The Hsc70 co-chaperone CHIP targets immature CFTR for proteasomal degradation.

The folding of both wild-type and mutant forms of the cystic-fibrosis transmembrane-conductance regulator (CFTR), a plasma-membrane chloride-ion channel, is inefficient. Most nascent CFTR is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum and degraded by the ubiquitin proteasome pathway. Aberrant folding and defective trafficking of CFTRDeltaF508 is the principal cause of cystic fibrosis, but how the endoplasmic-reticulum quality-control system targets CFTR for degradation remains unknown. CHIP is a cytosolic U-box protein that interacts with Hsc70 through a set of tetratricorepeat motifs. The U-box represents a modified form of the ring-finger motif that is found in ubiquitin ligases and that defines the E4 family of polyubiquitination factors. Here we show that CHIP functions with Hsc70 to sense the folded state of CFTR and targets aberrant forms for proteasomal degradation by promoting their ubiquitination. The U-box appeared essential for this process because overexpresion of CHIPDeltaU-box inhibited the action of endogenous CHIP and blocked CFTR ubiquitination and degradation. CHIP is a co-chaperone that converts Hsc70 from a protein-folding machine into a degradation factor that functions in endoplasmic-reticulum quality control.

The role of Hsp70 in conferring unidirectionality on protein translocation into mitochondria.

The entry of segments of preproteins of defined lengths into the matrix space of mitochondria was studied. The mitochondrial chaperone Hsp70 (mtHsp70) interacted with proteins emerging from the protein import channel and stabilized translocation intermediates across the membranes in an adenosine triphosphate-dependent fashion. The chaperone bound to the presequence and mature parts of preproteins. In the absence of mtHsp70 binding, preproteins with less than 30 to 40 residues in the matrix diffused out of mitochondria. Thus, protein translocation was reversible up to a late stage. The import channels in both mitochondrial membranes constitute a passive pore that interacts weakly with polypeptide chains entering the matrix.

DnaJ-like proteins: molecular chaperones and specific regulators of Hsp70.

The folding of proteins and the assembly of protein complexes within subcompartments of the eukaryotic cell is catalysed by different members of the Hsp70 protein family. The chaperone function of Hsp70 proteins in these events is regulated by members of the DnaJ-like protein family, which occurs through direct interaction of different Hsp70 and DnaJ-like protein pairs that appear to be specifically adapted to each other. This review highlights the diversity of functions of DnaJ-like proteins by using specific examples of DnaJ-Hsp70 interactions with polypeptides in yeast protein-biogenesis pathways.

Mitochondrial molecular chaperones: their role in protein translocation.

After synthesis in the cytosol, most mitochondrial proteins must traverse mitochondrial membranes to reach their functional location. During this process, proteins become unfolded and then refold to attain their native conformation after crossing the lipid bilayers. Mitochondrial molecular chaperones play an essential mechanistic role at various steps of this process. They facilitate presequence translocation, unfolding of the cytosol-localized domains of precursor proteins, movement across the mitochondrial membranes and, finally, folding of newly imported proteins within the matrix.

The auxilin-like phosphoprotein Swa2p is required for clathrin function in yeast.

BACKGROUND: In eukaryotic cells, clathrin-coated vesicles transport specific cargo from the plasma membrane and trans-Golgi network to the endosomal system. Removal of the clathrin coat in vitro requires the uncoating ATPase Hsc70 and its DnaJ cofactor auxilin. To date, a requirement for auxilin and Hsc70 in clathrin function in vivo has not been demonstrated. RESULTS: The Saccharomyces cerevisiae SWA2 gene, previously identified in a synthetic lethal screen with arf1, was cloned and found to encode a protein with a carboxy-terminal DnaJ domain which is homologous to that of auxilin. Like auxilin, Swa2p has a clathrin-binding domain and is able to stimulate the ATPase activity of Hsc70. The swa2-1 allele recovered from the original screen carries a point mutation in its tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain, a motif not found in auxilin but known in other proteins to mediate interaction with heat-shock proteins. Swa2p fractionates in the cytosol and appears to be heavily phosphorylated. Disruption of SWA2 causes slow growth and several phenotypes that are very similar to those exhibited by clathrin mutants. Furthermore, the swa2Delta mutant exhibits a significant increase in membrane- associated or -assembled clathrin relative to a wild-type strain. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that Swa2p is a clathrin-binding protein required for normal clathrin function in vivo. They suggest that Swa2p is the yeast ortholog of auxilin and has a role in disassembling clathrin, not only in uncoating clathrin-coated vesicles but perhaps in preventing unproductive clathrin assembly in vivo.

