fig. 1A), was only barely detectable in the presence of secY205 INV. This fragment corresponds to the first two TM domains and the connecting periplasmic loop (16, 31). Only by adding SecA36 to secY205 INV, a significant translocation of the periplasmic loop was observed (Fig. 1A). In contrast to Momp2 and YidC, the SecA-independent membrane protein mannitol permease (MtlA) (14), which lacks extended periplasmic loops, was not affected by the secY205 mutation and its integration was not stimulated by the addition of SecA36 (Fig. 1A).

SecA-dependent membrane proteins are

like SecA-independent membrane proteins cotranslationally targeted to the SecY translocon by SRP. We therefore analyzed, whether the secY205 mutation would affect the membrane targeting of Momp2 and YidC. As shown previously (9), the cotranslational binding of RNCs to the membrane can be analyzed by flotation gradient centrifugation. If Momp2-329, a nascent chain of 329 amino acids, was subjected to flotation gradient centrifugation in the absence of INV (Fig. 1B), about 90 % of the nascent chains were recovered from the bottom fractions (fractions 4 & 5) of the gradient. In contrast, in the presence of wild type INV more than 80% of the material was found in the membrane-containing fractions 2 and 3 of the gradient. The same partitioning into the membrane fractions of the gradient was observed when Momp2-RNCs were synthesized in the presence of secY205. This reflects a SecA-independent targeting of Momp2-RNCs to the SecY205 translocon.

In order to directly demonstrate that the

binding of Momp2-RNCs to the secY205 INV was due to cotranslational targeting mediated by SRP, the secY205 INV were extracted with 4 M urea. This treatment has been shown to remove the membrane bound SRP, SR and SecA (14). Membrane binding of Momp2-RNCs to urea treated secY205 INV was drastically reduced, but could be completely restored if purified Ffh, the protein component of the bacterial SRP, and purified FtsY, the bacterial SR, were added (Fig. 1B). The addition of 4.5S RNA, which together with Ffh forms the bacterial SRP, was not necessary in these experiments due to sufficient amounts of 4.5S RNA in the in vitro system used

(14). The same SRP and FtsY-dependent cotranslational targeting to secY205 INV was observed for YidC-447 RNCs, a nascent chain of 447 amino acids (Fig. 1B). Thus, although the impaired SecA-SecY interaction in the secY205 INV blocks the complete assembly of SecA-dependent membrane proteins, it does not reduce their SRP-dependent membrane targeting.

To examine if the SRP-dependent

targeting of SecA-dependent membrane proteins to secY205 INV resulted in lipid anchorage of the TM domain, we used alkaline extraction as a suitable method to differentiate between lipid-inserted proteins and peripherally bound E. coli proteins (10). Momp2-329 RNCs were synthesized in the absence or presence of wild type and mutant INV and were subsequently extracted with sodium carbonate followed by an ultracentrifugation step. The supernatant, containing the carbonate extracted material, and the pellet, containing the carbonate resistant material were then analyzed by SDS-PAGE. In the absence of INV more than 70% of the radioactive material was recovered form the supernatant after centrifugation (Fig. 2). In the presence of wild type INV, however, more than 80% of the Momp2-RNCs became carbonate resistant suggesting lipid insertion of the single TM domain of Momp2, which must have occurred while the ribosome was still attached. Consistent with this notion, the addition of puromycin to release the ribosome did not further increase the amount of carbonate resistant material (unpublished data). The same carbonate resistance (< 80%) was also observed when Momp2-RNCs were synthesized in the presence of secY205 INV (Fig. 2). Thus, the inability of SecA to functionally interact with SecY in the secY205 INV does not interfere with the lipid insertion of the TM domain of Momp2. Membrane integration of Momp2-RNCs leading to carbonate resistance did, however, require the Sec translocon. This was shown by analyzing carbonate extraction with INV derived from the E. coli strain CM124. In this strain the expression of the essential secE gene is induced by arabinose (21). Under SecE-depleting conditions, SecY is rapidly degraded by the membrane-bound protease FtsH (32) and only barely detectable by western blotting with α-SecY antibodies (Fig. 2). Whereas in SecE containing CM124 INV 81 % of the Momp2-RNCs were carbonate resistant (Fig. 2), only 25% of the Momp2-RNCs were carbonate resistant in the

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presence of SecE-depleted CM124 INV. The residual carbonate resistance of RNCs in SecE-depleted INV is expected partly because complete depletion of the essential SecE is difficult to achieve and partly because of the formation of carbonate-resistant aggregates.

