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J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 279, Issue 29, 30449-30458, July 16, 2004
Sue1p Is Required for Degradation of Labile Forms of Altered Cytochromes c in Yeast Mitochondria*![]() ![]() From the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
Received for publication, April 5, 2004 , and in revised form, April 28, 2004.
Previous studies on certain altered holo-isocytochromes c revealed a -dependent degradation (RDD) phenotype, in which certain altered holo-iso-1-cytochromes c are at normal or nearly normal levels in + strains, but are at low levels or absent in strains, although wild-type holo-iso-1-cytochrome c is present at normal levels in both + and related strains. The diminished levels of altered holo-iso-1-cytochrome c are due to the rapid degradation that is carried out by a novel proteolytic pathway in the IMS of mitochondria. SUE1, a nuclear gene that encodes a mitochondrial protein, was identified with a genetic screen for mutants that diminish RDD. The levels of RDD and certain other types of altered holo-iso-1-cytochrome c were elevated in sue1 strains. Also, + sue1 strains containing certain altered holo-iso-1-cytochromes c grew better on non-fermentable carbon sources than the corresponding + SUE1 strains. These results indicate that Sue1p may play an important role in the degradation of abnormal holo-iso-1-cytochrome c in the mitochondria.
Intracellular proteolysis plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of the proper folded state of proteins. It ensures removal of damaged and misfolded polypeptides because they are prone to aggregation. A basic mechanism for control of protein degradation is compartmentalization (1). In eukaryotic cells, proteases have been detected in four compartments: the cytoplasm, nucleus, lysosome, and mitochondrion. The mitochondria have various subcompartments that possess ATP-dependent proteases as a quality control system for selectively removing unassembled or misfolded polypeptides. Several ATP-dependent proteases such as the Pim1 protease in the matrix or AAA (ATPases associated with a variety of cellular activities) proteases in the inner membrane of mitochondria have been identified (25). Additional proteolytic pathways may exist in the other two subcompartments of mitochondria: the intermembrane space (IMS)1 and outer membrane. The existence of an ATP-dependent proteolytic activity in the mitochondrial IMS in mammals has been reported, although the ATP-dependent protease so far has not been identified (6, 7).
We report herein a proteolytic pathway in the IMS of mitochondria acting on certain altered holo-iso-1-cytochromes c (holo-1) of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. S. cerevisiae contains two forms of cytochrome c, iso-1-cytochrome c (iso-1) and iso-2-cytochrome c (iso-2), which are encoded by the nuclear genes CYC1 and CYC7, which normally compose 95 and 5% of total cytochrome c, respectively, in aerobically grown, derepressed cells (8) and which are 80% identical. The isocytochromes c are synthesized in the cytosol as apocytochromes c and subsequently imported into mitochondria. Heme is covalently attached to the apocytochromes c by cytochrome c heme lyase, which is encoded by the gene CYC3, resulting in the formation of the mature holocytochromes c (9). Import of the apocytochromes c is dependent on the action of cytochrome c heme lyase, and cyc3-
Downie et al. (14) observed that certain mutated holo-2 are at normal or nearly normal levels in
In addition, pulse-chase experiments with a variety of altered forms of cytochrome c revealed two other degradation pathways acting on other altered forms of cytochrome c, labile dependent degradation (LDD) and amphipathic dependent degradation (ADD). LDD, exemplified by Gly6 replacements, does not have diminished levels in
The introduction of the global suppressor N52I (18) into both RDD and LDD holo-1 partially restores the levels of RDD holo-1 in
We investigated this novel protease system genetically by using strain cyc1-1388 with T78S RDD holo-1 for detecting mutants with diminished degradation. Strain cyc1-1388 was mutagenized, and colonies containing increased levels of cytochrome c were detected by the benzidine staining procedure, in which the color intensity is proportional to the level of holo-1 (19). The levels of cytochrome c were subsequently quantified by low temperature spectroscopic examination of intact cells. High levels of RDD holo-1 in these
One recessive nuclear mutation was characterized and used to identify SUE1. The degradation of three classes of altered holo-1 (RDD, LDD, and ADD holo-1) was investigated in sue1-
Genetic NomenclatureCYC1 and CYC7 encode iso-1 and iso-2, respectively, the two isozymes of cytochrome c in the yeast S. cerevisiae. Dominant alleles are denoted with uppercase letters, and recessive alleles with lowercase letters. CYC1 refers to the wild-type allele, whereas the mutant allele of the CYC1 gene is designated cyc1-X, such as the cyc1-1388 mutant allele. The cyc7-67 allele corresponds to a partial deletion that results in the loss of iso-2. SUE1, identified in this study, refers to the wild-type gene that encodes a mitochondrial protein. The sue1- mutant allele completely lacks Sue1p, and the sue1-2 mutant allele contains a combined nonsense and frameshift mutation at position 9, resulting in a nonfunctional Sue1p. The yeast strains used in this study are listed in Table I, and the cyc1 alleles used in this study are listed in Table II. Iso-1 encoded by, for example, cyc1-1388 is designated Cyc1-1388p.