The crystal structure of the peptide-binding fragment from the yeast Hsp40 protein Sis1.

BACKGROUND: Molecular chaperone Hsp40 can bind non-native polypeptide and facilitate Hsp70 in protein refolding. How Hsp40 and other chaperones distinguish between the folded and unfolded states of proteins to bind nonnative polypeptides is a fundamental issue. RESULTS: To investigate this mechanism, we determined the crystal structure of the peptide-binding fragment of Sis1, an essential member of the Hsp40 family from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The 2.7 A structure reveals that Sis1 forms a homodimer in the crystal by a crystallographic twofold axis. Sis1 monomers are elongated and consist of two domains with similar folds. Sis1 dimerizes through a short C-terminal stretch. The Sis1 dimer has a U-shaped architecture and a large cleft is formed between the two elongated monomers. Domain I in each monomer contains a hydrophobic depression that might be involved in binding the sidechains of hydrophobic amino acids. CONCLUSIONS: Sis1 (1-337), which lacks the dimerization motif, exhibited severe defects in chaperone activity, but could regulate Hsp70 ATPase activity. Thus, dimer formation is critical for Sis1 chaperone function. We propose that the Sis1 cleft functions as a docking site for the Hsp70 peptide-binding domain and that Sis1-Hsp70 interaction serves to facilitate the efficient transfer of peptides from Sis1 to Hsp70.

Cooperation of the molecular chaperone Ydj1 with specific Hsp70 homologs to suppress protein aggregation.

Ydj1p, a cytosolic DnaJ homolog from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is demonstrated to function as a molecular chaperone. Purified Ydj1p formed complexes with non-native polypeptides and suppressed protein aggregation. Ydj1p cooperated with Ssa Hsp70 proteins in the prevention of protein aggregation, but not with the Ssb Hsp70 proteins. Cooperation between these different molecular chaperones was only observed in the presence of hydrolyzable ATP and correlated with the ability of Ydj1p to stimulate the ATPase activity of the Hsp70 homolog with which it was paired. The regulatory and chaperone activities of a eukarytic DnaJ homolog thus act together to assist Hsp70 in modulating the conformation of proteins.

Potentiation of benzoate toxicity by glyoxylate. Inhibition of pyruvate carboxylase and the urea cycle.

It has been proposed that administration of non-nitrogenous precursors to glycine is necessary to realize the full potential of benzoate metabolism as a pathway for disposal of waste nitrogen during ammonia intoxication (Coude et al., Clin Chim Acta 136: 211-217, 1984). However, when glyoxylate, a keto acid precursor to glycine, was administered with benzoate 1 hr prior to a challenge of ammonia, protection against ammonia toxicity was less successful than with benzoate alone. At the cellular and subcellular levels, glyoxylate and benzoate each inhibited the urea cycle in isolated hepatocytes and pyruvate carboxylase in isolated mitochondria. The action of each drug was associated with depletion of aspartate content in isolated hepatocytes and reduction of pyruvate-dependent incorporation of CO2 into aspartate in assays with isolated mitochondria. Depression of aspartate regeneration by inhibition of pyruvate carboxylase is a likely mechanism for impairment of urea cycle activity by both drugs. In whole animals, inhibition of pyruvate carboxylase may contribute to benzoate toxicity and the adverse influence of glyoxylate on benzoate therapy.

On the mechanism of inhibition of gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis by sodium benzoate.

Synthesis of glucose from lactate and generation of urea from ammonia were inhibited when sodium benzoate was added to suspensions of rat hepatocytes. Assays with isolated mitochondria suggested pyruvate carboxylase and the N-acetyl-L-glutamate (NAG)-dependent carbamoylphosphate synthetase (CPS-I) as potential sites of inhibition for both pathways, owing to a shared dependency on aspartate efflux from the mitochondria and its subsequent conversion to oxaloacetate in the cytosol. Assays with isolated hepatocytes indicated inhibition to be initiated by accumulation of benzoyl CoA with a resultant depletion of free CoA and acetyl CoA. Measurements of adenine nucleotides showed that benzoate metabolism did not sufficiently alter energy status to account for the observed inhibition. Consistent with these interpretations, acceleration of the conversion of benzoyl CoA to hippurate by the addition of glycine restored the levels of free CoA and acetyl CoA and the rates of gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis. Reduction of the levels of aspartate and glutamate, presumably by interference with the anapleurotic function of pyruvate carboxylase, most likely accounted for inhibition of gluconeogenesis by benzoate. Whether reduced flux through the urea cycle also contributed to inhibition of gluconeogenesis (by diminishing cytosolic conversion of aspartate to oxaloacetate) requires further study. Depression of glutamate and acetyl CoA to levels at or below the Km for NAG synthetase probably accounted for the observed inhibition of ureagenesis. Rates of urea production were observed to vary with changes in the levels of NAG, suggesting NAG-dependent CPS-I to be the primary site of inhibition of ureagenesis by benzoate.