Collectively, we have been to demonstrate

that the SRP-dependent cotranslational targeting of bacterial membrane proteins with extended periplasmic loops leads to a stable binding of the RNCs to the membrane. Importantly, during this step the signal anchor sequence gains access to the lipid phase in the absence of a functional SecA-SecY interaction. The subsequent translocation of the periplasmic loop then requires a functional interaction between the Sec translocon and SecA.

Ribosome release is required for complete translocation of the periplasmic loop in single but not in multiple spanning membrane proteins.

The release of the ribosome was not required for lipid insertion of the TM domain of Momp2 (Fig. 2). In order to address the question whether also the SecA-dependent translocation of the periplasmic loop would occur while the ribosome was still attached, we analyzed protease protection of Momp2-RNCs prior to or after ribosome release by puromycin. In the presence of wild type INV about 50% of Momp2-329 RNCs were protease protected after puromycin treatment, but only 17% in the absence of puromycin (Fig. 3B upper panel, lanes 5 & 6). These remaining 17 % most likely result from a puromycin-independent detachment of the ribosome during handling of the RNCs. Consistent with the SecA-dependent translocation of the periplasmic loop, significant protease protection of Momp2-329 in the presence of secY205 INV was only observed if puromycin and SecA36 were added (Fig. 3B upper panel, lanes 11 & 12). These results indicate that the release of the ribosome is a prerequisite for the SecA dependent translocation of the periplasmic loop in Momp2, presumably because SecA does not have sufficient access to even long hydrophilic loops that are still bound to the ribosome.

Surprisingly, however, if YidC-447 RNCs,

consisting of three TM domains (Fig. 3A), were analyzed in the same experimental setup, protease

protection of the 320 amino acid long periplasmic loop was independent of the addition of puromycin (Fig. 3B middle panel, lanes 5 & 6).

In order to confirm that the translocation

of YidC-447 RNCs in the presence of the ribosome was still SecA-dependent, protease protection in secY205 INV was analyzed in the presence or absence of SecA36. The periplasmic loop of YidC-447 was translocated into secY205 INV only when SecA36 was present but the release of the ribosome was not required to obtain a stable translocation product (Fig. 3B middle panel, lanes 11 & 12). We next tested the effect of puromycin on the translocation of YidC-330 RNCs, which like the Momp2 RNCs consist of a single TM domain, connected to a 307 amino acid long periplasmic loop (Fig. 3A). As for Momp2-329 RNCs, efficient protease protection of YidC-330 RNCs was observed only after the ribosome had been released by the addition of puromycin (Fig. 3B lower panel, lanes 5 & 6) and was clearly SecA dependent (Fig. 3B, lower panel, lanes 9 & 12).

In summary, for single-spanning

membrane proteins like Momp2-329 or YidC-330, complete SecA-dependent translocation is observed only after the release of the ribosome, i.e. after protein synthesis is terminated. In contrast, if the periplasmic domain is followed by a downstream TM, its SecA-dependent translocation occurs before protein synthesis is terminated, i.e. in the presence of the ribosome. The SecA-dependency of the single-spanning Momp2 is not determined by the length of the periplasmic loop.

A proposed model of the SecA function suggests that SecA catalyzes the stepwise translocation of 30 amino acids by inserting together with its substrate into the translocase. Multiple ATP-dependent cycles of SecA insertion and de-insertion would then completely translocate the cargo (6, 8). This idea is supported by data indicating that only periplasmic domains of multiple-spanning membrane proteins larger than 30 amino acids require SecA for translocation (33). Thus, if the role of SecA were limited to provide the driving force for translocation of only those periplasmic domains significantly larger than 30 amino acids, one would expect to see a reduction in the SecA-dependency of Momp2-RNCs by

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reducing the length of their periplasmic domains. Surprisingly, we did not observe that short nascent chains of Momp2 were less SecA dependent than long nascent chains (Fig. 4A). Even the translocation of Momp2-60, harbouring a periplasmic loop of just 13 amino acids, appeared to be as sensitive towards the impaired SecA-SecY interaction in secY205 INV as Momp2-329, harbouring a periplasmic loop of 287 amino acids. These data suggest that independently of the length of the periplasmic domain, complete assembly of the single-spanning Momp2 is not possible without a functional SecA-SecY interaction. Neither Momp2-329 nor Momp2-60 RNCs did acquire protease resistance in INV derived from the SecG-deletion strain KN553 (22) (data not shown). Because SecG, which is the third component of the hetero-trimeric SecY translocon, is suggested to support the catalytic cycle of SecA, these data confirm the SecA-dependent translocation of even small periplasmic loops in single-spanning membrane proteins.

