Liz Smythe lectures - protein sorting and vesicular transport Flashcards
how is material moved in a cell?
- material, signals and nutrients move into cells by endocytosis
- cells deliver material via the secretory pathway by the ER and Golgi to the cell surface and outside of cell
- material can also be transported to organelles within the cell
why is compartmentalisation of eukaryotic cells important?
it is key for the specialised function of eukaryotes
- transport systems and targeting systems ensure that the right proteins go to the right places in the cell
what are the different transport types within the cell?
- gated transport between the nucleus and the cytoplasm
- transmembrane transport of post-modified proteins from the cytosol to organelles such as the mitochondria, chloroplasts, peroxisomes
- vesicular transport is used to move proteins between the organelles of the secretory pathway
what is the common theme to all protein sorting?
signals are required for protein sorting
what is the nuclear pore?
it allows material to move in and out of the nucleus
- it brings together the double membrane of the nucleus, so that the nucleoplasm can interact with the cytosol
- nuclear pore is formed at the junction of the inner and outer membranes of the nuclear envelope
what is the structure of the nuclear pore complex?
- the complex consists of multiple copies of ~30 different nucleoporins
- each complex is made of 8 subunits with a central plug
- nucleoporin dye is seen around the rim of the nucleus, showing that the pores are localised at the nuclear envelope
- rings of nucleoporins surround the central pore
what is the function of the nuclear pore complex?
- nuclear pores are involved in moving substances across the nuclear envelope between cytosol and nucleus
- Gating mechanism allowing certain molecules into/out of nucleus
what are examples of the function of the nuclear pore?
- In the synthesis of DNA, histone molecules are required to package the DNA
- Histones are made in the cytosol by ribosomes and then are transported from the cytoplasm into the nucleus - For protein production to occur, ribosomes are needed.
- the ribosomal subunits formed in the nucleolus must enter the cytoplasm via export through the nuclear pore complexes
what are the 2 ways in which substances are transported across the nuclear pore complex?
- simple diffusion
- active diffusion - nuclear translocation requiring energy
how is transport across the nuclear pore size limited?
simple diffusion can only occur up until molecules of 60kDa:
- Up to 5000Da = freely diffusible
- 5000-17000Da = 2 minutes to equilibrium
- 17000-44000Da = 30 minutes to equilibrium
- 60000Da = cannot enter by diffusion
how do molecules that are larger than 60kDa enter the nucleus?
nuclear translocation - active transport
- molecules larger than 60kDa are excluded from the nucleus unless they provide a signal
- the nuclear translocation signal is needed for these large molecules to interact with the nuclear pore
- under the appropriate signal, the pore can open up to 26nm in diameter
what is the signal that triggers nuclear translocation?
In the case of proteins, the signal is linked to a peptide sequence
- Nuclear transport recognition sites are rich in Lys, Arg and Pro
- A mixture of these amino acids is sufficient to transfer protein into nucleus
Example: the T-antigen of the SV40 virus contains the sequence Pro-Pro-Lys-Lys-Lys-Arg-Lys-Val, so can translocate into the nucleus
- Important for transport of antigen into the nucleus
how can we prove that the signal for nuclear translocation allows active transport?
Example: T-antigen of the SV40 virus
- If the sequence is intact, the T-antigen is localised in the nucleus
- If the sequence is disrupted (mutation from lysine to threonine), there is no staining in the nucleus, so the T-antigen immunofluorescence remains within the cytosol
example 2: can put the required Lys, Arg, Pro sequence on a protein that doesn’t normally enter the nucleus, and then show that this protein now can be translocated
how can we prove that the nuclear translocation uses active transport?
Evidence:
- in cells, mRNA transport out of the nucleus is inhibited when cell is cooled to 4C
- ATP hydrolysis is required for active transport
In vitro import of protein into the nucleus:
- In the absence of ATP, the protein binds to the pore but the complex remains outside the nucleus
- add ATP and the proteins start to appear inside the nucleus
How are membrane proteins made?
- 30% of human genome encodes membrane proteins
- Proteins that make up plasma membrane, Golgi, ER, endocytic network are synthesised in the ER
- All of the proteins that are secreted from cells such as growth factors are translocated into the ER for secretion
what characterises the rough ER?