Roles for hsp70 in protein translocation across membranes of organelles.

The family of hsp70 molecular chaperones plays an essential and diverse role in cellular physiology. Hsp70 proteins appear to elicit their effects by interaction with polypeptides that present domains which exhibit non-native conformations at distinct stages during their life in the cell. Work pertaining to the functions of hsp70 proteins in driving protein translocation across membranes is reviewed herein. Hsp70 proteins function to deliver polypeptides to protein translocation channels, unfold polypeptides during transit across membranes and drive the translocation process. All these reactions are facilitated in an ATP-dependent reaction cycle with the assistance of different partner proteins that modulate the function of hsp70.

Coupling chemical energy by the hsp70/tim44 complex to drive protein translocation into mitochondria.

A dynamic complex between the mitochondrial cognate of hsp70 (mthsp70) and the inner membrane protein tim44 couples energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to drive multiple steps in the mitochondrial protein import pathway: (1) The delta psi dependent import step and the mthsp70/tim44 complex cooperate to facilitate the unidirectional transfer of the mitochondrial targeting signal across the inner membrane. (2) The mthsp70/tim44 complex helps to unfold domains on precursors proteins that arrive at the import apparatus in a folded conformation on the cis side of the outer membrane. (3) Completion of import is then driven by the mthsp70/ tim44 complex in a manner that is independent of delta psi. Mechanisms proposed to explain how the mthsp70/tim44 complex harvests chemical energy to drive these aspects of the import process are discussed.

Early events in the transport of proteins into mitochondria. Import competition by a mitochondrial presequence.

Studies with a synthetic presequence peptide, F1 beta 1-20, corresponding to the NH2-terminal 20 amino acids of the F1-ATPase beta-subunit precursor (pF1 beta) show that although this peptide binds avidly to phospholipid bi-layers it does not efficiently compete for import of full-length precursor into mitochondria, Ki approximately 100 microM (Hoyt, D.W., Cyr, D.M., Gierasch, L.M., and Douglas, M.G. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 21693-21699). Herein we report that longer F1 beta presequence peptides F1 beta 1-32 + 2, F1 beta 1-32SQ + 2, and F1 beta 21-51 + 3 compete for mitochondrial import at 1000-, 250-, and 25-fold lower concentrations, respectively, than F1 beta 1-20. A longer peptide, F1 beta 1-51 + 3, was no more effective as an import competitor than F1 beta 1-32 + 2. Both minimal length and amphiphilic character appear required in order for F1 beta peptides to block mitochondrial import. Import competition by longer F1 beta peptides seems to occur at a step common to all precursors since they blocked import of precursors to F1-ATPase alpha- and beta-subunits and the ADP/ATP carrier protein. Dissipation of membrane potential (delta psi) across the inner mitochondrial membrane is observed in the presence of F1 beta-peptides, but this mechanism alone does not account for the observed import inhibition. F1 beta 1-32 + 2 and 21-51 + 3 block import of pF1 beta 100% at peptide concentrations which dissipate delta psi less than 25%. In contrast, experiments with valinomycin demonstrate that when mitochondrial delta psi is reduced 25% import of pF1 beta is inhibited only 25%. Therefore, at least 75% of maximal import inhibition observed in the presence of F1 beta 1-32 + 2 and F1 beta 21-51 + 3 does not result from dissipation of delta psi. Import inhibition by F1 beta-peptides is reversible and can be overcome by increasing the amount of full-length precursor in import reactions. F1 beta presequence peptides and full-length precursor are therefore likely to compete for a common import step. Presequence dependent binding of pF1 beta to trypsin-sensitive elements on the outer mitochondrial membrane is insensitive to inhibitory concentrations of F1 beta presequence peptide. We conclude that import inhibition by F1 beta presequence peptides is competitive and occurs at a site beyond initial interaction of precursor proteins with mitochondria.