MediaEscherichia coli cells containing plasmids were as grown in LB medium (10 g/liter Bacto-tryptone, 10 g/liter NaCl, and 5 g/liter yeast extract plus 100 µg/ml ampicillin or 2550 µg/ml kanamycin) (20). Standard YPD, YPS, YPG, and YPE media; synthetic minimal medium; synthetic complete medium, synthetic complete medium/Ura, and synthetic complete medium/Leu; and other omission media have been described by Sherman (21). The media contained 1% Bacto-yeast extract, 2% Bacto-peptone, and either 2% ethanol (YPE) or 2% sucrose (YPS). Medium A was composed of synthetic minimal medium supplemented with 0.2% (w/v) casamino acids, 20 µg/ml uracil, and 2% Bactoagar. Synthetic lactate contained 0.67% Bacto-yeast nitrogen base without amino acids, 2% Bacto-agar, and 3.3% of a 30% lactate solution. Medium B was composed of synthetic lactate supplemented with 0.2% (w/v) casamino acids and 20 µg/ml uracil. Synthetic complete medium/Ura and supplemented with 0.1% 5-fluoroorotic acid (22) was also used. Construction of a Yeast Strain Containing the cyc1-1388 AlleleThe desired CYC1 mutations were obtained by transforming the defective cyc1 mutant strain B-7528 (MATa cyc1-31 cyc7-67 ura3-52 lys5-10) directly with PCR-generated fragments and selection of at least partially functional cyc1 transformants, followed by sequencing the CYC1 locus of these transformants to confirm that the selected transformants contained the desired cyc1 alleles. First, the primer pair OL256 and OL257 (Table III) was used to amplify 1.7-kb fragments containing either cyc1-1209 (T78S/C102A) or CYC1-820 (C102A). Subsequently, a primer of 92 oligonucleotides was designed that contained five amino acids (RRASV) inserted between residues 4 and 5 of the CYC1 gene (primer RRASV-cyc1). Primer RRASV-cyc1 (Table III) was paired with primer OL257 to generate 653-bp fragments containing either the cyc1-1388 or CYC1-1389 allele (Table II). The B-7528 yeast strain was then transformed with either the cyc1-1388 or CYC1-1389 fragments following the procedures described by Yamamoto et al. (23).
Construction of Three Sets of Isogenic Strains Containing Different cyc1 Alleles Encoding LDD, ADD, and RDD holo-1The chromosomal DNAs were extracted from these strains containing different cyc1 alleles (see Table IV). The OL256 and OL257 primer pair (Table III) was used to amplify the 1.7-kb fragments containing the cyc1 allele of interest. Three host strains (B-7528, B-7889, and B-8354) were transformed with these 1.7-kb fragments carrying the cyc1 allele of interest. The procedures were described by Yamamoto et al. (23). The corresponding strains were obtained by growing the + mutant strains in YPD plates containing ethidium bromide.
Construction of the sue1- 1::kanR Mutant Strain by the PCR-based One-step Disruption MethodA sue1- 1::kanR mutant strain was purchased from Research Genetics (24). The chromosomal DNA was prepared from this strain and served as a template, and the primer pair SUEF1 and SUER1 (Table III) was used to amplify the PCR-based disruption fragments carrying the sue1- 1::kanR mutant gene flanked by 100 bp homologous to the region directly upstream of the start codon and downstream of the stop codon of the SUE1 gene. Three sets of isogenic + cyc1 mutant strains, which were constructed as described above (see Table IV), were transformed with the amplified fragments, and G418-resistant colonies were obtained on YPD plates containing 300 µg/ml G418.
