RESUMEN
All mitochondria import >95% of their proteins from the cytosol. This process is mediated by protein translocases in the mitochondrial membranes, whose subunits are generally highly conserved. Most eukaryotes have two inner membrane protein translocases (TIMs) that are specialized to import either presequence-containing or mitochondrial carrier proteins. In contrast, the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei has a single TIM complex consisting of one conserved and five unique subunits. Here, we identify candidates for new subunits of the TIM or the presequence translocase-associated motor (PAM) using a protein-protein interaction network of previously characterized TIM and PAM subunits. This analysis reveals that the trypanosomal TIM complex contains an additional trypanosomatid-specific subunit, designated TbTim15. TbTim15 is associated with the TIM complex, lacks transmembrane domains, and localizes to the intermembrane space. TbTim15 is essential for procyclic and bloodstream forms of trypanosomes. It contains two twin CX9C motifs and mediates import of both presequence-containing and mitochondrial carrier proteins. While the precise function of TbTim15 in mitochondrial protein import is unknown, our results are consistent with the notion that it may function as an import receptor for the non-canonical trypanosomal TIM complex.
Asunto(s)
Mitocondrias , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana Mitocondrial , Membranas Mitocondriales , Transporte de Proteínas , Proteínas Protozoarias , Trypanosoma brucei brucei , Trypanosoma brucei brucei/metabolismo , Trypanosoma brucei brucei/genética , Trypanosoma brucei brucei/enzimología , Proteínas Protozoarias/metabolismo , Proteínas Protozoarias/genética , Membranas Mitocondriales/metabolismo , Mitocondrias/metabolismo , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana Mitocondrial/metabolismo , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana Mitocondrial/genética , Proteínas del Complejo de Importación de Proteínas Precursoras Mitocondriales , Proteínas Mitocondriales/metabolismo , Proteínas Mitocondriales/genética , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana/genética , Subunidades de Proteína/metabolismoRESUMEN
Hybridization of microbial cells with inorganic nanoparticles that could dramatically improve cellular functions such as electron transfer has been realized by the random attachment or stochastic entry of the nanoparticles. Clearly, the selective growth of inorganic nanoparticles on target functional organelles is ideal for such hybridization. Here, we report the selective growth of gold nanocrystals in the intermembrane space (IMS) of Escherichia coli by exploiting the electron transport chain (ETC). We systematically show that gold ions are permeated through porins in the outer membrane of E. coli and further reduced to gold nanocrystals by the ETC in live E. coli. We directly observe that the resulting gold nanocrystals exist only in the IMS by transmission electron microscopy measurements of cross-sectioned E. coli. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that once gold ions are reduced to small nuclei by the ETC, the nuclei can be stably physisorbed onto ETC complexes, further supporting the ETC-mediated growth. Finally, we show that the ATP synthesis of E. coli where gold nanocrystals are formed in the IMS is up to 9 times higher than that of E. coli alone. We believe that our work can significantly contribute to not only improving microbial metabolic functions for biological energy conversion but also restoring physiological dysfunctions of microbial cells for biomedicine.