Differential regulation of Hsp70 subfamilies by the eukaryotic DnaJ homologue YDJ1.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ydj1p, a DnaJ homolog, is localized to the cytosol with the Ssa and Ssb Hsp70 proteins. Ydj1p helps facilitate polypeptide translocation across mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum membranes (Caplan, A. J., Cyr, D. M., and Douglas, M. G. (1992) Cell 71, 1143-1155) and can directly interact with Ssa1p to regulate chaperone activity (Cyr, D. M., Lu, X., and Douglas, M. G. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 20927-20931). In this study, the role of Ydj1p in modulating ATP-dependent reactions catalyzed by Ssa and Ssb Hsp70 proteins has been examined using purified components and compared with that of other Hsp70 homologs BiP and DnaK. Ssa1p, Ssa2p, and Ssb1/2p all formed stable complexes with the mitochondrial presequence peptide, F1 beta(1-51). ATP alone had only modest effects on polypeptide complex formation with Ssa1p and Ssa2p, but prevented the majority of polypeptide binding to BiP and DnaK. ATP by itself also reduced polypeptide binding to Ssb1/2p to a level that was intermediate between that observed for the Ssa Hsp70 proteins tested and BiP and DnaK. ATP hydrolysis by Ssa1p, Ssa2p, and Ssb1/2p occurred at similar rates. Ydj1p was a potent modulator of the both the ATPase and polypeptide binding activities of Ssa1p and Ssa2p. In contrast, Ydj1p had little effect on the ATPase and polypeptide binding activity of Ssb1/2p. Therefore the chaperone-related activities of Ssa and Ssb Hsp70 proteins exhibit significant differences in sensitivity to ATP and YDJ1p. These data indicate that regulation of Hsp70 activity by DnaJ homologs can be specific. The specificity of interactions between Ydj1p and the Ssa and Ssb Hsp70 proteins observed could contribute in determining the functional specificity of these chaperones in the cytosol. In related experiments, F1 beta(1-51) was found to reduce the extent to which Ydj1p stimulated Ssa1p ATPase activity. This effect correlated with the formation of F1 beta(1-51).Ssa1p complexes. We propose that intramolecular communication between the polypeptide binding, ATPase and DnaJ regulatory domains on Ssa1p plays a role in the regulation of chaperone activity.

Protein folding activity of Hsp70 is modified differentially by the hsp40 co-chaperones Sis1 and Ydj1.

Specification of Hsp70 action in cellular protein metabolism may occur through the formation of specialized Hsp70:Hsp40 pairs. To test this model, we compared the ability of purified Sis1 and Ydj1 to regulate the ATPase and protein-folding activity of Hsp70 Ssa1 and Ssb1/2 proteins. Ydj1 and Sis1 could both functionally interact with Ssa1, but not the Ssb1/2 proteins, to refold luciferase. Interestingly, Ydj1:Ssa1 could promote up to four times more luciferase folding than Sis1:Ssa1. This functional difference was explored and could not be accounted for by differences in the ability of Sis1 and Ydj1 to regulate Ssa1 ATPase activity. Instead, differences in the chaperone function of Ydj1 and Sis1 were observed. Ydj1 was dramatically more effective than Sis1 at suppressing the thermally induced aggregation of luciferase. Paradoxically, Sis1 and Ydj1 could bind similar quantities of chemically denatured luciferase. The polypeptide binding domain of Sis1 was found to lie between residues 171-352 and correspond to its conserved carboxyl terminus. The conserved carboxyl terminus of Ydj1 is also known to participate in the binding of nonnative polypeptides. Thus, Ydj1 appears more efficient at assisting Ssa1 in folding luciferase because its contains a zinc finger-like region that is absent from Sis1. Ydj1 and Sis1 are structurally and functionally distinct Hsp40 proteins that can specify Ssa1 action by generating Hsp70:Hsp40 pairs that exhibit different chaperone activities.

The conserved carboxyl terminus and zinc finger-like domain of the co-chaperone Ydj1 assist Hsp70 in protein folding.