In order to directly demonstrate that even

for these very short Momp2 RNCs, the role of SecA is restricted to sustain the translocation of the periplasmic domain, we experimentally separated the targeting reaction from the translocation reaction. In a first step, Momp2-60 RNCs which were cotranslationally targeted to the SecY translocon were isolated by flotation gradient centrifugation. Fig. 4B (compare lanes 1 & 3) shows that Momp2-60 RNCs were as efficiently targeted to wild type INV as to secY205 INV, because about equal amounts of Momp2-60 were present in the respective INV-containing fractions. In a second step, the isolated membrane-bound RNCs were treated with puromycin to release the ribosome and then treated with proteinase K. Protease resistance of INV-associated Momp2-329, indicative of translocation of the periplasmic loop into the vesicle lumen, was sufficiently obtained only with wild type but not with secY205 INV (Fig. 4B, lanes 2 & 4). If, however, Momp2-60 RNCs that had been targeted to secY205 INV were incubated with SecA36 (Fig. 4B, lane 5), a significant stimulation of the protease protection was observed (Fig. 4B, lane 6). As a control, we analyzed Momp-329 RNCs, which like Momp-60 were efficiently targeted to secY205 INV, but not translocated unless SecA36 had been added (Fig. 4B).

In summary, these data suggest that a periplasmic loop as short as 13 amino acids does not reach the periplasmic side of the membrane in the absence of SecA and SecG.

The SecA-dependency of a small periplasmic loop is abolished by the presence of a downstream TM domain.

The above described observations were

unexpected because previous studies had demonstrated that multiple-spanning membrane proteins like MtlA, which contains only small periplasmic loops varying between 6 and 22 amino acids (Fig. 1A), are integrated independently of SecA and SecG (14). SecA-and SecG-independent integration has also been shown for SecY, which like MtlA contains only small periplasmic loops (15). This would suggest that small periplasmic loops can be translocated independently of SecA if they are followed by a TM domain as in MtlA or SecY. To test this hypothesis, we created different YidC constructs, in which the size of the periplasmic loop connecting TM 1 and TM2 was gradually reduced from 320 to 13 amino acids (Fig. 5A). The SecA-dependency of these constructs was analyzed by testing their SecA36-dependent integration into secY205 INV. For the constructs YidC∆164, YidC∆266, YidC∆276 and YidC∆286, in which the periplasmic loop has been reduced to 160, 54, 44 and 34 amino acids, respectively, protease protection was clearly SecA dependent. This is shown for YidC∆164 and YidC∆286, which do not gain protease protection in the presence of secY205 INV unless SecA36 was added (Fig. 5B). The sizes of the protease protected bands, which were each recognized by α-YidC antibodies, are in agreement with a membrane-integrated fragment, covering the first two TMs and the connecting periplasmic loop (16, 31). Strikingly, if the loop size was reduced to 13 amino acids as in YidC∆307, we did not any longer observe a significant difference between YidC∆307 integration into wild type and secY205 INV, independently of whether SecA36 was added or not (Fig. 5B). Thus, in the presence of a downstream TM domain, the translocation of the 13 amino acid long periplasmic loop of YidC∆307 does not require SecA.

We wished to exclude the possibility that

the use of RNCs (Momp2-60, Fig. 4A) as opposed to completed translation products (YidC∆307, Fig.