Construction of the sue1-2 Mutant Strain by Site-directed MutagenesisThe primer pair OL150WF and OL150WR (Table III) was used to produce the 1.5-kb fragments encompassing YPR150w and The TA vector with the 1.5-kb insert containing the sue1-2 allele was obtained. The 1.5-kb insert containing the sue1-2 gene was transferred to the pAB621 vector, a yeast shuttle vector containing the URA3 gene. Subsequently, the pAB621 vector with the desired insert containing the sue1-2 gene was linearized with the NheI restriction enzyme within the insert and integrated at the chromosomal SUE1 locus of the constructed yeast strain B-14746, an isogenic strain of B-7889 containing the cyc1-868 allele. The sequence of the sue1-2 allele was verified by examining the appropriate PCR product.
Construction of a Series of Subclones in the YCp50 VectorPlasmids pAB2930, pAB2931, and pAB2933 (see Fig. 1) were constructed by digestion of pAB2927 with SphI, NruI, and EcoRI, respectively, followed by gel purification of large fragments of
Construction of the C-terminal Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-fused SUE1 GeneApproximately 640-bp fragments containing the SUE1 gene (YPR151c without a stop codon) flanked with EcoRI restriction sites were amplified using the primer pair 151ADHF and 151GFPR (Table III) and subsequently digested with the EcoRI restriction enzyme. The gel-purified EcoRI fragments were then ligated to the EcoRI site in the polylinker of plasmid pGFP-C-FUS (pAA1931), giving rise to the C-terminal GFP-fused SUE1 gene under the control of the Pmet25 promoter. Plasmid pAB1931 carrying C-terminal GFP-SUE1 (pAB2935) was obtained from the ampicillin-resistant colonies. Both plasmids pAB1931 and pAB2935 were transformed into strain B-14705, an isogenic strain of B-7528 containing the CYC1 and sue1- 1::kanR genes. Colonies containing plasmid pAB1931 or pAB2935 were selected on synthetic complete medium/Ura plates. Construction of the C-terminal Myc-tagged SUE1 GeneInitially, the yeast strain bearing the C-terminal (Myc)3-tagged SUE1 gene was constructed. A (Myc)3-tagging cassette in plasmid pMPY-3xMyc (pAA1869) (25) was used as a template, and the following primer pair was designed: CmycF, with the 5' 60 bases homologous to sequences immediately prior to the stop codon of SUE1 and the 3' 18 bases complementary to unique sequences in the (Myc)3-tagging cassette; and CmycR, with the 5' 63 bases homologous to sequences immediately 3' of the stop codon of SUE1 and the 3' 16 bases complementary to unique sequences in the (Myc)3-tagging cassette. PCR conditions were as described by Schneider et al. (25). The gel-purified 1.5-kb fragments were transformed into strain B-14803. Ura+ colonies were selected and then grown overnight in YPD medium, and cultures were washed with water and spread onto 5-fluoroorotic acid plates. The 5-fluoroorotic acid-resistant colonies were selected and subsequently confirmed by sequencing to contain the integrated C-terminal (Myc)3-tagged SUE1 gene without the URA3 gene.