Rough ER is characterised by ribosomes which are tightly associated with the ER membrane
- Close proximity of ribosomes to ER membrane
what are the 2 main ways in which newly synthesised proteins can be translocated into the ER?
- co-translational translocation
- post-translational translocation
what is co-translational translocation?
Co-translational translocation: protein enters lumen of ER as it is being translated in the ribosome
- Most common mechanism
- Coupling of translation to translocation
- This is why ribosomes need to be in such proximity with rough ER membrane
what is post-translational translocation?
Post-translational translocation: protein is fully synthesised in cytoplasm, and then is translocated into ER lumen (rarer)
what is the signal hypothesis of ER translocation?
In order for a translated protein to be recognised by translocation machinery, it requires a signal
what is the process of protein co-translational translocation into the ER lumen?
- When a ribosome is translating mRNA, if the mRNA is due to be translocated it will have a signal
- The translocator (sec61) will be tightly closed if it isn’t associated with a ribosome
- ER has a different ionic composition to cytosol, meaning it is tightly controlled to ensure no leakage - When signal of protein that needs to be translocated is detected, the ribosome interacts with the translocator, the signal is recognised, and the newly translated protein is slowly fed in through the pore
- The signal is then removed by a signal peptidase to cleave it off the translocator
- Signal is then degraded - The fully translated protein now exists in the lumen of the ER as a linear polypeptide, so has to fold using chaperones
how does translocation into the ER compare to nuclear pore recognition?
The recognition of the signal is by the receptor of the translocator which recognises a variety of signal sequences
- Less selective compared to nuclear pore recognition
how are membrane proteins inserted into the ER membrane via co-translational translocation?
example: single-spanning membrane protein with 1 TM domain
1. Start-transfer sequence starts the translocation by being recognised by sec61 translocator
- Newly translated protein is fed though the translocator
- Instead of going all the way through, it encounters a stop-transfer sequence, which is a hydrophobic part of the protein
- The hydrophobic part allows the protein to remain anchored within the ER membrane - The C-terminus of the protein is exposed to the cytoplasm, while the N-terminus remains in ER lumen
When transported to the plasma membrane, the protein will then have type I topology (N facing extracellularly, C facing cytoplasm)
what is type 1 topology?
when the N terminus of a transmembrane protein faces extracellularly, and the C-terminus faces the cytoplasm
what is type 2 topology?
when the N-terminus of a transmembrane protein faces the cytoplasm, and the C-terminus faces extracellularly
what is important about membrane protein topology?
Membrane proteins always have the same topology
- If the N-terminus is to outside of the cell, then this is always the case for that particular protein
how is a single transmembrane with a type 2 topology inserted into the plasma membrane?
- Signal sequence recognised by translocator
- C-terminus is fed through into the ER
- N-terminus remains in cytosol
- When the protein is transported to the plasma membrane, the C-terminus will face extracellularly, and the N-terminus will remain in cytoplasm, and so have a type II topology
what factors ensure proper protein folding in the ER?
- BIP chaperone associates with newly synthesised proteins to ensure proper folding
- quality control (QC) mechanisms within the ER ensure correct folding
- post-translational glycosylation occurs in the ER to ensure QC
What is an example of BIP chaperone function in proper protein folding?
In antibody formation, the BiP remians associated until both light chains have been assembled correctly
- When BiP dissociates, the antibody can then be packaged into the vesicle
what happens if proteins are not folding properly in the ER?
If proteins are not folding properly, they are reverse-translocated into the cytoplasm and broken down
what are the consequenses of protein misfolding?
Defects in protein folding give rise to disease e.g. CFTR delta-F508
- If cells are making lots of proteins, QC machinery gets overwhelmed and proteins remain in the ER
- Excess of misfolded proteins stimulate the global unfolded protein response (UPR) which may lead to apoptosis
what is the unfolded protein response (UPR)?
UPR is a transcriptional programme where cells stop the translation of proteins and upregulate synthesis of chaperones by transcription factors
- The chaperones will then fix the protein folding
- If there are too many unfolded proteins, then apoptosis is activated
- This process must be balanced: can be useful against cancers but can also be harnessed by cancers
how do proteins enter the mitochondria?