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5B), was the reason for the different SecA requirement of the 13 amino acid long periplasmic loop in both constructs. Therefore we synthesized YidC∆307 RNCs, consisting of the first two TM domains and the 13 amino acid long periplasmic loop. One aliquot from the translation mixture was directly TCA precipitated to monitor protein synthesis (Fig. 5C, lanes 1, 4, 7 & 10). The remaining material was subjected to the reconstitution assay described above (c.f. Fig. 4B), to separate the cotranslational targeting from the translocation reaction. Only the membrane fractions of the flotation gradient were recovered and either directly TCA precipitated (Fig. 5C, lanes 2, 5, 8 & 11) or only after proteinase K treatment (Fig. 5C, lanes 3, 6, 9 & 12). Efficient co-translational targeting of YidC∆307 RNCs was observed for both wild type and secY205 INV (Fig. 5C, compare lanes 5 & 8). Importantly, independently of whether SecA36 was added or not, YidC∆307 RNCs were efficiently integrated into both wild type and secY205 INV. These data confirm that in contrast to Momp2, the short periplasmic loop of YidC∆307 is translocated independently of SecA.

As the periplasmic loop in YidC∆307 is

sandwiched between two TM domains, while in Momp2 the periplasmic loop is connected to a single TM domain, we analyzed whether removing the downstream TM domains would render YidC∆307 SecA dependent. For this we constructed two YidC∆307 derivatives consisting of either one TM domain (YidC∆307-TM1) or two TM domains (YidC∆307-TM1-2). First, we verified that both constructs were integrated into the membrane via the SecY translocon. In the presence of SecE-depleted CM124 INV, both YidC∆307-TM1 and YidC∆307-TM1-2 showed significantly reduced protease protection in comparison to wild type INV (Fig. 6A). Thus, the efficient integration of both truncated YidC constructs was dependent on the SecY translocon. The SecA-dependency of YidC∆307-TM1 and YidC∆307-TM1-2 was analyzed in the secY205 INV/SecA36 system. The double-spanning YidC∆307-TM1-2 was efficiently integrated into both wild type and secY205 INV, independently of whether SecA36 was added or not (Fig. 6B). In agreement with the data presented above (c.f. Fig. 5), this confirms the SecA-independent transport of YidC∆307. In contrast, for the single-spanning YidC∆307-TM1 protease protection was

significantly reduced in the presence of secY205 INV unless SecA36 was added. These data clearly demonstrate that SecA is dispensable if a short periplasmic loop is followed by a downstream TM domain.

Discussion

The biogenesis of bacterial membrane proteins is a multi-step process requiring the SRP-dependent cotranslational targeting of ribosome-associated nascent membrane proteins to the SecY translocon and the subsequent insertion of the TM domains into the lipid bilayer. One particular feature of bacterial membrane proteins with extended periplasmic loops is that their assembly requires the ATPase SecA (9, 10). The current model suggests that SecA provides the driving force for the translocation of these hydrophilic domains across the membrane and that SecA is required only if periplasmic loops larger than 30 amino acids have to be translocated (reviewed in 12).

In agreement with this model, we show

here that the SRP- and SecA-dependent multiple spanning membrane protein YidC can be transformed into a SecA-independent protein by reducing the size of its large periplasmic loop. In our experimental system only YidC constructs with periplasmic loops larger than about 30 amino acids were found to depend on SecA for efficient translocation. In contrast, YidC∆307, in which the periplasmic loop was reduced to 13 amino acids, was translocated independently of SecA. These observations fit well with in vivo studies, showing that periplasmic loops of about 20 amino acids are efficiently translocated without the help of SecA, but that larger loops become progressively more SecA-dependent (33-35). A threshold value of about 30 amino acids is also in agreement with studies, showing that SecA binds to and translocates stretches of about 30 amino acids during its proposed ATP-dependent insertion and de-insertion cycle (6-8).

To our surprise, however, we were unable

to render the single-spanning membrane protein Momp2 SecA-independent by reducing the size of its periplasmic loop. Even periplasmic loops as short as 13 amino acids were still found to require SecA for complete translocation (Fig. 4A). The