We did not detect any signal of Myc-tagged SUE1 in whole cell extracts using monoclonal antiserum (purchased from NeoMarkers) against the Myc tag. Thus, we tried to construct C-terminal (Myc)3-tagged SUE1 in the 2µ-based yeast expression vector pBEVY containing the URA3 gene (pAB2324) (26), and we also constructed SUE1 in the same vector (pAB2324) as a control. The total DNA prepared from the strain containing (Myc)3-tagged SUE1 was used as a template, and the primer pair 151ADHF and 151MYCR (Table III) was designed. Approximately 820-bp fragments containing C-terminal (Myc)3-tagged SUE1 flanked by EcoRI restriction sites were amplified, subsequently digested with the EcoRI restriction enzyme, and ligated to the EcoRI site in the polylinker of the pAB2324 vector. Meanwhile, wild-type SUE1 was also amplified using the primer pair 151ADHF and 151ADHR (Table III). Approximately 650-bp fragments containing SUE1 flanked by EcoRI restriction sites were amplified, digested, and ligated to the EcoRI site in the polylinker of pAB2324 as well. The plasmids containing either (Myc)3-tagged SUE1 (pAB2936) or SUE1 (pAB2937) under the control of the ADH1 (alcohol dehydrogenase-1) promoter were obtained from the ampicillin-resistant colonies and transformed into strain B-14705, an isogenic strain of B-7528 containing the CYC1 and sue1- Determination of holo-1 Contentholo-1 levels in intact cells were screened by the benzidine staining method (17) and examined visually with a spectroscope as described by Sherman and Slonimski (27). More accurate estimation was performed by the method of low temperature (196 °C) spectrophotometric recording with a modified Aviv Model 14DS spectrophotometer as described by Hickey et al. (28). Western Blotting and Immunological ProceduresSamples were electrophoresed on an SDS-420% gradient acrylamide gel, transferred to a Hybond-ECL membrane (Amersham Biosciences), and probed with antiserum, followed by horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG (Bio-Rad). Anti-cytochrome c polyclonal antibodies were diluted 1:4000 in 0.1% Tween 20 in Tris-buffered saline (TBS; 20 mM Tris (pH 7.6) and 137 mM NaCl); anti-Myc monoclonal antibodies were diluted 1:100 in 0.1% Tween 20 in TBS; and anti-His monoclonal antibodies were diluted 1:2000 in 0.1% Tween 20 in TBS. A Hybond-ECL membrane was incubated with diluted antibodies for 1 h in 0.1% Tween 20 in TBS. The secondary antibodies were used at 1:2000 for 1 h. The membrane was washed with 0.1% Tween 20 in TBS, followed by ECL detection (Amersham Biosciences). Preparation of Yeast Mitochondria and the IMS of Mitochondria Yeast strain B-14705 with plasmid pAB2936 or pAB2937 containing the SUE1 constructs was expressed at high levels under the control of the constitutive ADH1 promoter. Mitochondrial purification and subfractionation were carried out following the method described by Zinser and Daum (29). Detection of GFP-fused Sue1p in Yeast CellsYeast strain B-14705 containing either pAB1931 or pAB2935 was grown overnight on synthetic complete medium/Ura plates and diluted with distilled water to the appropriate concentration, followed by continuous growth in synthetic complete medium/Ura overnight to A600 = 0.10.2. Cells were harvested and suspended at a concentration of 106 cells/ml in 10 mM HEPES (pH 7.4) and 5% glucose. Rhodamine B (hexyl ester; Molecular Probes, Inc.) was added to a final concentration of 100 nM. The mixture was incubated at room temperature for 20 min. Yeast cells were harvested by centrifugation at 13,000 rpm for 5 s; washed; suspended in a small volume of 10 mM HEPES (pH 7.4) and 5% glucose; and visualized by confocal microscopy on a Leica TCS SP microscope equipped with argon, krypton/argon, and ultraviolet lasers. The fluorescence excitation and emission maxima for rhodamine B (hexyl ester) are 555 and 579 nm, respectively.
Isolation of Mutants Defective in the Degradation of T78S RDD holo-1We used a genetic approach to identify proteins involved in the degradation of RDD holo-1 based on the properties of, for example, the following strains (Table I) containing the indicated levels of holo-1: B-12713 ( + CYC1-1389), 100%; B-12714 ( CYC1-1389), 100%; B-12711 ( + cyc1-1388), 100%; and B-12712 ( cyc1-1388; in which cyc1-1388 encodes RDD holo-1 with a T78S replacement), 15%. In addition, both cyc1-1388 and cyc1-1389 contain an RRASV insertion (protein kinase A phosphorylation site) and a C102A replacement at the N- and C-terminal regions, respectively (Table II). C102A holo-1 is as stable as wild-type holo-1 (16) and prevents dimerization through Cys102-disulfide bridges (30). Introducing the protein kinase phosphorylation site (RRASV) into iso-1 was designed to label holo-1 for other studies. Strain B-12712 containing cyc1-1388 shows the RDD phenotype very clearly. Therefore, the B-12712 strain was UV light-mutagenized at a dose yielding 10% survivors to screen for mutants that were able to suppress the RDD phenotype. Approximately 3 x 104 colonies were screened using the benzidine staining method, in which the intensity of the blue color is proportional to the level of holo-1. A total of 832 blue colonies were subsequently examined under the spectroscope, and the level of holo-1 was estimated by comparison with strains containing known amounts of cytochrome c. Higher levels of RDD holo-1 in mutant colonies, designated Sue, could be due to diminished degradation. Six Sue mutants whose levels of RDD holo-1 were restored up to 70% of the wild-type levels in cells were obtained and designated Sue1Sue6 (data not shown). Meiotic analysis revealed that the Sue1 mutant arose by a recessive mutation, designated sue1-1, unlinked to CYC1 (data not shown).
