TIM23-mediated insertion of transmembrane alpha-helices into the mitochondrial inner membrane

While overall hydrophobicity is generally recognized as the main characteristic of transmembrane (TM) alpha-helices, the only membrane system for which there are detailed quantitative data on how different amino acids contribute to the overall efficiency of membrane insertion is the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of eukaryotic cells. Here, we provide comparable data for TIM23-mediated membrane protein insertion into the inner mitochondrial membrane of yeast cells. We find that hydrophobicity and the location of polar and aromatic residues are strong determinants of membrane insertion. These results parallel what has been found previously for the ER. However, we see striking differences between the effects elicited by charged residues flanking the TM segments when comparing the mitochondrial inner membrane and the ER, pointing to an unanticipated difference between the two insertion systems. Keywords: CoxVa , membrane protein , Mgm1p , mitochondria , TIM2

TIM23-mediated insertion of transmembrane α-helices into the mitochondrial inner membrane

This comprehensive analysis of the sequence determinants for TIM23-mediated insertion of mitochondrial inner membrane proteins reveals strikingly different requirements for protein insertion into the mitochondrial inner membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum

Protein Interactions from the Molecular to the Domain Level

The basic unit of life is the cell, from single-cell bacteria to the largest creatures on the planet. All cells have DNA, which contains the blueprint for proteins. This information is transported in the form of messenger RNA from the genome to ribosomes where proteins are produced. Proteins are the main functional constituents of the cell, they usually have one or several functions and are the main actors in almost all essential biological processes. Proteins are what make the cell alive. Proteins are found as solitary units or as part of large complexes. Proteins can be found in all parts of the cell, the most common place being the cytoplasm, a central space in all cells. They are also commonly found integrated into or attached to various membranes. Membranes define the cell architecture. Proteins integrated into the membrane have a wide number of responsibilities: they are the gatekeepers of the cell, they secrete cellular waste products, and many of them are receptors and enzymes. The main focus of this thesis is the study of protein interactions, from the molecular level up to the protein domain level. In paper I use reoccurring local protein structures to try and predict what sections of a protein interacts with another part using only sequence information. In papers II and III we use a randomization approach on a membrane protein motif that we know interacts with a sphingomyelin lipid to find other candidate proteins that interact with sphingolipids. These are then experimentally verified as sphingolipid-binding. In the last paper, paper IV, we look at how protein domain interaction networks overlap and can be evaluated.At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript.</p

Using multi-data hidden Markov models trained on local neighborhoods of protein structure to predict residue–residue contacts

Motivation:Correct prediction of residue–residue contacts in proteins that lack good templates with known structure would take ab initio protein structure prediction a large step forward. The lack of correct contacts, and in particular long-range contacts, is considered the main reason why these methods often fail

Molecular recognition of a single sphingolipid species by a protein’s transmembrane domain

Functioning and processing of membrane proteins critically depend on the way their transmembrane segments are embedded in the membrane. Sphingolipids are structural components of membranes and can also act as intracellular second messengers. Not much is known of sphingolipids binding to transmembrane domains (TMDs) of proteins within the hydrophobic bilayer, and how this could affect protein function. Here we show a direct and highly specific interaction of exclusively one sphingomyelin species, SM 18, with the TMD of the COPI machinery protein p24 (ref. 2). Strikingly, the interaction depends on both the headgroup and the backbone of the sphingolipid, and on a signature sequence (VXXTLXXIY) within the TMD. Molecular dynamics simulations show a close interaction of SM 18 with the TMD. We suggest a role of SM 18 in regulating the equilibrium between an inactive monomeric and an active oligomeric state of the p24 protein, which in turn regulates COPI-dependent transport. Bioinformatic analyses predict that the signature sequence represents a conserved sphingolipid-binding cavity in a variety of mammalian membrane proteins. Thus, in addition to a function as second messengers, sphingolipids can act as cofactors to regulate the function of transmembrane proteins. Our discovery of an unprecedented specificity of interaction of a TMD with an individual sphingolipid species adds to our understanding of why biological membranes are assembled from such a large variety of different lipids