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type II model protein Momp2 was created by fusing the first signal anchor sequence of the inner membrane protein mannitol permease to the mature part of the secretory protein OmpA (9). Although Momp2 is not a natural E. coli protein, it behaves exactly like the authentic E. coli type II model protein FtsQ (10, 36) in respect to membrane targeting and insertion (c.f. Fig. 1 & 2). It is also not the OmpA-domain of Momp2 that is responsible for the unexpected length-independent SecA requirement during integration, because a single spanning YidC derivative showed the same dependency on SecA, irrespective of the length of its periplasmic loop (Fig. 6B). Importantly, if the 13 amino acid long periplasmic loop of the single spanning YidC derivative was fused to a downstream transmembrane domain, its translocation was no longer SecA-dependent (Fig. 6B). These results suggest that the SecA-dependency of a bacterial membrane protein is not merely defined by the length of a periplasmic loop but that in addition the presence or absence of a downstream transmembrane domain is an important determinant. One possible explanation for this is that the free energy release during insertion of the downstream TM domain thermodynamically drives the translocation of small periplasmic loops. Based on the White-Wimley scale (37, 38), the first TM domain of YidC is significantly more hydrophobic (-6.06 kcal/mol) than the second TM domain (-3.09 kcal/mol). It therefore appears unlikely that it is only the insertion of the second TM domain that drives the translocation of the periplasmic loop. Alternatively, it could indicate that the concerted insertion of both TM domains is required to provide the energy for the SecA-independent translocation of small periplasmic loops. In this scenario the two closely spaced helices would constitute one insertion unit (helical hairpin) that is handled as a single entity by the translocon. This is supported by reports on both eukaryotic and bacterial membrane proteins which have shown that multiple TM domains are assembled within the translocon before they are en bloc released into the lipid bilayer (39-44). The concerted insertion is probably favoured if the TM domains are closely spaced. For less closely spaced membrane proteins, however, the TM domains probably leave the translocon independently of each other as shown for E. coli leader peptidase (45).

Our observation that Momp2 and YidC-derivatives with periplasmic loops as short as 13 amino acids still depend on SecA, raises the question of what is the exact function of SecA during the transport of these single-spanning membrane proteins? Because the available data suggest that SecA binds to and translocates stretches of about 30 amino acids (7, 8, 46), it appears unlikely although not impossible that SecA interacts directly with the 13 amino acid long periplasmic loops in Momp2-60 or YidC∆307-TM1. These short RNCs are also not forced into a SecA-dependent post-translational targeting pathway (Fig. 4B), despite the fact that their signal-anchor sequence is presumably only partly exposed outside of the ribosome. Detailed cross-linking experiments have recently shown that nascent chains of leader peptidase as short as 40 amino acids are recognized by SRP and handed over to the SecY translocon (47), suggesting that the SRP-dependent targeting to the SecY translocon is fully functional even with a only partly exposed signal anchor sequence as in Momp2-60 or in YidC∆307-TM1. As an alternative explanation, the SecA-requirement for the integration of Momp2-60 and YidC∆307-TM1 could reflect a mere SecA binding to the SecY-translocon. In this model, the predominant role of SecA for single-spanning membrane proteins with short periplasmic loops would not be its translocation/motor activity but its ability to “prime” the translocon for the subsequent translocation event. In this respect it is interesting to note, that in the X-ray structure of the SecY-translocon (48), the presumed protein channel is blocked on the periplasmic side by a short helix (“the plug”). During protein transport this plug probably has to be displaced, either directly by a TM domain or indirectly by the interaction of the translocon with a soluble factor (48, 49). It is tempting to speculate that the length-independent SecA-dependency of single-spanning membrane proteins reflects the need for SecA to displace this plug and thus for opening the channel towards the periplasmic side of the membrane. Because the presence of a second transmembrane domain relieves the need for SecA unless a periplasmic loop larger than 30 amino acids has to be translocated (Fig. 6B), two closely spaced TM domains might be able to displace the plug without the need for SecA.

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The hypothesis that the presence of a downstream TM domain influences the translocation mode of a periplasmic loop is also supported by our observation that for single-spanning membrane proteins SecA executes its translocation activity only after the ribosome has been released (Fig. 3B). In contrast, a periplasmic loop that is followed by a downstream TM domain is translocated by SecA before ribosome release (Fig. 3B). These data suggest that at least for a membrane protein with more than one TM domain SecA can access the hydrophilic domain in the presence of the ribosome. Although the exact contact sites between the bacterial SecY translocon and the ribosome have not been mapped so far, extensive studies on the homologous eukaryotic Sec61 channel have indicated that RNC binding occurs at the cytoplasmic loop connecting TM8 and TM9 and at the C-terminal tail of Sec61 (50, 51). These domains are surface exposed in the X-ray structure of the bacterial SecY and are also suggested to be involved in SecA binding (52). Thus, it is difficult to imagine that SecA and the RNCs bind simultaneously to a single SecY molecule. As the oligomeric state of the active SecYEG complex during translocation/integration is still a matter of debate (48, 53-55), a simultaneous binding of SecA and the RNCs to different SecYEG monomers is still a possibility. Alternatively, the SecA-dependent translocation of a periplasmic loop in the presence of the ribosome could be explained by either a transient SecA-induced dissociation of the ribosome from the SecY translocon as shown recently for non-translating ribosomes (56) or by a rather flexible translocon-ribosome junction, as observed for the eukaryotic translocon (57).