Cloning the Suppressor SUE1 Gene by Complementation with a Centromere-based Wild-type Yeast Genomic Library The Three transformants were capable of restoring the higher levels of the RDD holo-1 phenotype of sue1-1 in 5-fluoroorotic acid-resistant cells that had lost the plasmids, indicating that the low levels of RDD holo-1 in these three transformants were plasmid-dependent (data not shown). Total DNA was prepared from these three transformants, and their plasmids (pAB2927, pAB2928, and pAB2929) were recovered by transformation in E. coli. Reintroduction of these three plasmids into B-14650 (cyc1-1388 sue1-1) demonstrated that plasmids pAB2927 and pAB2929 (but not plasmid pAB2928) complemented the higher levels of the RDD holo-1 phenotype of sue1-1 (data not shown). Sequence analysis of two plasmids (pAB2927 and pAB2929) revealed that they contain an identical segment of yeast genomic DNA from positions 821799 to 832715. (Data were obtained from the Saccharomyces Genome Database.)3
To further delineate the gene responsible for restoring the SUE1 function in strain B-14650, several subclones were constructed with the YCp50 vector and transformed into strain B-14650. The levels of RDD holo-1 in these transformants were determined by low temperature (196 °C) spectroscopic examination of intact cells. As summarized in Fig. 1, the results reveal that only the pAB2933 subclone, bearing the NCE102, YPR150w, and YPR151c genes, had a low level of RDD holo-1, as did plasmids pAB2927 and pAB2929, in comparison with the results obtained with the pAB2934 subclone, carrying the NCE102 and YPR150w genes, which retained the high level of RDD holo-1. These results indicate that the SUE1 gene is on the pAB2933 subclone and must be the YPR151c gene.
Because of a large overlapping portion of the YPR150w and YPR151c genes, further confirmation of the YPR151c gene as the SUE1 gene was carried out by PCR-based site-directed mutagenesis of the YPR151c gene. The 9th base, A, in the YPR151c gene (the 147th base downstream of the stop codon of the YPR150w gene) was deleted to create a combined frameshift and nonsense mutation on the chromosomal YPR151c gene (referred to as the sue1-2 allele) in strain B-14746 containing the cyc1-868 allele (ADD), an isogenic strain of B-7889. As described below,
Disruption of the SUE1 Gene Leads to the sue1- Phenotype in Both + and CellsAfter successfully cloning the SUE1 gene, we attempted to test whether the SUE1 gene is involved in the degradation of other altered forms of holo-1 (RDD, LDD, and ADD holo-1) that are known from previous studies to be labile in the IMS of mitochondria. In addition, we wanted to know whether the SUE1 gene shows a similar phenotype in three different strain backgrounds.
Using the PCR-based one-step replacement method, we constructed three sets of isogenic mutant strains (B-7528, B7889, and B-8354) with different RDD, LDD, and ADD cyc1 alleles (Table IV). Subsequently, the corresponding three sets of cyc1-X sue1-
On the other hand, although the levels of labile ADD, LDD, and RDD holo-1 did not change significantly in + sue1- mutants in comparison with the corresponding SUE1 strains (Table VI), one phenotype was observed in some isogenic + strains containing the cyc1-868 (ADD), cyc1-860 (ADD), cyc1-865 (ADD), or cyc1-1120 (G6I LDD) allele derived from either strain B-7528 or B-7889; the sue1- 1::kanR strains grew better on media with non-fermentable carbon sources (ethanol, glycerol, and lactate media) than the corresponding SUE1 strains (Fig. 4). Mutants completely lacking cytochrome c cannot utilize non-fermentable carbon sources (Nfs), whereas strains containing as low as 5% functional cytochrome c grow, but at reduced rates, and strains containing 10% grow almost normally on non-fermentable media (Nfs+) (32). Notably, all + strains whose growth was enhanced by sue1- had levels of altered holo-1 below 10% of the normal amount of holo-1 if grown on YPG plates (data not shown). Thus, the growth difference may reflect the trivial differences in holo-1 levels between sue1- mutants and SUE1 cells bearing ADD or LDD cyc1 alleles. The other + cyc1 strains containing RDD, ADD, and LDD holo-1 grew too well to show this distinctive phenotype on the plates with non-fermentable carbon sources. Collectively, the growth phenotype of + strains suggests that Sue1p may play a direct role in the degradation of labile LDD and ADD holo-1 in + cells.