Ydj1 is a member of the Hsp40 (DnaJ-related) chaperone family that facilitates cellular protein folding by regulating Hsp70 ATPase activity and binding unfolded polypeptides. Ydj1 contains four conserved subdomains that appear to represent functional units. To define the action of these regions, protease-resistant Ydj1 fragments and Ydj1 mutants were analyzed for activities exhibited by the unmodified protein. The Ydj1 mutant proteins analyzed were unable to support growth of yeast at elevated temperatures and were found to have alterations in the J-domain (Ydj1 H34Q), zinc finger-like region (Ydj1 C159T), and conserved carboxyl terminus (Ydj1 G315D). Fragment Ydj1 (1-90) contains the J-domain and a small portion of the G/F-rich region and could regulate Hsp70 ATPase activity but could not suppress the aggregation of the model protein rhodanese. Ydj1 H34Q could not regulate the ATPase activity of Hsp70 but could bind unfolded polypeptides. The J-domain functions independently and was sufficient to regulate Hsp70 ATPase activity. Fragment Ydj1 (179-384) could suppress rhodanese aggregation but was unable to regulate Hsp70. Ydj1 (179-384) contains the conserved carboxyl terminus of DnaJ but is missing the J-domain, G/F-rich region, and a major portion of the zinc finger-like region. Ydj1 G315D exhibited severe defects in its ability to suppress rhodanese aggregation and form complexes with unfolded luciferase. The conserved carboxyl terminus of Ydj1 appeared to participate in the binding of unfolded polypeptides. Ydj1 C159T could form stable complexes with unfolded proteins and suppress protein aggregation but was inefficient at refolding denatured luciferase. The zinc finger-like region of Ydj1 appeared to function in conjunction with the conserved carboxyl terminus to fold proteins. However, Ydj1 does not require an intact zinc finger-like region to bind unfolded polypeptides. These data suggest that the combined functions of the J-domain, zinc finger-like region, and the conserved carboxyl terminus are required for Ydj1 to cooperate with Hsp70 and facilitate protein folding in the cell.

A matrix ATP requirement for presequence translocation across the inner membrane of mitochondria.

The mitochondrial presequence initiates protein translocation across the inner membrane of mitochondria in a delta psi-dependent step. We have investigated the role of matrix ATP in this process. When matrix ATP was reduced to interfere with the function of mitochondrial heat shock protein 70, presequence translocation across the inner membrane was strongly inhibited. This was accompanied by the accumulation of an import intermediate that was unprocessed and accessible to protease added to the intact mitochondria. Both delta psi and matrix ATP were required for further translocation of this intermediate into the matrix. When ATP levels are insufficient to support protein import, it appears that the presequence becomes translocated across the inner membrane, but delta psi does not maintain it in the matrix. Presequence translocation across the inner membrane is thus a reversible reaction, and a step dependent on matrix ATP is required to make it unidirectional. Based on these observations, a model on the role of delta psi, mthsp70, and matrix ATP in presequence translocation across the inner membrane is presented.

Regulation of Hsp70 function by a eukaryotic DnaJ homolog.

We report that a purified cytoplasmic Hsp70 homolog from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hsp70SSA1, exhibits a weak ATPase activity, which is stimulated by a purified eukaryotic dnaJp homolog (YDJ1p). Stable complex formation between Hsp70SSA1 and the permanently unfolded protein carboxymethylated alpha-lactalbumin (CMLA) was assayed by native gel electrophoresis. The affinity of Hsp70SSA1 for CMLA appeared to be regulated by YDJ1p. Significant reduction in both CMLA-Hsp70SSA1 complex formation and the release of CMLA pre-bound to Hsp70SSA1 was observed only in the presence of both YDJ1p and ATP. Thus, Hsp70SSA1 and YDJ1p interact functionally in the execution of Hsp70SSA1 chaperone activities in the eukaryotic cell.

YDJ1p facilitates polypeptide translocation across different intracellular membranes by a conserved mechanism.

The role of S. cerevisiae YDJ1 protein (YDJ1p) in polypeptide translocation across membranes has been examined. A conditional ydj1 mutant strain (ydj1-151TS) is defective for import of several polypeptides into mitochondria and alpha factor into the endoplasmic reticulum at 37 degrees C. These defects are suppressed by E. coli dnaJ or overexpression of S. cerevisiae SIS1 proteins. A different ydj1 mutant, which cannot be farnesylated (ydj1-S406), displays similar transport defects to the ydj1-151 strain. Furthermore, the ability of purified ydj1-151p to stimulate the ATPase activity of hsp70SSA1 was greatly diminished compared with the wild-type protein. Together, these data suggest that YDJ1p functions in polypeptide translocation in a conserved manner, probably acting at organelle membranes and in association with hsp70 proteins.