In summary, our data demonstrate a

striking difference in the SecA dependency of single-spanning and multiple-spanning bacterial membrane proteins. Bacterial membrane proteins with more than one TM domain require SecA only if periplasmic loops larger than 30 amino acids have to be translocated. This is different from single-spanning membrane proteins which independently of the length of the periplasmic loop always require SecA for efficient integration. This unexpected observation suggests that for single-spanning-membrane proteins SecA is not only involved in translocating periplasmic loops but has an additional function which needs to be further characterized.

Acknowledgements We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Matthias Müller for stimulating discussions, Dr. Koreaki Ito for providing the SecY205 and SecA36 mutants and Dr. Ken-ichi Nishiyama for the secG deletion strains. This work was supported by grants from the SFB388, an F. F. Nord fellowship from the University of Freiburg to G.S.S. and the German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research and Development. 1Abbreviations used in this study: INV, inner membrane vesicles; pmf, proton motive force; RNCs, ribosome-associated nascent chains; TM, transmembrane; SRP, signal recognition particle; SR, signal recognition particle receptor.

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Legends to figures Fig. 1: Discrimination between SecA- and SRP-dependent steps during assembly of the type II membrane protein Momp2 (A) OmpA, Momp2, YidC and MtlA were synthesized in vitro in the absence or presence of E.coli inside-out inner membrane vesicles (INV). SecA36 (300 ng/25µl reaction mixture) or wild type SecA (WT) (900 ng/25 µl reaction mixture) were added when indicated. Samples were either precipitated directly with TCA or only after incubation with 0.5 mg/ml proteinase K (Prot. K). Indicated are the positions of the precursor (pOmpA) and the mature form of OmpA; and of full-size Momp2, YidC and MtlA and their proteinase K resistant, membrane protected fragments (MPF). The percentage of translocation or integration, respectively, was calculated after quantification of the radioactivity of the individual protein bands using an Amersham-Pharmacia PhosphorImager and the ImageQuant software and calculating the ratio between the amounts present in the proteinase K treated sample and the TCA-precipitated sample. A representative example of several independent experiments is shown. The Momp2, YidC and MtlA values obtained were corrected for the loss of Met and Cys residues occurring during cleavage. On the right, the topologies of the substrates and the sizes of their periplasmic loops are shown. Indicated are the signal peptidase or proteinase K cleavage sites. (B) In vitro synthesis of Momp2-329 and YidC-447 RNCs was performed in the absence or presence of wild type (WT), secY205 or urea-treated secY205 (U-secY205) INV. When indicated, Ffh (150 ng/25µl reaction mixture) and FtsY (500 ng/25µl reaction mixture) were present during synthesis. The reaction mixture was separated by flotation gradient centrifugation as described in Material and Methods. For calculating % membrane binding, the signal present in all five fractions was summed up and set as 100%. Fig. 2: Lipid insertion of the signal-anchor sequence requires SecY and precedes ribosome release (A) Momp2-329 RNCs were synthesized in vitro in the absence or presence of INV derived from the wild type strain (WT), the secY205 mutant, and strain CM124, induced (SecYE+) or not induced (SecYE-) for SecE expression. After synthesis, the reaction mixtures were incubated with 0.2 M sodium carbonate for 30 min on ice. Carbonate-resistant and -soluble material was separated by ultracentrifugation. The supernatant was precipitated with TCA and the pellet was directly dissolved in loading buffer and subjected to SDS-PAGE. The insert shows immune-detection of SecY in wild type cells and CM124 cells, induced (SecYE+) or not (SecYE-) for SecE expression. Fig. 3: Ribosome release is required for the complete translocation of periplasmic loops in single spanning membrane proteins but not in multiple spanning membrane proteins. (A) Schematic representations of the RNCs used in this experiment. (B) Momp2-329, YidC-447 and YidC-330 RNCs were synthesized in the presence or absence of INV. One aliquot was directly TCA precipitated (lanes 1, 4, 7 & 10) to monitor protein synthesis. After incubation with puromycin (lanes 3, 6, 9 & 12) or without puromycin (lanes 2, 5, 8, & 11), proteinase K protection assays were performed as described in Fig. 1. Fig. 4: Independently of the length of the periplasmic domain, Momp2 RNCs require SecA for translocation. (A) Synthesis of Momp2 RNCs was carried out in the absence or in presence of wild type and secY205 INV. Following synthesis, samples were treated with puromycin to release the ribosome. Subsequently, the samples were split in half. One half was directly TCA precipitated; the other half only after treatment with proteinase K. The samples were quantified as described in Fig. 1A. The values shown represent typical transport rates of several independent experiments. (B) Momp2-60 and Momp2-329 RNCs were synthesized in the presence of WT or secY205 INV respectively. After flotation gradient centrifugation as described in Fig. 1B, Momp2-RNCs bound to INV (fractions 2 and 3) were withdrawn and incubated with puromycin to release the ribosome. During this incubation SecA36 (300ng/25µl) was present where indicated, as well as an ATP-regenerating system as described in Material and Methods. The samples were subsequently split in half; one half was precipitated