Sue1p Is a Mitochondrial ProteinAs shown above, deletion of SUE1 results in stabilization of some labile LDD, RDD, and ADD holo-1 in mitochondria in both + and cells, indicating that Sue1p may play an important role in protein degradation in mitochondria. Two approaches were used to determine whether Sue1p resides within mitochondria: one was to use immunofluorescence microscopy to determine the cellular localization in vivo of GFP-fused Sue1p, and the other was to perform submitochondrial fractionation studies using monoclonal antiserum directed against the Myc tag fused to the C terminus of Sue1p.
A pGFP-C-FUS vector carrying the SUE1 gene (pAB2935) or the pGFP-C-FUS vector (pAB2931) alone was transformed into strain B-14705, an isogenic strain of B-7528 containing the CYC1 and sue1-
To further investigate whether Sue1p is located in the IMS of mitochondria, we constructed the C-terminal (Myc)3-fused SUE1 gene in the yeast 2µ-based expression vector pBEVY under the control of the constitutive ADH1 promoter (pAB2936). Concomitantly, we also constructed the SUE1 gene in the same vector without the Myc tag (pAB2937) as a control. These two vectors (pAB2936 and pAB2937) were then transformed into stain B-14705, an isogenic strain of B-7528 containing the CYC1 and sue1- 1::kanR genes. Using anti-c-Myc oncoprotein Ab-2 (a mouse monoclonal antiserum; NeoMarkers), (Myc)3-tagged Sue1p was detected in the mitochondria purified on a 2050% sucrose gradient (Fig. 6). This result confirms that Sue1p is a mitochondrial protein. Disruption of the mitochondrial outer membrane by osmotic swelling did not result in the release of (Myc)3-tagged Sue1p from the IMS fraction, and (Myc)3-tagged Sue1p was detected in the mitoplast fraction (Fig. 7). As a control, cytochrome b2, a soluble IMS protein, was visualized in the IMS fraction using cytochrome b2-specific antiserum (Fig. 7). Porin, an outer membrane protein, also served as a control and was visualized in the mitoplast fraction using monoclonal antiserum against porin (Fig. 7). The mitoplast fraction consists of inner and outer membrane proteins and matrix proteins. The membrane potential across the inner membrane is directly involved in importing preproteins into the matrix (33). Because Sue1p may play a role in the degradation of some labile holo-1 in strains, these results suggest that Sue1p might reside in mitochondria associated with its membranes.
Primary Sequence Analysis of SUE1As indicated above, Sue1p plays an important role in the degradation of some altered holo-1. However, it does not have proteolytic activity in substrates such as purified T78S RDD holo-1 or the casein that was tested in vitro (data not shown). To determine the function of Sue1p, we searched sequence data bases using the sequence of Sue1p. The SUE1 gene (YPR151c) encodes a protein of 206 amino acids. So far, the function of Sue1p is still unknown, and there is no evidence in the data bases that any protein interacts with Sue1p. The most closely related protein is another yeast protein that is encoded by the PET20 gene (YPL159c). These two proteins share 27% amino acid identity (Yeast Protein Database). Analysis with MitoProt II suggests that both Sue1p and Pet20p have a 98% probability of being imported into mitochondria. To test whether the protein encoded by the PET20 gene is functionally comparable with Sue1p, the pet20- 1::kanR mutants were constructed in the set of isogenic mutant strains that originated from B-7528 and that contained various cyc1 alleles (Table IV). The pet20- mutants did not show the similar phenotype that was observed in both + and sue1- mutants. In addition, unlike the + CYC1 sue1- mutants, the + CYC1 pet20- mutants exhibited diminished growth on YPG medium at 37 and 15 °C.4 Therefore, we conclude that Pet20p is not functionally equivalent to Sue1p.