Post-translational translocation
- the proteins are fully synthesised and then are translocated into the mitochondria using signal sequences
- Uses translocation proteins embedded in the outer and inner mito membrane
what key complexes are involved in protein translocation into the mitochondria?
- TOM: Translocator of the Outer Membrane
- SAM: Sorting and Assembly Machinery
- TIM: Translocator of the Inner Membrane
- OXA: Cytochrome Oxidase activity
how do proteins enter the mitochondrial matrix by post-translational translocation?
- N-terminal signal sequence is recognised by the TOM complex
- The protein translocates through TOM and TIM23
- Protein translocates through TIM23 into matrix
- Signal is cleaved off
what is the structure of the translocation signal into the mitochondrial matrix? how does it trigger translocation?
amphipathic alpha helix:
- one side of the helix is hydrophobic, the other is hydrophilic
- TOM receptors on the mitochondrial outer membrane recognises the polar structure rather than the amino acids
hydrophilic residues of the helix bind to the hydrophobic groove of the TOM complex receptor, leading to transloaction
How are mitochondria and bacteria linked?
Mitochondria are thought to have bacterial origin due to translocation mechanisms being similar
- Both mitochondria and bacteria have porins (made up of barrels of beta-sheets) in outer membrane for free exchange of metabolites and ions
how are proteins translocated into the bacterial membrane?
- TOM complex translocates the porin polypeptide chain
- chaperones help the polypeptide to assemble
- SAM complex helps it assemble in the outer membrane
In gram-negative bacteria, to insert porins in outer membrane, polypeptide is translocated into periplasmic space, periplasmic chaperones fold the polypeptide and then insert it into the outer membrane
how are proteins translocated into chloroplasts?
- Translocation of proteins in chloroplasts also occurs post-translationally
- Uses membrane potential and ATP to drive the process
- Plant cells have both chloroplasts and mitochondria, so proteins are sorted accordingly based on selective signal sequence recognition
what mediates transport of protein through the secretory pathway between organelles?
vesicles and tubules
- organelles of the cell have interconnections for trafficking between them
what is anterograde and retrograde transport?
anterograde: forward trafficking from ER to Golgi
retrograde: backward trafficking from Golgi to ER
how are newly synthesised proteins moved via the secretory pathway?
- Protein is modified in ER
- protein is then packaged and sorted at the exit site into vesicles, as long as quality control system has checked they have been correctly folded
- Vesicles then enter Golgi – concentrated amounts of proteins
- Microtubules mediate movement of vesicles from ER to Golgi
- Vesicles bud from trans-Golgi network and fuse with plasma membrane
how are vesicles targeted to their destination?
- When vesicles are targeted to their destination, their cargo will bud off the donor compartment (ER) and fuse with the target/acceptor compartment (Golgi)
- The asymmetry of the membrane is maintained
- Fusion is non-leaky
SNAREs - ensure right vesicle go to right place
what is the role of SNAREs in vesicle fusion?
SNAREs act as an address label on vesicles, ensuring that the right vesicle goes to the right place in the cell and fuses with the correct target membrane
how are the different transport vesicles coated?
- Clathrin has a distinct hexagonal structure
- COPII coat is formed by peripheral membrane proteins that are recruited from the cytoplasm onto the membrane - Forms specific structure which is important for vesicle formation
- COPI coat contains alpha beta and epsilon subunits
what are the 3 essential components for all transport vesicle formation?
- GTPase
- Adaptor proteins - these recognise the cargo
- Coat - Clathrin, COPII, COPI
what are small GTPases?
- GDP form usually in cytosol and is inactive
- GTP form is membrane-associated and is active - when Ras is in GTP form, it activates downstream effectors
how are small GTPases regulated?
GEFs (guanine nucleotide exchange factors) convert GDP to GTP -> activates the GTPase
GAPs (GTPase activating proteins) hydrolyse GTP to GDP -> inactivates the GTPase
what is the founding member of the small GTPases?
Ras
-Ras is mutated in many forms of cancer – constitutively active Ras causes cancer
what are the propertoes of small GTPases?
- Rabs, Arfs, Ran, Rho – characterised as molecular switches (on/off)
- All between 20-30kDa
- They have a GTPase domain and a domain which confers specificity