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directly with TCA to identify the membrane-associated nascent chains of Momp2. The other half was first digested with proteinase K before precipitation with TCA to analyze complete translocation. The translocation rate was calculated as in Fig. 1A.

Fig. 5: The SecA-dependency of YidC is influenced by the length of the periplasmic loop. (A) Schematic representation of the YidC derivatives used in this study. (B) Protease protection of YidC∆164, YidC∆286 and YidC∆307. Analyses were performed as described in Fig. 1A. Note that for quantification the values were corrected for the loss of Met and Cys residues occurring during cleavage. Immunoprecipitation was performed with polyclonal rabbit anti-YidC antibodies, coupled to protein A-sepharose matrix. (C) YidC∆307 RNCs were synthesized in the absence or in the presence of wild type and secY205 INV. After synthesis one aliquot was directly TCA precipitated (lanes 1, 4, 7 & 10) to monitor protein synthesis. The remaining material was subjected to flotation gradient centrifugation as described in Fig. 1B to recover only those RNCs which were membrane bound. After incubation with puromycin, an ATP-regenerating system as described in Material and Methods was added and also SecA36 (300ng/25µl) where indicated. One third of the reaction mixtures was precipitated directly with TCA to identify the membrane-bound RNCs (lanes 2, 5, 8, 11). The remaining two third of the reaction mixture was first digested with proteinase K before precipitation with TCA to analyze complete translocation (lanes 3, 6, 9, 12). For quantification, the membrane bound RNCs (lanes 5, 8, 11) were set as 100% and used as reference for calculating the amount of translocated material in lanes 6, 9 and 12. Quantification in the absence of INV (lanes 2 & 3) was not applicable (n.a.), because no membrane targeting had occurred. Fig. 6: A downstream transmembrane domain influences the SecA-dependency of a small periplasmic loop. The transport of two YidC∆307 derivatives carrying a stop codon either immediately downstream of the sequence encoding the second transmembrane domain (YidC∆307-TM1-2) or immediately upstream of this sequence (YidC∆307-TM1) was analyzed. (A) The SecY dependency was tested by using INV derived from E. coli CM124 (SecYE-) as in Fig. 2. (B) The SecA requirements for both proteins were tested as in Fig. 1A. by guest on July 28, 2019

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Deitermann et al., Fig 1A

[%] transport <1 47 3 10

pOmpAOmpA

SecAINV

+

WT

+WT

SecY205

+Prot. K

SecA36

++

[%] transport 29 13 10 24

Momp2Momp2-MPF

<1

MtlA

MtlA-MPF

YidC-MPF

C

C

N

N

Peripl.

Cytopl.

Signal peptidase

N C

Peripl.

Cytopl.

N

Peripl.

Cytopl.Prot. K

Prot. K

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Peripl.