In this study, we have isolated and characterized mutations that partially prevented the degradation of RDD holo-1 in a strain, and we have demonstrated that one of these mutations corresponds to SUE1. The degradation of three classes of altered holo-1 (RDD, LDD, and ADD holo-1) was investigated in sue1- cells. Elevated levels of T78S RDD, ADD, and G6I LDD holo-1 were observed in sue1- strains compared with the corresponding SUE1 strains. Although sue1- did not detectably elevate the levels of LDD and ADD holo-1 in + strains, interestingly, the growth of + sue1- strains (compared with that of + SUE1 strains) containing G6I LDD and ADD holo-1 was enhanced on medium containing a non-fermentable carbon source.
Yeast cells grown on a non-fermentable carbon source such as glycerol (YPG) or ethanol (YPE) require a functional cytochrome c; however, mutants are able to grow on plates with a non-fermentable carbon source (Nfs+) if they contain as low as 5% of the normal amount of holo-1. In some genetic backgrounds, mutants exhibit nearly normal growth on a non-fermentable carbon source containing as low as 10% of the normal amount of holo-1 (32, 34, 35). In cases of cyc1 mutants with a threshold level of holo-1, just below the level required for growth on non-fermentable media, growth can occur by marginal increases in holo-1 levels. For example, cyc1-1120 (G6I) SUE1 and cyc1-1120 (G6I) sue1-
To determine the function of Sue1p, we carried out a computer analysis of the S. cerevisiae genome data base using the full-length Sue1p sequence. Pet20p, the most closely related protein to Sue1p, is not functionally equivalent to Sue1p. However, a segment of Sue1p from residues 37 to 109 has 28% identity and 50% similarity to a segment of the YFR041c protein from residues 30 to 97. The YFR041c protein is considered to be molecular chaperone containing the characteristic J-domain from residues 42 to 110. J-domain proteins and Hsp70 are two molecular chaperones that work together to bind nonnative proteins and to promote the folding process (36, 37). Considerable evidence now indicates that Hsp70 and J-domain proteins are also involved in protein degradation (38, 39). They may be the components of a protein quality control system, directing misfolded or unfolded proteins to the degradation machinery for destruction (40, 41). Through studying a model substrate in E. coli, a non-secreted alkaline phosphatase mutant that lacks its signal sequence (PhoA-( Since Sue1p plays an important role in the degradation of G6I LDD, ADD, and T78S RDD holo-1, it is possible that Sue1p may be a component of a proteolytic complex that recognizes altered holo-1 such as G6I LDD, ADD, and T78S RDD holo-1 and targets the misfolded or unfolded proteins for ATP-dependent proteases, which are responsible for protein degradation in mitochondria. Further studies may reveal the mechanism of Sue1p in the degradation of altered holo-1 in the IMS of mitochondria and may reveal additional components involved in the proteolytic apparatus in the IMS of mitochondria.
* This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Research Grant GM12702. The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
1 The abbreviations used are: IMS, intermembrane space; holo-1, holo-iso-1-cytochrome(s) c; holo-2, holo-iso-2-cytochrome(s) c; iso-1, iso-1-cytochrome(s) c; iso-2, iso-2-cytochrome(s) c; RDD,
2 X. Chen, R. P. Moerschell, D. A. Pearce, D. D. Ramanan, and F. Sherman, unpublished data.
3 Available at www.yeastgenome.org/.
4 B. Polevoda, J. Wei, S. Brown, and F. Sherman, unpublished data.
We thank Dr. Richard Hallberg (Syracuse University) for the anti-cytochrome b2 antibody and Dr. Mark Dumont (University of Rochester) for the anti-porin antibody. We thank Dr. Paul Roberts (State University of New York, Brockport, NY) for obtaining and processing the images of GFP and GFP-Sue1p expression in living yeast cells by confocal microscopy and also for technical assistance in the preparation of living yeast cells for rhodamine B staining.
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