Protein translocations across mitochondria membranes play critical roles in mitochondria biogenesis. The protein transports from the cell cytosol to the mitochondria matrix are carried out by the translocase of the outer membrane (TOM) complex and the translocase of the inner membrane (TIM) complex. The long-term goal of this proposal is to carry out X-ray crystal log rap hie studies on yeast TOM and TIM complexes to uncover the basic mechanisms by which these translocons facilitate the precursors across the outer and inner mitochondria membranes. In the TOM translocon, Tom70p functions as the receptor for mitochondria precursors with internal targeting signals. TimSOp, Tim21p and Tim44p are important members in TIM23 translocon. In the intermembrane space (IMS), TimSOp functions as the receptor for the precursor with the N-terminal mitochondrion targeting sequence. Tim21p can interact with TOM complex member Tom22p to facilitate the release of the precursor from the TOM translocon. Tim44p is a peripheral membrane protein and is stably associated with the mitochondria inner membrane at the matrix side. We have determined the crystal structure of yeast Tom/Op and Tim44p to 3.0A and 3.2A resolution, respectively. We have crystallized yeast TimSOp and Tim21p and the TimSOp crystals diffracted X-ray to 2.7A. By use of the combination of phage peptide display library screening and Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) technique, we have identified a peptide substrate for Tom70p. We have constituted the protein complex of Tom70p and its peptide substrate. We have also constituted the complex of TimSOp and the mitochondrion targeting peptide Cox4N. The protein complex of Tim21p and Tom22p C-terminal domain has been constituted for crystallization trials. We propose to determine the crystal structures of the Tom70p-peptide substrate complex. We intend to crystallize and determine the crystal structures of the TimSOp-targeting peptide complex and Tim21p-Tom22p protein complex. We also plan to solve the crystal structure of Tim44p and detergent FOS-CHOLINE complex/finally, we will conduct the structure-based mutagenesis studies to test our proposed models for TOM and TIM translocons. Both in vitro and in vivo assays will be utilized in the mutagenesis studies. Collectively, the aims of this proposal constitute the comprehensive studies that seek to understand the basic mechanisms via which the TOM and TIM complexes function in protein translocations from cell cytosol to mitochondrion.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM080261-04
Application #
7810635
Study Section
Macromolecular Structure and Function B Study Section (MSFB)
Program Officer
Ainsztein, Alexandra M
Project Start
2007-05-01
Project End
2011-04-30
Budget Start
2010-05-01
Budget End
2011-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$272,745
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
063690705
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Wang, Peng; Li, Jingzhi; Tao, Jiahui et al. (2018) The luminal domain of the ER stress sensor protein PERK binds misfolded proteins and thereby triggers PERK oligomerization. J Biol Chem 293:4110-4121
Wang, Peng; Li, Jingzhi; Weaver, Clarissa et al. (2017) Crystal structures of Hsp104 N-terminal domains from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans suggest the mechanism for the function of Hsp104 in dissolving prions. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 73:365-372
Wang, Peng; Li, Jingzhi; Sha, Bingdong (2016) The ER stress sensor PERK luminal domain functions as a molecular chaperone to interact with misfolded proteins. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 72:1290-1297
Li, Jingzhi; Sha, Bingdong (2015) The structure of Tim50(164-361) suggests the mechanism by which Tim50 receives mitochondrial presequences. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 71:1146-51
Cui, Wenjun; Josyula, Ratnakar; Li, Jingzhi et al. (2011) Membrane binding mechanism of yeast mitochondrial peripheral membrane protein TIM44. Protein Pept Lett 18:718-25
Qian, Xinguo; Gebert, Michael; Hopker, Jan et al. (2011) Structural basis for the function of Tim50 in the mitochondrial presequence translocase. J Mol Biol 411:513-9
Cui, Wenjun; Li, Jingzhi; Ron, David et al. (2011) The structure of the PERK kinase domain suggests the mechanism for its activation. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 67:423-8
Tao, Jiahui; Petrova, Kseniya; Ron, David et al. (2010) Crystal structure of P58(IPK) TPR fragment reveals the mechanism for its molecular chaperone activity in UPR. J Mol Biol 397:1307-15
Li, Jingzhi; Cui, Wenjun; Sha, Bingdong (2010) The structural plasticity of Tom71 for mitochondrial precursor translocations. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 66:985-9
Hu, Junbin; Li, Jingzhi; Qian, Xinguo et al. (2009) The crystal structures of yeast Get3 suggest a mechanism for tail-anchored protein membrane insertion. PLoS One 4:e8061

Showing the most recent 10 out of 14 publications