Cytopl.

Prot. K

325

320

320 20 4

6 12 22

A.

45

YidC

<1 39 1 358[%] transport

65 72 67 59[%] transport <1

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B.

Ffh/FtsYINV WT SecY205

Fraction 1 2 3 4 5

U-SecY205

+1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

123123123123123123 1231231231238 91 86 11 88 71 2877 2314

Momp2-329

[%] of input material

123123 123123 123123 123123 123 123158475231279989982

YidC-447

[%] of input material

Deitermann et al., Fig. 1B

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SecY

WT

CM12

4 (SecY

E+ )

CM12

4 (SecY

E- )

INV

(SecYE –)(SecYE +)

SecY205WT

S S S S SP P P P P

CM124 CM124

Momp2-329

[%] of input material 74 26 18 82 16 84 19 81 75 25

Deitermann et al., Fig. 2

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A.

N287 TM1

Momp2-329-RNCs

TM1307 N YidC-330-RNCs

TM3 TM2 TM1

Deitermann et al., Fig. 3A

YidC-447-RNCs320

N45

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INV

SecA36

Puromycin

PK

WT SecY205 SecY205-- - - +

- - - - - - - -+ + + +- + + + + + + + +- - -

YidC-447

YidC-447 MPF

% transport 1 1 17 47 2 9 13 40

Momp2-329

% transport <1 <1 49 44 5 4 41 39

Momp2-329 MPF

% transport 6 42 4 4 45

YidC-330YidC-330 MPF

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 11 12108

<1 <1 8

B.

Deitermann et al Fig. 3B

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A.INV

Prot. K

- WT SecY205

+ + +

Momp2-329

37< 1 1% transport

% transport

Momp2-60

29< 1 1.5

137282 Momp2-329

531254 Momp2-301

337165 Momp2-212

42599 Momp2-146

23278 Momp2-125

12539 Momp2-86

11823 Momp2-70

62118Momp2-65

1.52913Momp2-60

% transport secY205 INV

% transport wild type

INV

Length of the periplasmic domain

Length of the nascent chain (RNC)

Deitermann et al., Fig. 4A

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SecA

INV WT SecY205

+Prot. KSecA36

++

33 2 23

1 2 3 4 5 6

23 3 19

Momp2-60 MPF

B.

Momp2-60

[%] transport

Momp2-329

Momp2-329 MPF

[%] transport

Deitermann et al., Fig. 4B

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A.

periplasm

N C

20 4156

cytoplasmC

20 4

N

34

C

20 4

N

13

YidC∆164 YidC∆286 YidC∆307

Deitermann et al., Fig. 5A

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YidC∆286

YidC∆286-MPF

YidC∆307-MPF

1

3 59 14 63

+ +++Prot. K +

α-YidC

% transport

% transport

YidC∆164-MPF

<1 43 8 39

B.

INV - WT SecY205 SecY205 WTSecA 36 - - - +

YidC∆164

% transport

YidC∆307

36 45 48

Deitermann et al, Fig. 5B

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C.TM2 13 TM1

YidC∆307-RNCsN

INV - WT SecY205

SecA36

Prot. K + + + +

+

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

YidC∆307-RNC-MPF

YidC∆307-RNCs

n.a. 32 35 29% transport

Deitermann et al., Fig. 5C

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INV

SecA36

Prot. K

- wt SecY205 SecY205

- - - +

++++

YidC∆307-TM1-2

YidC∆307-TM1-2-MPF

% transport

Deitermann et al., Fig. 6

% transport4 87 12 94

2 89 93 90

YidC∆307-TM1

N C N

13 13C

YidC∆307-TM1-2

periplasm

cytoplasm

INV WT

Prot. K + + +

[%] transport 1 63 9

[%] transport 1 17

YidC∆307-TM1-2

CM124(SecEY-)

YidC∆307-TM1-2-MPF

81YidC∆307-TM1

YidC∆307-TM1-MPF

A.

B.

- - - -

YidC∆307-TM1

YidC∆307-TM1-MPF

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Sandra Deitermann, Grit Sophie Sprie and Hans Georg KochA dual function for SecA in the assembly of single-spanning membrane proteins in

published online September 26, 2005J. Biol. Chem. 

  10.1074/jbc.M509647200Access the most updated version of this article at doi:

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